CUTTING NAILS
Cutting nails is essential to your bunny's well being. It will make the bun easier to handle and both of you more comfortable. You can purchase dog type nail cutters to make the job a little easier but regular toe nail cutters will do the job. I sit with the rabbit on my lap and work on each foot. On the lighter colored nails it is easy to see the cuticle. You want to avoid this area. It will bleed (sometimes profusely) and does cause the rabbit pain. A darker color nail can prove to be much more difficult to determine where the cuticle ends. A flash light behind the nail can help you see it. Cutting nails should ideally be done once at least once a month.
CAGE SIZE
A minimum standard to go by is 1 square foot per pound of rabbit ( fully grown ). This means a 3 pound rabbit will need a minimum of 18"L x 18"W as an adult. Likewise, a 9 pound rabbit will require at least 3'L x 3'W to be comfortable. I'm absolutely positive that bunny will never complain that their cage is too big! Rabbits like to jump onto high places. You can equipt your rabbit with all sorts of shelves and tunnels to play in and on. They will love it! Indoor and outdoor cage kits can be obtained at most feed and farm supply stores. They will range in price from $20 to $45 for the basic set up.
INDOOR OR OUTDOOR?
Rabbits are highly adaptable creatures and will do well inside or out. There are primary considerations that go along with each scenerio though... An outdoor rabbit must be protected from the elements. You should pick an area that has the most shade you can provide. A rabbit can tolerate cold very well if protected from winds and rain but can not tolerate heat at all. Direct sun on a hot day will kill a rabbit wihtin a hour. Temperatures above 85 degrees can cause serious stress to a bunny. If you choose to house your rabbit in a "out building" such as a garage or barn you must make sure that it is well ventilated. Also you should take into consideration that your pet may not get the attention it needs to become a part of the family if it is outside. On the other hand, an indoor rabbit must be protected primarily from itself. They are curious creatures and will chew on anything..including electrical cords. The best way to protect bunny and your appliances is to keep cords out of reach or run the cord through a PVC tube that bunny can not chew through. Another idea is to chose areas of your home that are bunny safe and contain your rabbit's freedom to that area only. Rabbits are litter box trainable and there is a wealth of information on the internet and in book stores that will help you learn how to house train bunny. Please check my "links" page for some helpful websites that have this sort of information available.
On the next page...Feeding, Where Do I Get a Bunny, Toys, Etc...