New Bunny Information

Handling and General Info:

Slow movements are best in a relaxed state. Bunnies are prey animals meaning if you come at them quickly in an excited manner they will run. It is best to keep your movements slow and gentle. This will allow your bunny to come to trust you and your actions.
Hold them for short periods at first and then gradually increase that time they are still getting to know you and your home and it is a lot to take in. I like to put a little towel or blanket on my lap. When they go to move off your lap just gently redirect them back onto your lap. Bunnies are smart. They will learn that the lap/towel means to sit quietly on your lap. Rabbits are trainable and with gentle guidance, you can teach them to sit quietly on your lap, pose, or jump! Check out "Bunny Agility" videos on Google...very impressive!!
Each bunny's personality is different and can change as they age. They will tell you if they are stressed out. Try not to expose them to loud noises in the beginning. Place their cage in a quieter room or a corner to help acclimate them to the sights, sounds, and smells, of your home slowly with less stress.
Bunnies keep themselves clean by grooming kind of like cats do. Do not bathe your bunny. The only exception is if your bunny gets runny poop on its bottom, and a butt bath is necessary. You give a butt bath with shallow warm water and gentle soap. Get as little of the bunny wet as possible and rinse thoroughly.
Always support your bunny's butt when holding. As prey animals, they prefer to be on the ground and prefer head scratches. Supporting their bottom will help them feel more secure as well as provide support to keep them safe.

Feeding:

I will send you home with a "transition" bag of food in case you choose to feed your bunny a different brand than I use. If you are going to be using a different feed simply slowly acclimate them to it by adding a little more of the new feed every few days. If their poop gets soft then put in less and wait a few more days to increase amount of new feed. Whenever you get soft poop pull the pellets and give Just Timothy Hay until their digestion levels out.
During the first week I suggest providing more hay than pellets. 1/4 cup pellets and unlimited TIMOTHY hay. I like to break it up into 2 feedings a day. After the first week I suggest increasing amount of pellets to 1/2 cup a day. The following week you can increase as needed until an adult at 6 months. If it appears they are gaining too much weight you can reduce the amount of pellets. I use Manna PRO 16% rabbit feed but any quality feed is fine. I would make sure it does not have too many added treats in it and at least 16% protein. I have used it for many years and have never lost a rabbit but you are welcome to use another quality brand. Always provide unlimited amounts of Timothy hay, I do not use Alfalfa with my kits as I was seeing mild digestive upsets. I do not suggest Alfalfa after 6 months of age due to the calcium content that can cause urinary tract issues. I highly suggest that you hold off on any fruits or vegetables until they are 6 months of age. After that only give sparingly at first until they adjust. If you decide to add them into their diet, monitor their poop. If they start to get soft or runny poop, promptly stop and feed mostly Timothy hay (smaller amount of pellets) until poop is firm again.

Water:

Spring water is best. You can add a pro/prebiotic if you choose. They are used to 4-Way Acid Pack (click for link). There are other great probiotics but this is my favorite for nursing mothers and young kits to give them the best start. It is slightly sweet and smells like delicious vanilla. This prompts kits to drink more avoiding dehydration. It also helps to keep the gut balanced.Some other great ones as they are growing are ProBios and Benebac. Another great additive is Apple Cider Vinegar with the "Mother" in it. Bragg's is my favorite. Add a 1/2 tsp. or so to a quart of water. This will help to maintain a more alkaline gut which promotes gut health and health in general.

Spay/Neuter:

As a pet you can get your bunny altered at 4-6 months of age but follow the advice of your Veterinarian of choice. Fixing your rabbit (like dogs) can make them more docile and eliminate hormonal issues. This is especially beneficial if you have more than one bun. When you alter your bunny its chance of getting cancer and other health issues is greatly reduced, lengthening its lifespan. Altering is not a requirement and I respect new bunny owners personal choices. Altering can be a risk for rabbits so do some research and do what you think is best for your situation.

Habitat:

There are so many different styles and sizes of cages for rabbits. Choose what works for you and your family. I suggest joining some pet rabbit Facebook groups/pages and Pinterest to get ideas. I also have posted some ideas on my website. Whatever cage or living area you choose just make sure that your new bun has room to move around and is not sitting in its own waste. Pine pellets are best for the litter pan as they are very absorbent, tidy, and do not stick to your bunny's fur. Pine Pellets are best for litter pans. Pine shavings are also a good choice. Do not use cedar shavings as these are toxic to rabbits.

Litter Training:

I prefer training rabbits to use the litter box because it makes cleanup so much easier. Bunnies are exposed to it and typically follow momma on where to "go". I see this early training important as it can instill this habit early with young rabbits. Rabbits like to use the same spot in their cage. This comes in handy if you choose to let your bunny free roam. To train put any waste they produce into the new litter box so they know where you want them to "go". You can also put a small food dish or hay in (or hanging above) the litter box to start. If you choose to let your bunny free roam I suggest starting them in a small area and then gradually increasing their amount of space. This especially helps younger bunnies understand where they are to "go" and that is imprinted before they are given more room. Some bunnies pickup on this more quickly than others so be patient. If your bunny is free range and potty habits change look at any stressors in their environment that may be causing it.