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Before you start with your rabbits, you need to decide to what purpose you wish to put your rabbits. Do you wish to start Showing, do you want a safe and steady meat supply, do you want a supply of fiber or fur for crafts, or do you just want a pet? How much room do you have? How much time do you have to devote to your rabbit? You need to answer these questions before you get your first rabbit.

Where are you going to keep your rabbit?

Housing

Rabbits are very adaptible. They can live comfortably inside or outside, as long as there is no drastic change in living conditions. Do not go from inside to outside or back when it is very hot or very cold. Where ever the rabbits are, they do need a cage for protection. Of course outdoors, they need protection from the elements, rain and sun, but also they need protection from dogs, cats, opposum, raccoons, and other wildlife. Indoors they need protection from themselves, because they are chewers, and will taste anything that they can get at, including electrical cords, house plants, and furniture. You will have to make sure they can not get into anything dangerous to their health.

On a hot day, the rabbits will be stretched out, trying to chill. You can help them cool off by giving them a frozen plastic water bottle to lay against.

Signs of heat distress: Rapid breathing or panting. Drooling. Lack of balance. If your rabbit shows any of these signs, cool it off immediately. Wet the back of the ears or hold ice to the back of the ears. If the rabbit doesn't seem to be cooling off fast enough, you may wet the rabbit's body. You may even put the rabbit in a tub of water. Just be sure to hold his head out of the water. Heat distress is a very big killer of rabbits.

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