BRINGING YOUR BUNNY HOME - THE FIRST SEVEN DAYS

The first week of bunny parenthood is all about helping your new little friend feel safe, secure, and loved. Here’s what to expect and how to set your bunny up for success:

✨ Day 1-2: Let Them Settle

Your bunny just left the only home they’ve ever known. Give them time to adjust. Keep things calm, quiet, and low stress. Avoid picking them up- just let them explore their new space at their own pace.

🌸 Day 3-4: Start Bonding Slowly

Sit or lay beside them during playtime. Offer healthy treats from your hand (like an alfalfa cube or a willow stick). Speak softly and move slowly. Let them come to you.

💗 Day 5-6: Gentle Handling Begins

Now’s a great time to start short, positive handling sessions on a soft surface like a blanket on your lap. Support their body, especially their feet, and offer affection with calm, confident hands.

🐾 Day 7: You’re Building Trust

By the end of the week, you’ll likely see them starting to recognize you and feel more at home. Every bunny is different- shy, bold, cuddly, or independent but trust grows with time and consistency.

💬 TIP: Rabbits are prey animals, so confidence is earned slowly. Let them lead the pace of your relationship. You’re not just their caretaker- you’re becoming their safe place 🐰🌿💛

RABBIT CARE TIPS

Hay:

Unlimited access to fresh grass hay (Timothy, Orchard, or Meadow). Essential for digestion and dental health. Horse Quality bales are perfect.

Pellets:

- Baby Rabbits (under 6 months): Unlimited high-quality alfalfa-based pellets while still growing. Start measuring pellets around 5–6 months.

- Holland Lops (adult): 1/4–1/2 cup per day depending on size.

- Choose a high-fiber pellet such as Oxbow, Show Hutch, or Purina Complete brands.

Vegetables & Herbs:

- Avoid vegetables entirely for rabbits under 6 months.

- Small amounts of fresh herbs like parsley, cilantro, or basil can be introduced slowly after 12 weeks.

- For adults, feed leafy greens in moderation—no more than the size of their head per day.

- Avoid gas-producing vegetables such as broccoli, brussel sprouts,cauliflower, and cabbage as they can cause GI stasis.

Water:

• Always provide fresh, clean water.

• Prefer bowls for better hydration, but bottles can be used in combination.

• Wash daily.

Grooming & Nail Care:

- Nail Trimming: Every 4–6 weeks.

- Use a cat-sized nail clipper.

- Avoid the quick (pink blood vessel inside the nail).

- If nails are hidden by fur, place the paw inside a mesh onion bag or orange bag to expose the nail.

-Never bathe your rabbit, this is highly stressful and can put them into shock.

*Slicker brushes and metal combs for grooming

Enrichment & Toys:

• Chew-safe options:

- Apple or popple tree branches (untreated)

- Untreated cardboard: toilet paper tubes stuffed with hay

- Wooden chew toys from rabbit-safe brands

• Rotate toys regularly to prevent boredom.

Litter Training:

• Use a cat-sized litter box with pine pellets.

• Add hay to one side to encourage use.

• Scoop daily, change weekly.

Health Notes:

• If your rabbit develops diarrhea, remove pellets and offer hay only.

• Add a probiotic supplement. Benebac is my favorite.

• Monitor for signs of GI stasis (not eating, no poops, lethargy,not moving). Seek vet care immediately if suspected.

*Keep critical care on hand just in case of oral syringes so you can syringe feed water. Keep gas drops on hand as well. Very small chances these would be needed but nice to have in your rabbit first aid kit.

Treats & Favorites:

• Avoid sugary or yogurt-coated treats.

• Recommended: Oxbow Simple Rewards (hearts or bell shapes). Probios horse treats-1/4 to 1/2 a cookie

*Benebac probiotic powder

*Dandelion greens

*Frozen water bottles to lay against

*Frozen tiles to beat the heat

*Plastic tidy cat buckets make great play houses (and chicken next boxes )

*Stuff a toilet paper rolls with a little bit of pellets, hay, oats, pine cones, dried herbs. Use a scissor to fray the edges so that you can close them back up.

MOLTING RABBITS

In rabbits, molting is a natural shedding of the old fur and its replacement with new fur. It usually occurs twice a year, during spring and fall, as rabbits adapt their coat to changing temperatures.

This shedding is often accompanied by an increased amount of loose fur and can sometimes lead to bald patches.

Elaboration:

Why rabbits molt:

Molting is a natural process driven by seasonal changes in daylight and temperature. In spring, rabbits shed their thick winter coats to prepare for warmer weather, and in the fall, they grow a new, thicker coat to insulate them during colder months.

Signs of molting:

You'll likely notice more fur around your rabbit's living area, and they may groom themselves more frequently during molting. You might also see bald spots or areas where the old fur is being replaced by new fur.

Health considerations:

While molting is a normal process, it's important to monitor your rabbit's health. Rabbits cannot vomit, and excessive ingestion of fur during molting can lead to gastrointestinal stasis, a potentially life-threatening condition.

Grooming during molting:

Regular brushing can help remove loose fur and reduce the amount ingested by your rabbit.

Other reasons for hair loss:

Excessive shedding outside of the normal molting season or the presence of inflamed patches of skin could indicate a health problem, so it's important to consult with a vet if you're concerned.