Rabbit

Am I the right pet for you?

A rabbit will make a good pet for a family with a garden and enough time to give it daily care and attention. Rabbits are more demanding than hamsters, gerbils or guinea pigs and are not really suitable for very small children as they may bite and scratch. However they are clean, intelligent and friendly and, if properly looked after, can make rewarding company.
Each variety of rabbit has its own characteristics of size and temperament. Males are often more predictable and even-tempered than females making them ideal as pets. The food bill could be 10 times greater with a giant breed compared to a dwarf and you will need much larger living quarters! Rabbits will live for 6 - 8 years.

Where did I come from ?

The gentle nature of the Rabbit has made it a popular pet for many years. In addition to being easy to care for, petting the thick soft fur can ease stress or provide comfort. Rabbits do not need walks, however, they can be house-trained providing a nice alternative to the usual dog or cat.

Rabbits were originally bred for food and fur in the Middle Ages and used for scientific research in the 20th century. Now a popular pet, they can be categorised into three main groups based on their size: Dwarf's (2 to 4 pounds), Standards (5 to 7 pounds) and Giants (7 to 15 pounds). Speciality groups, such as lop-eared rabbits also exist.

Rabbits make fun pets as they are generally sociable, quiet and docile creatures.

Rabbits have been on this planet for at least three and a half million years. Their footprints have been found in Africa in fossilised lava dust. Rabbits are found in the wild all over the world, even in Australia where they were introduced last century and rapidly became pets.

Many varieties and colours of rabbits are available. Some of the more common ones are Dutch, English and Netherland Dwarf. Dwarf lop-eared rabbits are very popular because they are docile, intelligent and appealing to look at. Despite their name they can grow quite large(5 to 7 lbs)but make ideal house rabbits.

Giant breeds should be avoided unless you have a lot of space and some of the true dwarf varieties have a reputation for being bad tempered. The Angora has long soft fur that requires a lot of grooming and is therefore not suitable for children.
Where do I like to live?

You should choose a suitable location for the cage before you bring the animal home.

■ Rabbit prefer cool temperatures ranging from 54 to 72 oF (12 to 22oC) although they can tolerate temperature of up to 30oC.

■ Rabbits like bright and airy conditions but cannot tolerate the blazing sun. Therefore, never place the cage close to a heater or in direct sunlight.

■ Large cages are most secure on the floor. If there is too much draft, place a thick mattress under the pan or find a different area.

■ Rabbits have highly sensitive hearing. They do not appreciate a location where they are exposed to a loud television, screaming pet birds, or continual human traffic.

If your rabbit is kept outside, he should have a well insulated and waterproof wooden hutch with a solid floor and wire front. Rabbits can also be kept indoors in wire cages with perforated floors but solid bottom cages are preferred. The hutch should be positioned out of direct sunlight and cold draughts and in a place where you will regularly see him as rabbits love attention and become lonely if isolated. The hutch should be as large as you can afford or have space for.
There must be room for the rabbit to move around and it must be high enough for him to stand up on his back feet. The hutch must also be well protected from cats and dogs. Ideally, there should be a run either attached to the hutch or in a separate part of the garden. If this is directly onto grass, it should be moved regularly. A separate nest box can be put in the hutch and should contain plenty of hay, straw or wood shavings.

How to handle me ?

Once they are tamed, rabbits enjoy human company, but prefer to sit beside you rather than being picked up. They love being rubbed or scratched gently on the nose, muzzle and ears. To pick your rabbit up, place one hand under his chest and forelegs and the other hand under his bottom and gently scoop him up, holding him firmly, but gently, close to your body. Never grab at their rear ends or pick them up by their ears.

What do I like to eat?

Fresh Timothy hay from American Pet Diner or Oxbow should form the basis of your rabbits diet and must be supplemented with a good quality rabbit pellet or mix. Totoro Supplies sell a range of high quality pellets that contain a balanced amounts of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals. Fresh foods should only be introduced to them slowly when they are 6 to 7 months old as supplement to their diet. Small amounts of apples, cabbage or kale as well as edible wild plants like dandelions, chickweed or clover may be fed but always remember to wash them first. Young rabbits in particular can get upset stomachs quite easily from too much green food or being allowed to eat too much grass. Papaya tablets should also be introduce to them to prevent hair ball.
All rabbits must have fresh hay or forage available at all times but the amount of rabbit mix will need to be varied according to your rabbits age. Rabbits over about 6 months of age have a tendency to become overweight and therefore the amount of rabbit mix they are given will need to be controlled. Your rabbit should be checked regularly and fed at the same times each day. The food bowl should be sturdy, difficult to knock over and preferably made from earthenware, as rabbits will chew plastic. Water should always be available from a bottle.
Below are HARMFUL and POISONOUS plants to rabbits:

■ Creeping bitter-cup
■ Crocus (mixed)
■ Toadflax
■ Dogbane
■ Darnelgrass
■ Veratrum

Do I like company?

Adult rabbits are best housed separately, as 2 males or 2 females will often fight and a pair will breed. It is possible to have rabbits neutered if you want to keep two rabbits of different sexes together without breeding. Neutering will also reduce the aggression between two rabbits of the same sex. Rabbits can get on well with your cat and dog if introduced slowly but always supervise them together. If you keep one rabbit on its own it will need much more of your time.

Keeping me fit and healthy

Good nutrition and housing are the key to a healthy rabbit. Avoid sudden changes in diet and temperature and keep beddings clean and dry. The hutch should be clean daily and scrubbed out with warm water and a mild disinfectant at least once a week. The feeding bowl and water bottle should be cleaned daily.
Rabbits' front teeth continue to grow throughout their lives and if they become too long feeding can become difficult.

Mineral stones, good quality pellets, Timothy hay and chew toys all helps to keep the teeth worn down. If the bottom teeth grow over the top teeth, take your rabbit to the vet to have them trimmed. Rabbits are clean animals and will wash themselves like cats. However rabbits love a daily grooming session and, for the long fur varieties, such as Angoras, frequent grooming is essential to prevent hairballs and to keep the coat shiny and clean.

There are several common rabbit diseases, most of which are contagious. If your rabbit loses his appetite, appears listless, develops sniffles, runny eyes or diarrhea, you should take him to your vet.

Breeding

■ Rabbits can breed or sexually mature at 12 weeks - 16 weeks old, depending on the breed

■ They produce an average litter size of 4-12 rabbits, the larger breeds tending to have the larger litters.

■ The length of pregnancy is shorter (28 to 31 days)

■ The young are born blind and hairless and should not be touched for 72 hours

■ The young rabbits eyes open at 8-10 days

■ They can only be removed from their mother at 5-8 weeks old.

兔兔篇
你是否適合飼養兔兔?
如果你家裡有足夠空間, 而又有時間照顧的話, 兔兔將會是一種很好的家庭寵物. 可是, 要打理兔兔的時間比較長, 而牠們可能會不經意咬傷或抓傷小朋友, 所以, 青年人或成人會比小朋友更適合飼養兔兔.
事實上, 兔兔是一種愛整潔, 聰明, 友善但害羞的小動物, 透過良好的照料, 是可以成為很好的寵兒. 不同品種的兔子會有不同的性格和體型. 大型兔的食量及活動空間比侏儒兔為大, 雄性兔兔通常會比雌性兔兔溫順, 而兔兔的壽命平均6 - 8年.
兔兔長久以來給人一種溫馴而可愛的感覺, 牠的毛十分柔軟, 今人感到十分舒服, 兔兔適宜在室內飼養, 透過訓練牠們會懂得用廁所, 十分衛生.
兔兔品種?

兔兔在地球上已有 350 萬年的歷史, 我們可以在非洲的化石中找到牠們的蹤跡,一直以來, 人們繁殖兔子的目的是為了取其皮毛及作研究用途. 至到 20 世紀, 兔子漸漸成為人類的寵物, 兔子本身可分為三大類 : 侏儒兔 ( 2 - 4 磅 ) , 中型兔( 5 - 7 磅 ) , 大型兔 ( 7 - 15 磅 ) , 另外還有一些特別的品種, 如長耳兔等等. 兔兔有很多顏色, 品種方面, 普遍的有 Dutch , English 及 Netherland Dwarf. 而一般的垂耳兔的身型會較大 ( 5 - 7 磅 ), 但因為牠們的外表十分可愛有趣, 故成為很受歡迎的品種.

要飼養大型兔並不容易, 牠們的食糧大, 而且需要很大的空間活動. 而飼養長毛兔 ( 如安哥拉兔 ) 亦是費神的事, 雖然牠們長毛的外表很漂亮, 但若要維持這麼漂亮的外表, 便一定要每天梳理.

我喜歡住在什麼環境?
在攜帶兔兔回家之前, 你應先預備好所有兔兔的用品食品, 並選擇一個適合的地方放置兔籠.
兔子喜歡乾爽的氣候, 約攝氏 12度 - 24度 (華氏5 4度- 72度) , 攝氏 30度已是極限. 兔籠要放在光線充足及空氣通爽的地方, 但要避免陽光直接照射及放在風口位. 一般來說, 籠子的空間是愈大愈好, 亦因為尺吋會比較大, 因此最好放在地上. 兔子的聽覺十分靈敏, 兔籠不宜放在嘈雜的地方, 如電視音響的附近.
兔籠底不宜用網格, 最好是平穩的地面.

如果要把兔兔飼養在室外, 兔籠便需要更加的堅固, 鐵網圍欄, 防水籠子更是不可少. 而且要防止其他動物的襲擊. 籠子裡要長期有新鮮的乾草以供兔兔食用, 食物碗最好選擇重身, 不易打翻及不易咬破的. 並要有間屋子給牠休息.

怎麼對待我?

兔子喜歡與人作伴, 牠們會喜歡別人摸牠的鼻尖, 耳後和頸部. 抱兔兔的方法是用兩手托起前胸和pet pet , 然後慢慢抱在心口前, 千萬不要以抽起耳朵及頸背肉的方式抱起兔兔.
我應吃什麼東西?
應每天大量供應來自APD 或 Oxbow 牌子的新鮮乾草, 另外含有高營養的兔糧亦不可缺少, 而高質素的主糧應含有平衡的營養, 如蛋白質, 碳水化合物, 維他命, 礦物質. 兔兔會因年紀不同而有不同的營養需求, 故主糧的份量應以年紀而定, 如 6 個月大的兔兔會很容易痴肥. 所以主糧的營養份量一定要小心控制.


保持兔兔能吸收均衡的營養, 促進其健康成長. 而多多龍都有這些糧草售賣, 歡迎查詢. 至於新鮮的蔬果則不適合7 個月以下的幼兔食用, 而7 個月以的兔兔亦不宜吃太多, 只能間中作為小食, 食用過量會引起肚瀉. 如果想防止毛球症出現, 除了要餵飼大糧乾草外, 還要給牠吃Oxbow 牌子的木瓜丸.

此外, 每天要定時餵飼, 檢查牠們的食量和排泄物也是必須的.
食水方面, 因兔兔對水的需要量很大, 所以水樽內應該24 小時都有食水 ( 已煮沸 )供應.

以下是對兔兔有害的植物 :

■ 番紅花

■ 柳穿魚

■ 毒狗草

■ 毒麥

我喜歡群居嗎?

成年的兔兔應分開飼養, 以免牠們打架或生育下一代, 而絕育是可以為你解決這些問題, 減低打架的機會和防止繁殖. 如果是飼養一隻的話, 主人便應多抽時間陪伴牠了. 如果處理恰當, 兔子亦可以和貓狗和平共處的.

如何使我的健康生活?

良好的飲食習慣和居住環境是飼養健康兔兔的要決, 盡量避免突然轉變糧食, 保持環境溫度的平均和墊材的清潔衛生. 除了每天清潔兔籠. 還要每星期用清水加動物消毒水將所有兔兔用品澈底洗淨. 兔兔的門牙和大牙是會不停生長的, 所以磨牙石和乾草是必須的. 如果咬合不正將會是長期病, 須定期看獸醫.

主人應定期和兔兔沖涼 ( 分濕洗和乾洗 ) , 梳毛 ( 長毛兔更要每天梳理 ) 及剪甲.
傳染病是兔兔最常見的疾病, 如發現你的兔兔有以下情況, 請盡快帶牠去看獸醫.
食慾不振, 精神不振, 肚瀉, 流眼水, 流鼻水.
繁殖兔兔

■ 兔兔的成熟期大約是12 - 16 星期大, 因應兔兔品種而有異.

■ 每胎大約有 4 - 12 隻兔BB不等.

■ 懷孕期為28 - 31 日.

■ 剛出生的兔BB 沒有毛髮亦未開眼. 出生 8 - 10 天後才會漸漸開眼.
在出生72 小時 ( 3 天 ) 內 , 千萬不可接觸兔BB.

■ 最少 5 - 8 星期以後, 兔BB才可離開母親獨立.