What Not to Do When Raising a Rabbit

1 Taboos in Rabbit Care

1. Do Not Startle Them

Rabbits are timid; severe fright causes stress with anxiety, low appetite, and lethargy. A pregnant or nursing doe may miscarry, refuse to nurse, or crush or bite the kits.

2. No High-Water Foods

Sensitive guts and too much water cause diarrhea and dehydration; kept up, it leads to enteritis and danger. Avoid cabbage hearts, watermelon, and white radish, and limit other fresh produce.

3. Do Not Feed One Food Forever

Needs change with age. Under 5 months give unlimited alfalfa for growth; after 5 months switch to timothy, or the rich alfalfa causes obesity and excess calcium. Occasionally add treats, pellets, and produce for vitamins to avoid malnutrition.

4. No Early Breeding

Wait until adulthood to breed; early breeding burdens the body, hurting growth and risking miscarriage, stillbirth, and weak kits.

5. No Damp Environment

Rabbits like dry, airy places and have weak resistance; dampness breeds bacteria and disease, so clean the cage and droppings daily.

2 What to Pay Attention To

1. Fixed, Measured Feeding

Weak guts and long hunger cause low blood sugar and gut disorder. Rabbits are nocturnal, so feed at night too, with a larger evening portion.

2. Avoid Heat

Poor sweat glands and dense fur make cooling hard, so in summer keep the cage shaded to prevent heatstroke.

3. Spend Time With Them

Timid rabbits without company feel insecure and won’t bond, even biting when approached. Let them out often, give treats, and pet them to build trust.

Other taboos: no scolding, no overfeeding, no back-to-back breeding, no blind medication, no over-reliance on feed, no careless mixing; observe and learn to lengthen their life.