Rabbits are part of the group of companion animals that can be found in many homes. Some of them attract a lot of attention for their sweet appearance, as is the rabbit case. It stands out for looking at first glances like a stuffed animal or a baby rabbit, even if it is an adult, but in reality, it is nothing more than a very small rabbit.

The rabbit is appreciated for its beauty, but the esteem cannot stay there because it requires a series of care to enjoy good health and be really happy, which is our responsibility from the day we welcome it at home. To discover how to care for a rabbit outdoors and its main characteristics, we recommend that you continue reading this article about rabbits’ primary care.

How to care for a rabbit outdoors?

The rabbit or mini rabbit has a very small stature and size since its weight ranges between 500 grams (which are called super rabbits) and 1.1 kg. Due to its dwarf size, this species is very popular as a companion animal.

These are the main characteristics of the rabbit :

• It is usually gray, white or black, but there are also brown tones or spots.
• This breed is very active, so it needs to live in a large space to move around a lot and channel the accumulated energy.
• They can be especially nervous and elusive.
• As with most rabbits, bunnies generally don’t like being held either very much. In these circumstances, when they do not want to be grabbed or hugged, they can bite or scratch (even if it is to try to escape since they have fine nails), so this is an aspect to consider to avoid scratches, especially in children.

Feeding the rabbit

Don’t you know what a rabbit eats? If you are going to adopt one, you must know in advance how the rabbit is fed. After leaving their mother’s milk, these bunnies feed only on hay in their first months of life, and when they reach adulthood, they are ready to eat more things.

Oats, alfalfa, hay, and mixes or specific feed for rabbits are some of the ingredients with which you can feed them, but always in small quantities so that they do not overeat at once. Also, to develop correctly, it is convenient that you provide them with vegetables and fruits daily, such as spinach, cucumber, banana, apple, and peach. However, be careful and inform yourself well, as some vegetables and fruits are not suitable for rabbits, as is the case with bananas. Also, to reduce the risk of hairballs in the stomach, add rabbit malt to your rabbit’s diet.

You should also consider that his teeth will grow non-stop, so he will need objects that he can gnaw on. If you collect branches or pine cones on your excursions so that the rabbit can gnaw, keep in mind that beforehand it is advisable to wash them very well (never have traces of soaps or other products and that they are very well dried in the open air) to avoid health problems in the animal.

Environmental enrichment for rabbit

Due to the enormous activity they have, it is also relevant to provide entertainment, stimuli and the best for rabbits.

• There are different objects that the rabbit can gnaw, such as wood shavings, without posing a danger to its health.
• There is also a softer texture that is useful to be moved and manipulated without difficulty.
• Structures with multiple ducts are very suitable for rabbits as they are prey animals, so they are another alternative for them to run and feel safe in a place similar to burrows.
• Finally, bet on capable of dispensing food to stimulate the rabbit’s intelligence and smell.

Cage for rabbit

The small size of the rabbit confuses many people about the activity he needs to have. They are very energetic animals that require daily exercise, so they must live in a cage adjusted to this need.

The cage for a rabbit must be wide, with a minimum size of 100 X 50 X 70 cm and with an outdoor area enabled (fenced or not depending on your preferences) so that it can leave and enter the cage as desired. Allow him to leave the cage to the prepared outdoor area , either indoors or out, for at least two hours each day and move more freely. Of course, the more hours he is out of the cage, the better for the animal, but it must be an authorized and controlled area to avoid accidents (without cables in the middle that can gnaw or objects that can harm it). If you leave it in the cage for a long time and daily, it will have more health and behavior problems. It does no good to be caged.

Cleaning the cage of the rabbit

The hygiene of the rabbit is as important as that of its environment. Clean the cage, the feeders and drinkers and other utensils every 5 days or so. Still, you will have to pay attention to the need for hygiene because your rabbit may get dirtier and you will have to clean more than once a week or not so dirty and stretch the cleaning up to 7 days, maximum.

Rabbit bath

Another aspect to consider about how to care for a rabbit is that of the baths. They are clean animals that are in charge of being groomed daily. Therefore, you do not need to bathe him often.

If for some reason it gets dirty, using a wet wipe will be enough or, if it is not because it is very dirty, you can also bathe it but using a specific soap for rabbits or one with a neutral pH. Also, never dry it with the dryer because you could burn it very easily, dry it with towels and in the open air.

Vaccines for the rabbit

In order for the animal to be as healthy as possible for many years, it is important to comply with the vaccine schedule for the rabbit.

Therefore, take him to the veterinarian to examine him and start giving him the corresponding vaccines. The specialist will tell you which vaccines are necessary and their periodicity. In this way, myxomatosis is prevented, that is, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and fleas.