How We Raise Our Rabbits
WELCOME!
There are a lot of different views out there on how to correctly raise a rabbit ...even more so if it is an Angora rabbit. Our care standards are primarily based on the World Rabbit Science's journal Advances in Rabbit Science. Advances in Rabbit Science is a research journal that gathers research results from rabbit scientists around the world. It contains laboratory studies devoted to many aspects of rabbit health. We feel that this journal (with contributions from rabbit scientists of 14 countries) is an objective look at rabbit housing, welfare, and reproduction.
When we do reproduce rabbits, we breed to the American Rabbit Breeders Association's Standard of Perfection. This means that we make breeding decisions based off of ARBA's criteria for health, body type, wool texture, and temperament for the English Angora rabbit.
The following is an attempt to share with you some of our practices. Others may not do things the same way that we do and that is OK. Our suggestion to you is that you gather as much information as you can and make a decision about your rabbit that works best for you. Here is what we do and why we do it.
We'll cover the basics: food, water, housing and grooming.
There are a lot of different views out there on how to correctly raise a rabbit ...even more so if it is an Angora rabbit. Our care standards are primarily based on the World Rabbit Science's journal Advances in Rabbit Science. Advances in Rabbit Science is a research journal that gathers research results from rabbit scientists around the world. It contains laboratory studies devoted to many aspects of rabbit health. We feel that this journal (with contributions from rabbit scientists of 14 countries) is an objective look at rabbit housing, welfare, and reproduction.
When we do reproduce rabbits, we breed to the American Rabbit Breeders Association's Standard of Perfection. This means that we make breeding decisions based off of ARBA's criteria for health, body type, wool texture, and temperament for the English Angora rabbit.
The following is an attempt to share with you some of our practices. Others may not do things the same way that we do and that is OK. Our suggestion to you is that you gather as much information as you can and make a decision about your rabbit that works best for you. Here is what we do and why we do it.
We'll cover the basics: food, water, housing and grooming.
Food & Water
Water bottle, clip-on dish,
crock-style bowl
Our rabbits receive regular tap water from a municipal source because that is what is easily available to us. They drink the same water we do ...right out of the tap. At times, we mix Apple Cider Vinegar in our water at a rate of 1 tablespoon per gallon. The rabbits seem to really enjoy it. We promote the use of water bottles whenever possible. This ensures your rabbit receives the cleanest water possible. During transitional times (bunny goes to a new home, to the vet, to a show), we recommend a water dish as well as a water bottle. We are vigilant about water intake. Keeping our rabbits well-hydrated is one of our utmost priorities. Hydration is key to rabbit health.
We feed PenPals 18% rabbit feed, a portion of our special grain supplement, and free feed orchard grass or timothy hay to all our rabbits. It is balanced nutrition that allows our rabbits to perform well on the show table and live long healthy lives...with lots of luxurious fiber as a bonus. We have no problems with woolblock, gut statis, or poopy butt with this diet. Perfect for us!
We do give our rabbits small amounts of greens. Parsley, cilantro, and dandelion leaves are favorites. The rabbits usually get these treats (and/or a couple of papaya tablets) during grooming sessions.
Basic feed and water tools are: a water bottle and/or water bowl and a food dish.
We feed PenPals 18% rabbit feed, a portion of our special grain supplement, and free feed orchard grass or timothy hay to all our rabbits. It is balanced nutrition that allows our rabbits to perform well on the show table and live long healthy lives...with lots of luxurious fiber as a bonus. We have no problems with woolblock, gut statis, or poopy butt with this diet. Perfect for us!
We do give our rabbits small amounts of greens. Parsley, cilantro, and dandelion leaves are favorites. The rabbits usually get these treats (and/or a couple of papaya tablets) during grooming sessions.
Basic feed and water tools are: a water bottle and/or water bowl and a food dish.
Housing
Our Angora rabbits live indoors in 2' x 4' wire pens. The pens are 28" tall so they are able to completely stretch out their bodies. Wire cages with footpads are recommended by World Rabbit Science to for optimal rabbit health, according to research studies. They are actually the best choice for hygiene and keeping your bunny clean and dry. We use the wire flooring and footpads as recommended. We chose wire over solid flooring because Angora rabbits are like little dust mops. They pick up EVERYTHING from the floor of their living area. They will then groom themselves (because bunnies like to be clean) and possibly ingest harmful debris, dust, etc. We feel that wire flooring is the best living environment for Angoras, in particular, because of their longer wool. Advances in Rabbit Science also recommends wire floors with resting pads for all rabbits. This keeps a rabbit's environment clean and disease free and has been proven the most effective rabbit flooring through scientific study.
Another consideration is temperature. Rabbits regulate their temperature through their ears, so wool on ears means a greater need for watching those temperatures, even indoors. If rabbits had opposable thumbs, they would probably turn your thermostat to about 65 degrees. While not always at 65 degrees, we do our best to keep our thermostat set to accomodate the temperature requirements of our rabbits (and my husband). This means that we enjoy low electricity bills during the winter and I wear a sweater. We have thermometers by all the cages and temperature monitoring is part of our daily duties.
For ventilation, we circulate air by using fans and open the windows to our dedicated bunny rooms whenever possible. We use pine pellets and Sweet PDZ in drop pans to manage odor. We also have wire floor litter pans in the pens. Our rabbits are pretty good about using them and this helps with cage maintenance tremendously.
We also have X-pens for additional exercise.
Grooming
Scissors, flea comb,
wide-toothed comb, and small slicker brush
Grooming is one of the most important things you can do for your Angora rabbits. This keeps them healthy and happy. Many people find this a relaxing and bonding experience for your and your rabbit. My rabbits LOVE being pampered and seem to really enjoy it. It's like going to the salon for them.
We groom most of our fiber rabbits on at least a weekly basis. Show animals are groomed more frequently as to maintain their beautiful coats. It is not really so hard to do, but you must have a ROUTINE, ROUTINE, ROUTINE. Skip a grooming time or two, and that will have an adverse affect on your rabbit's health and your time. Make a schedule and stick to it.
Also, show animals are groomed differently than fiber or companion animals. Show bunny owners can make good use of a shop vac with blower option, or even better, a pet blower. Using the shop vac or pet blower is an outdoor activity, but it decreases grooming time tremendously.
We use simple tools...a wide-toothed comb and small scissors. A small slicker brush is helpful as well. We use a rabbit grooming table and a pet blower for our show animals.
If your Angora rabbit will be pet only, you have a couple of options. You can let all that fluffiness grow out to which ever length you like best and then clip him whenever it gets too long to manage. OR, you can keep your bunny in a "puppy clip" which is a short, approximately 1/2" to 1" long coat and still get all that sweet Angora personality with low maintenance.
We groom most of our fiber rabbits on at least a weekly basis. Show animals are groomed more frequently as to maintain their beautiful coats. It is not really so hard to do, but you must have a ROUTINE, ROUTINE, ROUTINE. Skip a grooming time or two, and that will have an adverse affect on your rabbit's health and your time. Make a schedule and stick to it.
Also, show animals are groomed differently than fiber or companion animals. Show bunny owners can make good use of a shop vac with blower option, or even better, a pet blower. Using the shop vac or pet blower is an outdoor activity, but it decreases grooming time tremendously.
We use simple tools...a wide-toothed comb and small scissors. A small slicker brush is helpful as well. We use a rabbit grooming table and a pet blower for our show animals.
If your Angora rabbit will be pet only, you have a couple of options. You can let all that fluffiness grow out to which ever length you like best and then clip him whenever it gets too long to manage. OR, you can keep your bunny in a "puppy clip" which is a short, approximately 1/2" to 1" long coat and still get all that sweet Angora personality with low maintenance.