Considering a rabbit? Here are a few reasons why bunnies are great pets:

Considering a rabbit? Here are a few reasons why bunnies are great pets:

-They are social and enjoy human company
-They can be litter trained
-Rabbits have personalities; they are smart and quirky
-No woofing or meowing! Rabbits are super quiet and great for high density living.

However, before you make a final decision, you should be aware of some hard facts:

Rabbits are a prey species and are scared by loud noises or sudden movements. They can fracture their legs and spine easily if dropped or if they struggle when held. Obviously, they are not suitable for small children who are simply unable to handle them properly. If not handled gently, they will kick, scratch or bite.  Whether kept outdoors or indoors, rabbits need suitable and clean housing, food and fresh water. While this 'maintenance' does not take more than a few minutes, it is important to be undertaken daily. Also, your back yard must be 'rabbit-proof' - they can easily dig and escape from yards if allowed. Rabbits are prone to illnesses and viruses and they could become an easy pray to foxes, dogs and other urban animals.

However, the fact is that pets are good for children.  Feeding and caring for a pet encourages childhood responsibility.Children with pets display improved impulse control, social skills and self-esteem. Sharing the love and care of a family pet forges an additional common bond among siblings. Cuddling a pet reduces stress, loneliness and anxiety. 

Photos: Zucka's babies, white and gold, five weeks old.

Do rabbits chew on electrical cables?

You don't have to search hard to find numerous posts by desperate owners who struggle to 'contain a rabbit's urge to chew on cables'. Yes - bored, indoor-kept rabbit can do a lot of damage to soft and hard rubbery cables and all other cords - electrical or not. However, such behaviour is anything but natural. It is simply a result of a neglected rabbit with 'nothing better to do'.  Other rabbit owners are convinced that rabbits are attracted to cables because they look like "tasty roots".  But electrical cables are tasteless - or more precisely - they taste nothing like natural rabbit food - they taste like plastic or rubber clad copper. Which is precisely what they are.

We happen to have a rather large quantity of electrical, coaxial and data cables in our backyard. Some of them are partially underground, but mostly they lay on grass or concrete.  In the past two years, I could not find a single chew mark on any cable at all. And all of them certainly do look like a roots, and Charlie and his family spend hours running around them. Yet still not a single attempt to bite into a cable. Which is hardly a mystery: with an abundance of REAL roots, shrubs, trees and tasty rabbit food, cables are simply - not of interest.

While both Mum and Zucka do occasionally chew on wood corners of their overnight hatches, this is quite natural and easily explained behaviour: their teeth are always growing, so they need hard things to chew on to keep their teeth trimmed.

No cages here: our rabbits are FREE TO ROAM

We give all our rabbits - babies included - a rabbit home with a difference!

Rabbits were designed  to roam free over wide tracts of land. We believe keeping them locked up in a tiny cage is unethical. Our rabbits are as 'free range' as possible! They are allowed to play in the garden from  early morning to sunset. Overnight they are safe in their hutches. They know the routine so Zucka and Mum wait in front of their home as soon as it gets dark. Charlie sometimes needs a bit of encouragement, but he loves his dinner! After procrastinating for 15 or so seconds, he will run in. For him this is nothing more than a game.

More baby bunnies: Mum's seven new babies in Sydney

After spending 3 weeks in a hole under the stone wall, the new lot of seven babies has now been relocated to a new enclosure. The timing was perfect! They are now up for some adjustment but they are all happy and healthy.  We now have 12 baby bunnies to take care of - great fun for sure. 

Both Mum and Zucka are now full-time carers while Charlie spends most of the day being himself - doing a whole lot of nothing.

The essentials: WATER ! A quality glass bottle is MUST

A quality glass water-drip bottle is an absolute must-have. Actually, you should start looking for one even before your rabbit arrives. Price: around $5 on eBay or $15-20 at a pet shop. Look for one which is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. Avoid cheap plastic bottles.

Here is a short video of thirsty Mum. 

Curious and energetic - five weeks young

At five weeks, babies are keen and ready to explore. They also look much bigger then they really are - especially when stretched or on close-up photos.  However they are not yet ready for a new home, even if they already nibble on solid food. If a kit is weaned from its mother too soon it will not build up the right beneficial gut bacteria and immune responses. It will likely die several years before the expected rabbit lifespan. 

White or gold? As always, this is just a matter of personal choice. Our two white babies are spotlessly white with pinkish eyes and they tend to stay white for the rest of their life.

Baby rabbits: camera shy but not fussy with food !

Rabbits are not fussy with food – and the bulk of their diet consists of pellets, grass and hay with a few special treats like apple, carrot, broccoli, kale, celery and cauliflower.

No cabbage, iceberg lettuce or bread! Of course, access to fresh water is essential.

Our baby rabbits are now 5 weeks old and mom's milk is still their prime food, but this will change quickly.   What a cute, fluffy handful!