Pet rabbits

[emmay35]

My children keep asking me for a pet rabbit, but I'm allergic to them. Can they be kept outside all the time and are they easy to keep?

Thanks in advance

[SaxyJag]

Whilst a few breeds have to be kept indoors in winter, British native breeds, and mixed breeds are quite hardy and can live outdoors all year round.

They need plenty of hay and/or straw for bedding (however they will eat the hay), which should be replenished and refreshed daily, as should the layer of wood shavings you'll want to line the floor of the hutch with. Food-wise, a bowl of proprietry dried food and some fresh veg (carrots, cabbage) daily, discarding any leftovers.

You should also provide a secure area for bunny to run around in as much as possible (our neighbours have fenced off three or four square yards of their lawn for this purpose).

It's also wise to get rabbits vaccinated.

Of course, these are the basics. They're very intelligent and easily trainable pets if you treat them right.

[Scots-babe]

allergies shouldnt be to much of a problem as long as your children brush the rabbit regularly and dispose of the hairs - the will also need to clean out the hutch regularly. In spring time my rabbit lost alot of his winter hair and i got slighlty allergic then but nothing to stop me! Im no rabbit expert but all this has helped me with my rabbit and ive had no problem!

[aka estie]

Before deciding on a rabbit, please have a good look through www.rabbit.org to see what owning a rabbit involves. It is a lot of work, and they are not recommended for young children.

In any case, you will have to assume that you will be the main caretaker, and if you are allergic this is probably a really bad idea.

Why not consider another pet, such as a guinea pig or a rat?