If you are considering purchasing a pet rabbit, you should first give careful consideration to the demands and rewards of these very special pets. Countless homes have been brightened by the presence of a long-eared lodger, and diligent rabbit keepers have many years of fulfilling interaction and bonding to look forward to. Here you can find the basic information needed to answer the question: Is a rabbit right for me?Rabbits require daily and weekly care and maintenance, as well as a significant monetary investment. When well-cared for, rabbits typically live 9-12 years, so this is a long-term commitment. Just think- if you buy a pet rabbit for your 12 year-old, the rabbit will likely still be alive when that child moves out of the home. If you simply want a pet that will amuse a young child for a little while, consider a guinea pig or other shorter-lived creature.Beginning with financial costs, here is a brief summary of the requirements of rabbit ownership.
Initial costs:
The Rabbit Itself: It will usually cost you nothing more than #10000 depending on the breed and age you want, *****NOTE: A list of all the rabbit breeds available in Nigeria will be uploaded on the site soonest*****
The Rabbit Cage: These come in a wide range of prices depending on size and many other factors, but you should not skimp on this purchase, as it will likely need to last a long time. Even if you can comfortably house an immature rabbit in a smaller cage, remember that it will continue to grow up to the age of 6-8 months. A typical cage costs between #5000 to #10000 already made and if you are the DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) type you can check up designs and build it yourself, *****NOTE: A list of rabbit cage designs will be available on this site soonest*****
The Litter Pan: Rabbits are some of the easiest pets to litter-train, and the alternative to a litter pan is constant cleaning of their cage. YOU CAN GET IT FROM A RABBIT BREEDER OR YOU IMPROVISE ONE.
A Water Bottle or Dish: As much as you might like to save some money, don't bother putting a plastic cereal bowl or something similar into the rabbit cage. The rabbit is guaranteed to flip the bowl over, not only depriving the rabbit of water, but also soaking the floor, which will become unhygienic. Use either a commercial pet drinker, or a heavy crock that cannot be tipped over by the rabbit
Rabbit feeder: Again, you need either a heavy crock, or (preferably) a bin feeder that will attach to the side of the cage. Price is around #500 to #1000
Rabbit brush: Brushing of your rabbits fur is important to prevent potentially lethal hairballs from forming in its gut.You could get this from pet stores Price is around #1000 - #2500.
Rabbit nail trimmers: Unless your rabbit is going to have lots of time to dig and run over hard, rough surfaces, which is unlikely, you'll need to occassionally trim its nails to prevent scratches when picking them up.
Toys: Rabbits are lively, intelligent animals that need stimulation and exercise. There are a wide variety of household items that can be converted into rabbit toys with little effort, but there are also many commercial toys available. These usually run a couple bucks each. *****NOTE: Ideas on how to make different types of homemade rabbit toys will be available on the site soonest*****.
Total initial cost: #20000 or more.
In addition to these start-up costs, there are various supplies and consumables that you will need to purchase on an ongoing basis.
Pellets: Matured rabbits should eat between 150 grams of food to 200 grams of dry pellets per day, depending on size. A 5 kilograms bag of food should last about 7 to 8 weeks, give or take. A 5kg bag of food should vary around #2000 to #2500.
Grass: Grass is an also an important element of your rabbit's nutrition, and should be available occassionally to balance out the consumption of dry Pellets and if you have free unlimited access to grasses you could make it your No.1 choice of food for your rabbit. The amount your rabbit will eat will depend to a large degree on the size, breed, individual temperament, and other factors.
Fresh fruits and vegetables: A small amount of fresh plant matter should be part of each rabbit's diet from time to time. You can plan on feeding them some vegetables and fruits once or twice in a week or as much as you can.
Occasional check-ups: Your rabbit should be checked by a reputable rabbit breeder or taken to a vet who specializes in exotic pet thrice in a year or any time you suspect any signs of sicknesses to safeguard against health problems that might not be immediately apparent. If taken to a rabbit breeder it shouldn't cost you more than #2000 to #5000 per check up depending on the type of action taken by the breeder.
Starting to rethink rabbit ownership yet? It is important that you be prepared for these non-optional costs. Everything listed above is an absolute necessity for a healthy pet rabbit, and unless you are able to harvest your own hay or construct your own cage, you won't be able to cut any of these costs.
In addition to the financial outlay, rabbit care will require an investment of time. Here is a breakdown of the tasks regularly associated with rabbit ownership.
Daily tasks:
Change food and water and clean bowls: Any food pellets that remain uneaten from the previous day should be disposed of and replaced, and the same applies to water. Water or food that is allowed to sit and spoil or stagnate will become a vector for disease. Food bowl and water bowl/bottle should also be cleaned daily. Clean with mild soap, and rinse thoroughly with clean water. this should cost you 10 minutes or less.
Check the litterbox: Depending on how much litter you place in the litterbox at a time, you will need to change it more or less frequently. Once a week is typical, but you'll want to check it daily to make sure it isn't heavily soiled, is not drawing flies, and that there are no signs of health problems evident in the rabbit's waste, such as misformed cecotrophes. this should cost you nothing more than than 3 minutes.
Clean out any type of dirt in the rabbit's cage. If dirts are allowed to degrade in the cage, they will quickly become sources of disease and discomfort for your rabbit. This should cost you less than 5 minutes.
Most importantly: Spend time with your rabbit! Just as much as any dog, rabbits are social, communicative animals that require daily interaction for their mental and physical health.
While your rabbit should have at least an hour or 2 hours per day to roam freely, you'll want to spend an hour or so of that time interacting with it. Try rolling a ball or cardboard tube with it, or tossing a roped toy to it- some rabbits are very good "catch" players! Apart from the entertainment and satisfaction you and your rabbits will derive from playtime, this is a good opportunity to observe your rabbit for any signs of health problems. This should be at least 45 minutes or more.Total time per day: this should be about 1 hour 10 minutes per day.
Weekly tasks:
Change litterbox: Remove used litter and replace. This should cost you about 5 to 10 minutes.
Thorough cage cleaning: This should be done during the rabbits normal "playtime", when it is out of the cage. Thoroughly wipe down all surfaces. Rinse thoroughly with clean or hot water and allow to dry. 1 hour or less.
Groom rabbit: Rabbits require two kinds of regular grooming: brushing and nail trimming. The importance of regularly brushing your rabbit cannot be overstated, as it will prevent the rabbit from forming hairballs in its gut that may cause a fatal blockage. Use a rabbit petting brush or gentle brush- rabbits have extremely sensitive skin. This is a good way to promote bonding between you and your rabbit, as mutual grooming is an important social activity for rabbits in the wild.
Nail trimming should be done every week or two, but will be easier if done more frequently. Use nail clippers made for small pets. Remember never to restrain a struggling rabbit, as their fragile spines and legs may break. *****Note: an article on how to groom rabbits and how to trim their nails will be out soon on the blog*****.Total time per week: 1-2 hours.
These guidelines should give you a good idea of how much time you'll need to devote to caring for your rabbit. Although you might be able to get away with cutting a few corners, this is highly inadvisable. Your rabbit's health and happiness will suffer, not to mention that doing so will defeat the point of owning a rabbit. If any of these requirements strike you as overly burdensome, you may want to reconsider purchasing a rabbit. Otherwise, you can look forward to years of wonder and joy as you watch your furry companion grow, learn, and develop a bond with you that few other pets can match. We wish you the best in your adventures in rabbitry!
When it comes to the health and happiness of your pet rabbit, choosing a quality living environment should be on the top of your list. Whether you choose quality Rabbit Cages or opt for larger Rabbit Hutches, the quality of the materials and the construction of the dwelling will determine how well it works for your particular furry friend.
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