My daughter found a rabbit in the garden whats do i need to do?

Question

My daughter found a rabbit in our gardern and like most 4year old girls wants to keep it. I dont mind having a pet rabbit but what do i need to do to keep it?

Answer 1

i GOT THiS OFF A SiTE

ndoors or Outdoors?
Every rabbit owner should know that the safest place for a rabbit to live is indoors. Rabbits should never be kept outdoors! Domestic rabbits are different from their wild relatives—they do not tolerate extreme temperatures well, especially in the hot summer months. Even in a safe enclosure, rabbits are at risk from predators. Merely the sight or sound of a nearby wild animal can cause rabbits so much stress that they can suffer a heart attack and literally die of fear.

Caged or Free to Roam?
Whether you decide to let your rabbit roam free in your entire home or just a limited area, it is important that you make everything rabbit-safe. One little bunny can easily find a whole lot of trouble in an average home. Because rabbits like to chew, make sure that all electrical cords are out of reach and outlets are covered. Chewing through a plugged-in cord can result in severe injury or even death. Their chewing can also result in poisoning if the wrong objects are left in the open or in unlocked low cabinets. Aside from obvious toxins like insecticides, rodenticides, and cleaning supplies, be aware that common plants such as aloe, azalea, Calla lily, Lily of the Valley, philodendron, and assorted plant bulbs can be poisonous to rabbits.

If kept in a cage, rabbits need a lot of room to easily move around. A rabbit's cage should be a minimum of five times the size of the rabbit. Your rabbit should be able to completely stretch out in his cage and stand up on his hind legs without bumping his head on the top of the cage. Additionally, cages with wire flooring are hard on rabbits' feet, which do not have protective pads like those of dogs and cats. If you place your rabbit in a wire cage, be sure to layer the floor with cardboard or other material. Place a cardboard box or "rabbit condo" in the cage so the bunny has a comfortable place to hide, and respect your animal's need for quiet time (rabbits usually sleep during the day and night, becoming playful at dawn and dusk).

When rabbits are kept in a cage, they need to be let out for several hours each day for exercise. Aside from running and jumping, rabbits also enjoy exploring their surroundings. This is an ideal time to play and interact with your rabbit. Make sure that he has a safe area to play and explore.

Bunny Bathrooms

Just like cats, rabbits can easily learn to use a litter box. Place a litter box in the cage to encourage this behavior. If your rabbit roams freely through multiple rooms of your home, it's a good idea to have litter boxes in several places. Many rabbits enjoy spending time relaxing in their litter box, so make sure that it is of ample size. For bedding (litter), stay away from cedar or other wood shavings, which may cause liver damage or trigger allergic reactions in rabbits. Also avoid clumping or dusty kitty litters, which can cause serious health problems if eaten. Instead, stick with organic litters made of paper, wood pulp, or citrus. Newspaper can work too, but may not be as absorbent. Be sure to put fresh hay in the litter box daily, as many rabbits like to have a snack while sitting in their litter box.

A Balanced Diet

Rabbits have complex digestive systems, so it's very important that they receive a proper diet. Many health problems in rabbits are caused by foods that are incompatible with their digestive physiology. A basic rabbit diet should consist of the following foods:

Hay
Rabbits need hay—specifically, Timothy grass hay. Rabbits should have access to a constant supply of this hay, which aids their digestive systems and provides the necessary fiber to help prevent health problems such as hair balls, diarrhea, and obesity. Alfalfa hay, on the other hand, should only be given to adult rabbits in very limited quantities, if at all, because it's high in protein, calcium, and calories.

Vegetables
In addition to hay, the basic diet of an adult rabbit should consist of leafy, dark green vegetables such as romaine and leaf lettuces, parsley, cilantro, collard greens, arugula, escarole, endive, dandelion greens, and others. Variety is important, so feed your rabbit three different vegetables at a time. When introducing new veggies to a rabbit's diet, try just one at a time and keep quantities limited.

Fruits and Treats
While hay and vegetables are the basis of a healthy diet, rabbits also enjoy treats. Cartoons and other fictional portrayals of rabbits would lead us to believe that carrots are the basis of a healthy rabbit diet. Many rabbits enjoy carrots, but they are a starchy vegetable and should only be given sparingly as a treat. Other treats your rabbit might enjoy are apples (without stems or seeds), blueberries, papaya, strawberries, pears, peaches, plums, or melon. Extra-sugary fruits like bananas, grapes, and raisins are good too, but should be given on a more limited basis.

Foods to Avoid
With such sensitive digestive systems, there are a number of foods that rabbits should avoid eating. These include iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, beans, peas, potatoes, beets, onions, rhubarb, bamboo, seeds, grains, and many others. Also, don't feed your rabbit chocolate, candy, anything moldy, or most human foods. If you are not sure about a certain food, ask your rabbit's veterinarian.

Pellets
If you choose to make pellets a part of your rabbit's diet, it is best to use them as a supplement to the dark green, leafy vegetables, not as a substitute. These pellets should only be given in small quantities (1/8 -1/4 cup per five pounds of body weight per day, spread out over two daily feedings). Also, make sure to purchase Timothy-based pellets. Many brands of rabbit feed contain seeds, corn, and other foods that are too high in calories to be the basis for a healthy rabbit's diet.

Water
Rabbits should always have an ample supply of fresh water available. Be sure to change your rabbit's water at least once each day. Water can be kept in a sipper bottle or bowl. If you use a sipper bottle, watch new rabbits to make sure they know how to use the bottles, and clean bottles daily so the tubes don't get clogged. If you use a bowl, make sure that the bowl is heavy enough to avoid tipping and spilling.

Chew on This

Chewing is part of a rabbit's natural behavior, but it doesn't have to be destructive. To keep rabbits active and amused, you may want to put untreated wood blocks or cardboard in their cages. Bowls, balls, and rings made of willow wood are big hits with many rabbits and can be purchased online or in specialty stores. You can also use paper-towel rolls, toilet-paper rolls, and other chewable cardboard materials that can be tossed in the trash once they've served their purpose. Avoid objects with sharp edges, loose parts, or soft rubber that rabbits could chew into pieces and swallow.

Handle With Care

Rabbits are fragile animals who must be handled carefully. Their bones are so delicate that the muscles in their powerful hind legs can easily overcome the strength of their skeletons. As a result, if not properly restrained, struggling rabbits can break their own spines.

To pick up your rabbit, place one hand underneath the front of the rabbit and the other hand underneath his back side, lifting him carefully with both hands and bringing him against your body. Never let a rabbit's body hang free, never lift by the stomach, and never pick a rabbit up by his ears.

Don't forget that rabbits are prey animals and many will not enjoy being picked up. Be sure to go slowly with your rabbit and practice. Let your rabbit get accustomed to being handled.

Rabbits groom each other around the eyes, ears, top of the nose, top of the head, and down the back, so they'll enjoy it if you pet them on their heads. Like any animal, each rabbit will have an individual preference about where he likes to be touched. Rabbits lack the ability to vomit or cough up hairballs like cats, so try to remove loose fur when you have the opportunity to do so. Simply petting or brushing your rabbit for a few minutes each day should remove most of the excess fur. Some rabbit breeds, such as angoras, have extra grooming needs because of their distinctive coats.

What's Up, Doc?

Just like cats and dogs, rabbits need to receive proper medical care, including annual check-ups. While there are plenty of veterinarians who are able to treat cats and dogs, the number of veterinarians able to treat rabbits is much smaller. It is extremely important that any veterinarian treating a rabbit has experience with rabbits. Many veterinarians who treat rabbits will be called "exotics" veterinarians, meaning that they treat a number of non-traditional pets. Make sure that you have a regular, rabbit-savvy veterinarian as well as a listing of emergency clinics in your area that treat rabbits.

Fix That Bunny

Spaying or neutering your rabbit is very important. Aside from preventing unwanted litters of kits, spaying or neutering has health and behavior benefits. Neutering males eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and can reduce aggression and territory-marking behaviors. Female rabbits have extremely high rates of reproductive cancers as they get older, but spaying them can eliminate those potential problems.

I Need a Friend

Rabbits are social animals and most will be much happier as a part of a pair or trio than on their own. If you don't have a rabbit yet, consider adopting a bonded pair instead of a single rabbit. Most animal shelters and rabbit rescue groups have pairs available for adoption. If you already have a rabbit, you should consider adding another one to the family. Local rabbit groups can usually find a good match for your rabbit and help with the introduction and bonding process.

When thinking about adding a rabbit to your family, please remember that rabbits are not toys and they are typically not appropriate pets for children. Rabbits are complex creatures—socially, psychologically, and physiologically. They require a great deal of special care and supervision. If you make the decision to add rabbits to your family, please don't buy from a pet store; instead, adopt from your local animal shelter or rabbit adoption group.

Answer 2

Rabbits are bad pets for children.

They require as much attention as a dog; vaccines; vet visits; neutering.

They're expensive to keep; in the past 6 months I've spent around £500 (roughly $1,000) on my pair of rabbits; it won't be any cheaper for one.

They are prey animals so if it gets ill a child wont be able to tell.

They can live for 5 - 14 years; if it's a young rabbit (say, less that a year) can YOU look after it when your daughter gets bored with it?

Rabbits are territorial and aggressive; it WILL bite and scratch. Bites will bleed for HOURS before stopping; even with immediate treatment; scratches are painful on mature skin, I'd hate to think what they'd do to a child's delicate skin.

Rabbits HATE being held (Re: prey animal). As a 4 year old your daughter will want to cuddle it & could easily break it's spine when she handles it incorrectly.

Please take it to your local shelter/rescue where it can be re-homed to a more appropriate home.

Answer 3

If it appears to be a wild rabbit and your daughter was able to catch it, it is either a baby that is still nursing (mother rabbits usually only come back once a day to nurse) or it is very sick. If it is a baby return it to where it was found and hope the mother has not returned for it already. If not call a wild life rehabilitater in your area. There is little chance of you keeping a baby or a sick rabbit alive. Even experienced rehabilitaters have little luck . If it is looks to be a domestic rabbit you need to post a found add to make sure it is not someones lost pet before keeping it. If it is not you will need to take it to the vet for a health check and buy appropirate supplies for it if you intend to keep it.

Answer 4

If it's a wild rabbit, let it go. Any wild animal is better off left in the wild, as they could carry diseases transferrable to humans and other pets and may never adjust to living in captivity. If your daughter is still interested in having a pet rabbit, do some research and look into rabbit rescues in your area.

Answer 5

It isn't a good idea to keep any wild animal as a pet. But if you do, take it to the vet right away. It could have lice, mange, or a number of other parasites in its fur. Wild rabbits can also carry diseases. Your daughter could become sick just from handling it.

Answer 6

Cage
www.guineapigcages.com has lots of info about building a hugh cage at minimum cost, usually less than a large pet store cage. You can also consider having a puppy pen. Make your you let him have some time out of the cage to run around.

Food
Pellets, timothy hay and veggie are the staple. Pellets should have 18% or higher fiber and 15% or less protein. They should be timothy based with no other bit in it, just pellets. I like oxbow, but there are some other good brands. Timothy hay should be avaliable at all times. It should be a nice green colour and smell sweat. Buying from a farm is good but may be too much for 1 rabbit. Veggies are good to provide variation and extra vitamins and nutrients. www.rabbit.org has a list of safe fruits and veggies. When introducing them, do one at a time and introduce slowly.
Water should be avaliable at all times in a bottle or bowl.

Health care.
You need to find a rabbit savvy vet in your area. A cat/dog will not know all they need to about rabbits. The rabbit should be spayed/neutered, it helps calm hormones and makes for a happier bun. If you live in England, they need shots.

Toys
Some rabbit like to dig, other toss things. Buy lots of different toys to find what your rabbit likes. Dollar stores generally have some things. If you don't provide toys, your rabbit will get bored and destroy things in the house.

Rabbits make good pets. They can be litter trained. Because you have a 4 year old, you need to be the primary care giver of the rabbit. Your daughter can help but should not be given too much responsability.

Answer 7

It is illegal to keep a wild rabbit for a pet. You need to gently use this opportunity to teach your daughter that she can not have everything she wants, and that obeying the law is the right thing to do. Also, it will be a great opportunity to teach her that wild animals are exactly that - wild - not pets. Wild animals carry diseases and have parasites that I'm sure you do not want your daughter exposed to. And wild animals bite.

If the animal is injured or sick (and it must be if it allowed itself to be caught), you need to contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator immediately. You can find one here: http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/contact.htm

These people have the specialized training to care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals. They also have the required state and federal licenses that allow them to keep the wild animals until they are healthy enough to be released back into the wild.

Answer 8

7/10

Answer 9

first of all you should never keep wild rabbits, and if its injured then you should call your nearest wildlife center and ask them for help, if its not then dont know how your going to catch it. but just so you know rabbits are very viscous when cornerd and may cause serious injury. and if your going to buy a rabbit from the store, which i suggest instead of trying to catch one, then i think you should read some books instead of asking some strange people you dont even know on the net.

Answer 10

It most likely has some diseases, I'd be worried about it biting your daughter. I think you should let it go and take her to the pet store and let her get a bunny there if you dont mind having one.

Answer 11

Not much...rabits are pretty low maintenance and good pets for children...First thing you wonna get is a descent size cage. Some food and water and your good to go!...All this can be purchased at places like Petco, Wal-Mart, etc. A trip to the vet wouldn't be a bad idea either.