Dawn to Dusk Rabbitry
Intro to rabbit care
Rabbits may seem like cute, cuddly, low-maintenance small pets, but that's not necessarily true. They can live just as long as some dogs and cats and require exercise, space, and attention. If you're interested in a rabbit, make sure you do your research!
Here is a very preliminary guide to rabbit care. I hope it can serve as a place to start your research. I've included some links for further reading which I highly recommend checking out— The more informed you are, the better of a bunny parent you'll be!
When you're done reading, click here for a new bunny supply list including all the products we recommend :).
DIET
There are 4 main components to a rabbit's diet:
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1. Water
Your rabbit should have 24/7 access to fresh, clean water. You can use a bowl or bottle for your rabbit's water.
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2. Hay
It's important that rabbits have unlimited access to hay. This helps them with digestion and keeps their teeth healthy.
There are many types of hay, but grass hay is healthiest for most rabbits. Alfalfa hay is okay for young rabbits under 6 months, but it's too rich for adult rabbits, and it can be hard to make the transition from alfalfa to grass hay when it's time.
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3. Pellets
Pellets provide a rabbit with other nutrients that they won't get from hay. Holland lops 6 months and younger should receive unlimited pellets, and hollands 6 months and older should receive 1/4-1/2 cup of pellets a day (depending on their size). Look for pellets that are a uniform color, size and shape— colorful mueslis might look fun but they are not healthy!
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3. Fresh vegetables
Fresh vegetables, while not necessary, are very good to include in a rabbit's diet. They introduce variety into the diet, and provide vitamins and minerals. A general recommendation is to feed 1/2 to 1 cup of vegetables per day for a holland lop.
Not all vegetables are healthy for rabbits— for example, iceburg lettuce contains a chemical called lactucarium which can be harmful to rabbits. In general, herbs, romaine lettuce, and spring mix are all good vegetables to feed.
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Finally, treats are fun additions, but they should be fed in moderation— especially store-bought treats. Fruits and oats are great treats that rabbits love!
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Learn more about rabbit diet:
Feeding hay​
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HOUSING
Rabbits are active animals so they need large living spaces. Here are a few housing options:
1. Free roam
Did you know that rabbits can use a litter box just like a cat? Because of this, they can also easily be free roamed in the same way you would free roam a dog or cat!
Free roaming is an amazing option if you have the room and right conditions. Free roamed rabbits often behave like cats or dogs— running to greet you when you come home, begging for treats when you're in the kitchen, and hopping into your lap while you watch Netflix on the couch. It is definitely an amazing experience to own a free roam bunny! However, free roaming is usually best for homes without young kids and pets.
If you decide to go with free roaming, you will need to "rabbit proof" your home. This involves covering potential chewing hazards and placing dangerous objects like houseplants out of reach.
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2. Indoor cage
Cages are by far the most common housing option for rabbits. They can be convenient and comfortable ways to house your rabbit, but it is important that you make sure your cage gives your rabbit ample room to hop around. For a holland lop, this means a minimum of 6 square feet.
Dog pens are one type of cage that work very well for many rabbit owners. They are roomy, portable, and allow for easy cleaning.
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3. Outdoor hutch
It is possible to keep a rabbit safe and happy outside, but you should proceed with care when choosing their enclosure. It is important to consider dangers such as extreme temperatures, weather, and predators while accommodating for your rabbit's comfort.
Rabbits are quite fragile and are most comfortable in temperatures between 40-70° Fahrenheit. They can become ill if they get wet, and can easily suffer heart attacks from the fright of an encounter with a predator. This means that should you decide to keep your rabbit outside, you must make sure that their hutch is sturdy, weather-proof and has space to hide. You should also be prepared for extra work when the temperatures fall or rise— hot water bottles are helpful in the winter, and fans or frozen water bottles are helpful for summer.
Additionally, rabbits need socialization and enrichment to thrive. If you keep an outdoor rabbit, it is crucial that you are spending time socializing your bunny as well as providing it with time out of its cage every day.
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No matter what housing option you go with, please remember that rabbits are highly social and active animals. This means that you should let them out of their cages for a minimum of a couple hours a day for exercise. Also, make sure that their living spaces are stocked with toys and enrichment! :)
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Learn more about rabbit housing:
How to start free roaming a rabbit
How to safely keep rabbits outdoors
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LITTER TRAINING
I've already mentioned that you can litter train rabbits— but did you know that rabbits are not only good at using the litter box, but easy to litter train as well?​
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You will need to provide your rabbit with a litter box filled with some sort of litter or bedding. I recommend litter boxes with grates to keep your bunny clean. Simply leave this in your rabbit's enclosure and they should start using it! You can help them along by moving poops into the litter box. Keep in mind that for your bunny to be completely litter trained, they will need to be spayed or neutered.
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SPAYING/NEUTERING
Spaying or neutering your bunny should be done at 6 months of age to keep them healthy, prevent accidental babies, and encourage good behavior. Unfixed, non breeding rabbits can display unpleasant hormonal behavior like spraying and humping when they mature as well as being more susceptible to health issues such as reproductive cancers.
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Spay and neuter procedures are low risk and common, so we highly encourage adopters to plan on spaying or neutering their bunny.
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Learn more about spaying/neutering:
Guide to spaying/neutering your rabbit
Find a nearby rabbit-savvy vet
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GROOMING
Holland lops are generally low-maintenance when it comes to grooming, but you will want to do stay on top of 2 things:
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1. You should brush your bunny once or twice a week— maybe even more if they are shedding. This will keep your house cleaner and prevent them from ingesting too much hair, which could result in blockages.
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2. Clip your bunny's nails every 2 months. This can be done with a designated rabbit or cat nail clipper. We condition our rabbits to accept handling of their feet, but nail clipping can still be tricky. You may need to watch some videos to figure it out!
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It's very important that you DO NOT BATHE YOUR RABBIT. Not only is it unnecessary (rabbits clean themselves like cats do), but it can cause infections and stress them to the point of death!
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Learn more about bunny grooming: