Raising Happy Rabbits by May Brittany

Author:May Brittany
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781510737181
Publisher: Skyhorse
Published: 2018-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

LITTER BOX CLEANING

If a litter box isn’t kept clean, it will create all sorts of issues for your rabbits. A litter box should be changed based on your rabbit’s daily use. Some rabbits can go for a week between changes depending on the type of box you have, but some rabbits will insist on a daily cleaning. It will be their preference. However, if you have a very clean rabbit, and you don’t do daily changes, you may discover they will lose their litter box training, preferring a clean place. A dirty litter box may also mean that their poop will stick to them when they enter, which causes their fur to be dirty, and they will be accidentally dropping them outside their litter area. Finally, a dirty litter box will also attract flies, which will greatly increase the risk of warbles. Most people think that rabbit litter stinks, but this is only if you don’t do a decent job cleaning. Whether you have a box that has a grate on it, which separates the poop from them, or you have a large box full of hay, you will always need to clean it at least once a week; twice is better. Once dumped, you can use white vinegar to scrub it out. Once dried, refill with fresh litter and replace the box quickly. Rabbits get very annoyed when their litter box is “closed for cleaning.”

WATER BOTTLES AND BOWLS

Fresh, clean water is essential to your rabbit’s health. A rabbit may drink up to 10 percent of its body weight daily. However, once the water isn’t fresh, rabbits don’t drink as much as they need. They will always prefer cool water from a clean container. Once again, cleaning with white vinegar will be the safest way. Change the water and clean the container daily, making sure to rinse it well to remove all vinegar. During the summer, you will need to change the water even more frequently, especially if you have an outdoor rabbit.

FOOD BOWLS AND HAYRACKS

Food bowls also need to be kept clean. Fresh food bowls can get grimy quickly, and even bowls to hold pellets will get dusty. Any unclean area that contains food will quickly attract bugs. Hayracks aren’t difficult to keep clean. I add fresh hay daily, and toss everything that wasn’t eaten once a week. Hay, even dust-free hay, tends to be dusty. This can cause eye issues and sneezing. So, maintaining a clean environment will prove beneficial not only for your home, but also for their health.

BEDDING

Even though my outdoor rabbit has straw bedding and my indoor rabbit has a blanket, I choose to clean out both completely once a week. I will change either at any point if I notice them soiled. Dirty bedding will once again attract flies, fleas, and ants. If you use pine shavings or straw outdoors, keeping it fresh will be the best way to help keep your rabbit healthy and free from mites, fleas, parasites, warbles, and fly strike.

Indoors isn’t much different; a dirty blanket or litter box will attract flies.

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