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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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)! 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! ↴
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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