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Bunny Blog

Spaying & NEUTERING - why pet rabbits should be fixed

5/25/2020

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I know what some may be thinking - if I only have one rabbit, why is spaying/neutering so important? Let me explain!

Rabbits will reach their "hormonal stage," around 4-6 months old. Although every rabbit is different, we've experienced that does can become territorial in this stage, and can lunge, grunt, and even nip. They can also sometimes spray pee. This is not because they are mean rabbits, it's just their "teenage" hormones, and they cannot control them. This is one of the reasons the myth that "bucks make better pets" exists - because unspayed does can definitely be unpleasant. But, also, bucks can hump, spray pee, and even have some of the similar territorial behaviors that does do.

It may sound like it, but I'm not at all trying to discourage anyone from adopting a rabbit. These behaviors are natural and some rabbits get them "worse" than others. Some rabbits hardly get hormonal at all.

So, how do I fix this?! Back to the original point - spaying & neutering. By getting your rabbit fixed, you will be taking away these hormonal urges (caused by wanting to mate) and ultimately, be making them a better pet. It may seem spendy ($150 - $400 per rabbit usually) but its WELL WORTH IT. If you want a pet rabbit, you should have this surgery and expense in mind. I also recommend having it done by 5-6 months, especially for bucks, as bucks can keep spraying pee after fixing if they've learned the behavior for long enough. 

 Also - you may be thinking, can't I just let this stage pass and not get them fixed? The answer, really, is thats not a good plan. Some rabbits will stay hormonal pretty much forever, and bucks are very likely to stay hormonal. Their hormonal urges might also get worse as the time goes by.

One more thing that spaying/neutering usually helps with is litter box habits. Rabbits will want to "mark" their territory at their hormonal stage by peeing, pooping, and also chinning (they have scent glands under their chins that humans can't smell, but by rubbing their chins on things they are trying to claim them). Peeing and pooping outside the litter box is definitely undesirable! Peeing outside the litter box happens much less than pooping (and usually bucks are the ones to do it), but again, it can be fixed by getting them fixed (lol). Spaying/neutering isn't guaranteed to stop pooping, but remember, rabbit poops are manageable and easy to clean with a vacuum, napkin, or dog (yes, you read that right). 

I hope this helped to all those considering a pet rabbit!
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Safe Vegetables and fruits for bunnies

3/21/2020

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Fruits, and especially veggies, are very important to feed your bunny. They provide tons of different vitamins and nutrients, and bunnies absolutely love them! 

However, there are some vegetables & fruits that should definitely be avoided. Some may even make your rabbit seriously ill, and if fed in high amounts, kill them. We all want whats best for our furry friends, so read below what vegetables and fruits are safe for bunnies, and what ones aren't! If you are interested in learning more about a bunny's diet, visit our Bunny Care Info page OR our Bunny Checklist page (to find out our favorite brands/types of food and other products)!
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Safe Vegetables 
Leafy veggies - feed your rabbit mostly these
Romaine Lettuce
Green / Red leaf Lettuce
Kale
Argula
Carrot Tops
Endive
Spring Greens
Frisee Lettuce
Mache
Chicory
Dill Leaves
Blackberry Leaves
Raspberry Leaves
Turnip Greens
Mint 
Basil
Dandelion Greens & Dandelion Flowers (make sure they are unsprayed)!
Radicchio
Fennel
Yu Choy
Borage Leaves
Celery Leaves
​Leafy veggies (these listed veggies are high in oxalic acid, and should be fed much more sparingly)
Mustard Greens
Beet Greens
Radish Tops
Swiss Chard
Spinach
​Parsley
Sprouts (they LOVE these - harvest 1-6 days after sprouting)
Non-Leafy veggies - feed small amounts of these
Broccoli (very small amounts - causes gas, and rabbits cannot pass gas)
Cabbage (same as broccoli, small amounts)
​Carrots
Bell Pepper
Brussel sprouts
Summer Squash
Zucchini Squash
Broccolini
Chinese Pea Pods (the flat type, without large beans)
Celery
Asparagus
​Fruits (feed in very small amounts as a treat only - about 1 teaspoon per day per 2 lbs of body weight)
Pear
Apple (no seeds/stem)
Plum (no pit)
Peach
Kiwi
Pineapple
Blackberry
Blueberry
Raspberry
Strawberry
Huckleberry
Marionberry
Loganberry
Mango
Papaya (great for digestion)
Banana (no peel, about one 1/4 slice per day for a 4-5 lb rabbit)
Currants
Starfruit
Necterine
Apricot
Melon (cantaloupe, watermelon)
​Pumpkin (if canned, make sure it is 100% PURE pumpkin)
​Grapes
​* NOT SAFE PRODUCE / OTHER FOODS *
Potatoes
Avacados
Fruit pits / seeds
Rhubarb
Nuts
Dog/cat food
Meat 
Dairy
Bread
Cereal
Yogurt Drops (even if labeled for rabbits)
Any seeds
Pellets with colorful treats/nuts/seeds mixed in
Iceburg lettuce (no nutritional value, can cause bloat / diarrhea) 
Raisins
Parsnips
Cauliflower
Any sugary / processed foods
Thank you for reading, and we hope you learned something today! Comment below your bunny(s) favorite veggies! ↴​
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why do rabbits make such great pets?

10/4/2019

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I know what some of you may be thinking. Why do rabbits make such good pets? Were you the kid that had that one unfriendly, skittish rabbit as a pet growing up? What's the big deal with these bunnies being such amazing house pets? Let me explain.

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First off, and this is VERY important: a rabbit's (or any animal's, for that matter) personality very much depends on how they are raised. You may hear the old wives tale that when you touch a newborn rabbit, the mother will eat their young. This may be true with wild rabbits, but domestic ones will not do this. So, socialization at an early age is the key to a friendly, loving pet rabbit.

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    Whisper Lops

    My name is Zoe, I am the owner of Whisper Lops Rabbitry. Here on this bunny blog you will find tips, tricks, fun facts, recipes, and more bunny-related things!

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