Furry Babies: Happy Bunny

This is not the most prettiest photo but this is when my baby bunny is most happiest, in his kennel, that position, and knocked out cold haha. His daily routine is pretty much ring his bell when he's fussy and hungry in the morning, eat, do his business, sleep again or until I let him out for his exercise. Bunnies are easy to care for and not much of a high rocket with the vet bills but you still need to keep them happy and healthy which adds up.

This particular bunny is only 4 months and is a pure bred Holland Lop which means he will not get any bigger than 3 lbs and it shouldn't. Certain breed of rabbits have certain healthy weight just like any other pets and even humans.

How to keep bunny happy in kennel:

They have fur everywhere even under their paws so a slipper floor won't be such a good idea. Buy a cheap rug or carpet scrap and place a perfect fit in the kennel (you might want to use double sided tape underneath as they will dig and lift up the rug.)

Place a corner litter pan about twice the size of the bunny. Layer with wood chip beddings to absorb pee and helps with their stinky urine (it's like cats.)

Fresh water must ALWAYS be available, try buying the biggest plastic bottle you can find for bunnies.

Unlimited TIMOTHY hay. NOT alfalfa! This helps their digestive system and prevent them from getting hairballs (they do clean themselves and again, like cats.)

To maintain their healthy weight, if you have a bunny like mine, 1/2 of pellets a day and after 6 months, 1 cup a day should be your limit. Try using Science diet for young rabbits found in Petco. Other bunny type, check the labels on each food bag.

Unlimited chew toys, their teeth grow constantly and with nothing to chew on, they will check anything wood in their path and will grow aggressive because it brings them pain if teeth are not shaped.

Bunnies love toys as well, mines love bells. You can hang those bird toys with the bells and wood in their cage ( I somehow regret since my learned that if he keeps ringing it, I will come with his food.)

Young bunnies shouldn't have fruits until they are at least 6 months old but you can give 2 baby carrots a day as their snack. I think it's so cute when mines eat his carrots, I always think of the stereotype bunnies ALWAYS eat carrots. Previous bunnies I owned HATED carrots haha.
Once they are 6 months and up, they can have 1 cup of vegetables and fruits A DAY!

Furry Babies: Bunny exercise time

I LOVE THESE!!! When I got my one set for my pomeranian 2 years ago, he loved it and kept my home clean until he got big and learned how to climb. I now use this for my 4 months old holland lop bunny and he liked the one set but I knew he didn't seem too happy with such a limited running space until I got another set and connected all 12 panels and viola, a very huge exercise pen. It's super sunny out right now that's why mister Elias bunny is M.I.A from his pen at the moment.

Rabbits needs daily exercise like other pets to keep them healthy and maintain a proper weight.

Unhappy bunnies can be aggressive and more likely become over weight and lazy.

Allow them to run when it is cool out, and has access to a shaded area, for at LEAST one hour a day. Even better if you can let them run around til it gets dark.

Attach a water feeder to the pen because they should always have water. Provide hay if needed but mines usually likes to lounge and run run run hop hop run sleep, haha.

This will also be a great time to give them their snack and bond with them.

Don't forgot to bring in your bunny when it's, too hot or it's starting to rain etc. Have a nice day :)

Furry Babies: Litter train that bunny

Before I had any rabbits, I didn't know you had to train the bunny to use a litter, I thought you put it in the cage and viola, a pan filled with pebbles and wet urine. Boy was I wrong not until I had more knowledge on a rabbit responsibility and litter train my current holland lop. Surprisingly, litter pan training a rabbit is pretty easy breezy home skillet.

Start in a small corner so the target is more visible to them.

Buy the right fit of a pan which means twice the size as the rabbit.

Let them poop around for awhile and when you're ready to place the pan, scoop up a few of their droppings and place in the pan, cover with wood chip beddings. Placing some hay on top of everything else will encourage them to approach the pan.

It actually took my Elias 4 days to get the hang of it and he started using it constantly. Don't be shock when your rabbit is IN the pan and eating the hay at the same time, it's very normal. This should encourage you more to keep the litter pan and cage clean, right?

Furry Babies: Clean rabbit litter pan means..

Some websites or vet will tell you that you should clean a rabbit pan at least once a week but really? I think it is very disgusting having to wait for a week, imagine how the bunny might feel having to sleep next to a nasty pan, right? I like to clean my rabbit pan every 2 days to avoid flies swarming, avoiding any urine smell and attacking it before it starts, fresh hay on top for mister Elias, and a better fresh air for him and everyone else that likes to pet him.

Throw everything away at least every 2 days.

Wash down litter pan and it doesn't hurt to clean it with dish soap that kills bacteria; of course you need to use a separate sponge from your dishes. Let it air dry.

Use old paper such as newspapers but I personally like using old magazine paper because they are glossy and as long as I clean within the 2 days, it won't stick much to the pan making it easier to clean. Once pan is dry, place layers of paper at the bottom of the pan.

Layer up to 2-3 inches of litter pan bedding, I like to use the wood chips Cedar bedding. It smells good and for a big bad at Petco with your petco card, it's pretty cheap and last long.

Top it off with timothy hay, place in a corner.

Repeat these steps every 2-3 days to avoid funky smells and flies surrounding your pet. This also helps absorb urine and when bunny uses pan, he don't come out with wet and yellow feet. Everything used to layer up the pan is very biodegradable and is a good bonus to use for your garden. Saves money, planet, and a very happy bunny.