The bunny challenge step two exercise post 2

This post is addressing the daily task of keeping our little nibblers occupied. In the wild, rabbits can run up to 5 miles a day!   It is essential in keeping a rabbit fit and healthy to have access to an exercise run . This is important as your rabbit need to exercise for 4 to 6 hours a day, for more information on rabbit runs click   Here. Rabbits also need a lot of mental stimulation, they are intelligent, playful beings which enjoy human interactions and games.  People believe that rabbits don't play.Well, they do. They just play differently to say a dog or a cat.

Here are some interesting articles.
http://rabbit.org/faq-toys/

http://rabbit.org/a-day-in-the-life-of-fiona/

http://rabbit.org/more-tips-on-building-box-toys/

http://rabbit.org/just-for-fun-2/

http://rabbit.org/more-than-just-a-chew-stick-2/

In this post I am sharing some DIY bunny toy ideas, enjoy and please comment.

Before starting your project, remove any tape or staples from the cardboard. Always make sure that any materials you use are bunny safe.

A great first project :cardboard carrot and "toss and chew" toy.

The "daisy"house!

I used a non-toxic kids glue to stick the daisy to the cardboard but if your bunny is a big chewer don't use any glue at all.

the bunny rocket

Great if you want something different in your bunnies run, cool and  very unique!

Don't do what I did . I underestimated my bunny's waistline...A bit of a technical hitch at the photo shoot.

The Tutankhamen's Egyptian pyramid.

Quick And easy to make, great for bunnies that love chewing.

Videos and links
http://rabbit.org/more-than-just-a-chew-stick-2/
The best shop-bought toys, you could ever get your rabbit.http://pet-rabbit-toys.com/store/

The bunny challenge step two exercise post 1.

Bunnies in the wild can run up to 5 miles a day so making sure that your rabbit is getting adequate exercise is very important to its overall health. If a bunny does not have adequate exercise it will become obese and have muscle weakness. Bunnies need an exercise area in addition to a hutch or similar sleeping quarters. A run allows them to stretch their legs and also provides room for more toys to play with. Ideally Having a large run connected to the rabbits hutch will allow your rabbit to exercise freely.If your run is not connected to the rabbit hutch your rabbit should be let out 4 to 6 hours a day.

I consider the minimum rabbit run  size is 7' x 5', this is the minimum  however and your rabbit will certainly appreciate being provided a larger area. The rabbit run should be tall enough for your rabbit to stand upright on its back legs.

Here are some runs I recommend :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Large-animals-Rabbits-Guinea-hardwearing/dp/B007RC5OKU/ref=sr_1_68?ie=UTF8&qid=1366123897&sr=8-68&keywords=rabbit+runs

Rectangular Wood & Mesh Run  thoroughly recommended.

A wooden frame covered in mesh is the most common type of rabbit run. These can be made in any size and are easy to build yourself. Placing the mesh on the inside of the wooden frame will protect the wood from gnawing.

       http://www.aviaries4u.co.uk/aviaries.htmAviary thoroughly recommended.

Aviaries are commonly used for keeping birds but are great for keeping rabbits in whilst they exercise. It also makes  access easier as they are no small doors to  catch your rabbit through and they can't  climb over the sides.

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/dog-play-pen-by-pets-at-home-25507

Wire Pen (Puppy Pen) recommended only for indoor use, buy the largest size that you can find.

These are pens made by joining multiple wire panels. By combining multiple packs, you can cheaply create an extremely large temporary enclosure. However, as it has no roof, rabbits should never be left unsupervised even for a few minutes.  

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Galvanised-Rabbit-Guines-Enclosure-144x116x58cm/dp/B000V6C7DQ/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1366124050&sr=8-8&keywords=rabbit+runs

Metal Run recommended only under supervision,buy the largest size that you can find.

There are a few all metal rabbit runs available which include lids. Where it is possible to combine multiple runs they are a good alternative to puppy pens for creating a large exercise area. Make sure you firmly anchor the run to the ground though as they are lighter than wooden framed runs.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/WATERPROOF-STAINED-RABBIT-GUINEA-HUTCH/dp/B008JF4AWW/ref=sr_1_33?ie=UTF8&qid=1366123808&sr=8-33&keywords=rabbit+runs

 Don't buy this kind of run.

This is a triangular run made from wire and mesh. Most have a covered area to provide shelter and fold flat for storage. This style of run is limited in size by its design and the area is reduced further by the low slopping sides. All the apex runs that I have seen are far too small for bunnies.

In my opinion it is better to pay someone to build you a run, an aviary or build it yourself because the vast majority of runs on the market are far too small for bunnies and are made of poor quality materials. It will cost you more at first but you will save in the long run.

I hope you enjoyed this bunny challenge post as always feedback is always appreciated,you can send me a photo of your bunny to be included in the next post, you can find my contact details at the contact button at the top of the page.

The bunny challenge step 1 diet post 3

 In this post I will be looking at commercial rabbit nuggets, treats and snacks, water bottles and water bowls.

Commercial rabbit nuggets.

Muesli

Do not feed your rabbit Muesli rabbit food. This type of rabbit mix looks like muesli i.e. made up of different kinds of dry food. This is not recommended as it can lead to selective feeding, your bunny will pick out the bits it likes and leave the rest, thereby missing out on some of the nutrients.

 If a bunny has unlimited access to dry food, it will often choose to eat this instead of hay. Hay is essential to wear the rabbit's teeth down and provide the fibre it needs. So a rabbit which eats too much dry food is likely to be overweight, prone to teeth problems and producing "sticky poo" instead of the normal hard, round pellets.

Nuggets

I feed my bunnies" Burgess Excel adults" pellets, approx. half an eggcup each, twice a day. A another brand of good quality rabbit food is" supreme science selective rabbit food".There are different versions of nuggets available for overweight rabbits, baby rabbits or elderly rabbits.

Nuggets have been developed specifically to prevent selective feeding and is also higher in fibre than muesli type mixes. This is recommended by vets and can be fed to your rabbit in small amounts, approximately an eggcup full per day for a small/medium sized rabbit.

 Snacks and treats

Treats aren't really important to your rabbits diet so you really don't need to buy commercial rabbit treats and snacks, because   commercial rabbit treats aren't very healthy (which are usually the rabbit equivalent of donuts and candy bars). You could have a go at making your own, here are some quick recipes for making home-made rabbit snacks and treats.

http://bakebakebake.livejournal.com/1352167.html

http://www.ehow.com/way_5499273_homemade-rabbit-treats.html

http://t.answers.com/answers/#!/entry/how-do-you-make-homemade-rabbit-treats,4fe22b9d4b672622b849b12c/3

http://www.therabbithouse.com/blog/2011/11/16/homemade-rabbit-treats/

http://www.therabbithouse.com/blog/2012/05/15/making-grass-biscuits/ 
http://www.therabbithouse.com/blog/2011/12/21/minute-christmas-baking-rabbits/

Water bowls and water bottles

Your rabbit should always have a fresh supply of clean water at all times. Personally I prefer to have a Bolt on Stainless Steel Bowl because it allows my bunnies to drink more naturally, I have tried all sorts of different water bottles ranging from £3 to £15 and all of them were rubbish, they either did not let my bunnies drink or they leaked all over the hutch. However there are some pros and cons to both.

Pros

A Bolt on Stainless Steel Bowl is easier to clean and refill, it lets your bunny drink more naturally. It won't leak all over your hutch.

cons

A Bolt on Stainless Steel Bowl will get dirty more quickly and can hold less water than a water bottle.

I hope you enjoyed this post and the next  bunny challenge post will be on exercise. As always feedback and comments are always appreciated.

The bunny challenge Your rabbits fibre step 1 diet post 2

This post is part of the bunny challenge diet plan.

Rabbits are herbivores, they need a lot of fibre in their diet. 

Rabbits need to keep their digestive systems busy with a mix of two kinds of fibre, moving through the gut at all times (these types of fibres are called digestible fibre and indigestible fibre).  

Rabbits don't get enough nutrition from fibre when it passes through their gut the first time, so they pass it through a second time by eating their droppings !!!

Indigestible fibre is moved through their digestive system and excreted as separate, round, hard droppings. This type of fibre keeps the digestive system moving and their appetite stimulated.

Digestible fibre is moved up into an organ called the caecum.

Good bacteria in the caecum ferment the fibre, making it easy to digest. This emerges in the form of clumps of sticky droppings – we call these droppings caecotrophs. Rabbits then re-eat the caecotrophs and their systems extract the essential nutrition when the digestible fibre passes through for the second time.

If rabbits don't get the right amounts of both digestible and indigestible fibre, it can rapidly lead to serious health problems.

Hay! Glorious Hay!

I can't stress enough how much rabbits need lots  of hay. Hay is the most important component of this diet plan. So finding the right hay makes all the difference.

(Q)What hay should I feed my rabbit ?

(A)Timothy Hay or Meadow hay are best for daily feed. Occasionally, I also like to buy my rabbits  what I call " treat hay" with dandelions and mixed herbs. Don't feed your rabbit too much alfalfa as it can be fattening.

As your rabbits munch their hay, the chewing action required by the rabbit to eat his hay helps to wear down his teeth.The rabbit teeth are constantly growing and overgrown teeth can be the cause of potentially fatal problems.

(Q)How can I tell if I've got good hay?

(A) The hay should be slightly green and smell sweet. When you buy your hay sniff the bag, it shouldn't smell musty but sweet  and it should not look dry or powdered. 

(Q) How much hay should I feed my rabbit?

(A) You should feed your rabbit the same amount as the rabbit size.

(Q) When should I change my rabbit's hay , once a week or more often?

(A) I change my rabbits hay EVERY DAY. Every time  I didn't change their  hay daily, I have noticed that they  ignored it and stop eating it .  Changing your rabbits hay will ensure that your rabbit  will eat it.

 Rabbits need a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits. During the winter months, PARSLEY should be given to your rabbit every day since the rabbit is not getting as much fresh grass. Parsley will help the rabbit's digestive system and as always if your rabbits can't tolerate parsley don't feed it to your pet . This is only a guide some rabbits can't tolerate some fruits or vegetables so finding what works for him will be on an individual basis.Your rabbit should get a tiny portion of  fruit ( my rabbits love bananas!) and  larger portion of green veggies and herbs. 

Here is a list of  vegetables and fruits safe to feed  your rabbit with.

Asparagus

 Basil

 Broccoli

 Brussels Sprouts

 Carrots (only feed occasionally – they are high in sugar. The leafy tops are OK)

 Cauliflower

 Celeriac

 Celery leaves

 Chard

 Chicory

 Courgette

 Dandelion (in moderation – can make your rabbit go to the toilet more than usual)

Endive

Green beans 

Kale

Parsley

Radicchio

Radish tops

Spinach

Watercress
pears

  

Fresh water should be available at all times and changed daily.

Don't forget! GRASS , GRAZING ON FRESH GRASS IS BEST OF ALL).

I hope that you enjoyed this post and as always suggestions, feedback are always welcome.

Sources

http://www.burgesspetcare.co.uk/excelfeedingplan/looking-after-your-fibrevore/rabbit.html

www.pdsa.org.uk 

The bunny challenge the diet plan step 1

Guidelines

Changing suddenly a rabbit’s diet  can upset their tummy  so always introduce new foods gradually over at least a week. If your rabbit has a medical condition or if your pet is on any medication, consult your vet before changing its diet.

(1) fresh good quality hay( Timothy Hay or Meadow hay) Their own body size in hay should be given and top up regularly during the day.

(2)A handful of Fresh fruit, veg and herbs. Such as 

 Asparagus

 Basil

 Broccoli

 Brussels Sprouts

 Cabbage

 Carrots (only feed occasionally – they are high in sugar. The leafy tops are OK)

 Cauliflower

 Celeriac

 Celery leaves

 Chard

 Chicory

 Courgette

 Dandelion (in moderation – can make your rabbit go to the toilet more than usual)

Endive

Green beans 

Kale

Parsley

Radicchio

Radish tops

Spinach

Watercress

 

(3) A tablespoon or eggcup of commercial rabbit nuggets once daily (or twice daily if the rabbit weighs over 3.5kg).such as Burgess Excel or supreme science selective rabbit food.

(4) fresh clean water at all times.

(5) treats such as apple, carrots and bananas should only be given occasionally and in small quantities since they have a high sugar content. Avoid high sugar treats and snacks.

  

Packet guidelines, body weight and shape should be taken into account as well as veterinary advice when deciding what and how much too feed your rabbit.

I hope you enjoy this post as always feedback and comments are always appreciated.

Sources

 www.pdsa.org.uk 

The most neglected pet in Britain-The bunny challenge

This is the bunny challenge to encourage bunny owners to make their pets happier and ultimately more healthy.

The challenge consists of 4 steps: diet, exercise, socialising,  housing. Every week I  will write a post or make a video on one of the steps: improving your bunnies diet or housing is a step closer in making your bunny happy and healthy. Whether you're a first time rabbit owner or have had rabbits for years, everyone is welcome to follow the bunny challenge . Let's make the bunny challenge care plan the best bunny care plan out there.

I'm not a vet but I do research my information thoroughly and hope to give you the most accurate information possible.

I am not sponsored or involved with any companies for this challenge.

Why did I  create the bunny challenge?

Rabbits are the most neglected pets in Britain. I would like to change that. Through this challenge I hope to bring awareness about rabbits and their needs. There are lots of diet plans for rabbits on the internet but most  of them are from pet food manufacturers, they are just promoting their products.

How can you take part in the bunny challenge?

You can send me an e-mail confirming that you're taking on the bunny challenge, this will allow me to know how many people are taking part, your details will only be used for email updates if you wish or you can leave a comment below on any of the posts, you can subscribe to the blog. Alternatively you can join the bunny world community on Google plus.

I've signed up to take part in the bunny challenge what should I do now?

By following the bunny challenge care plan you can help me make this plan even better by commenting and by telling me what you do and don't like about the plan. Suggestions are always welcome. As you follow the diet, housing, exercise and socialising plans you can make your bunny happy and healthier. As well as  learning some tips and tricks and honest product reviews.

Warning if your rabbit is on medication or has a medical condition or is old please consult your vet before trying the bunny challenge plan.

What is the goal for the bunny challenge?

My goals  is about raising awareness about rabbits needs and care.

If I can get 100 participants that would be amazing! 100 bunnies or more  happier and healthier...

 Feel free to share this link around on Facebook twitter and  Google plus and other social network sites.