Keeping your rabbit safe can be difficult in some areas. They are northern hemisphere creatures and don't deal well with the Australian heat. As well, there are dangers from attack from cats, dogs and foxes. They have little if no ability to sustain an attack from a larger creature. There only defense is to run and they can't do this locked in a hutch so it is up to us to keep them safe.
Hutches are the most expensive item you will need to purchase if you want a rabbit as a pet. They can be purchased from pet stores, hardware stores or you get one second hand. However, for the safety of your animal it is important that you take the following into consideration.
Second hand cages can be bought cheaply or you may see them advertised for free. They may, however, have bacteria living inside that could harm your pet. If you do take one, make sure you scrub it out as described earlier with vinegar and hot water and leave it in the sun. The UV light from the sun will kill most bacterium.
Ask the previous owner what happened to their pet and if it died 'all of a sudden' don't take the cage. Rabbits, like birds, will hide an illness and do appear to die out of the blue but they could have harbored diseases for sometime which may still be living inside the cage.
Cage wire should not be made of cheap materials as dogs, cats and foxes can rip through it. There is a range of 'dog proof' wire available for use in making rabbit cages. Make sure that the holes are not too large. I know a cat that pulled a small rabbit through the holes in the cage, so keep that in mind too.
Wood should not be treated as most treatments contain poison and as rabbits like to gnaw on things, they can become sick. If your rabbit appears to be nibbling on the wood of its cage, purchase some nibble or salt blocks from your local pet store. If you have access to fruit trees, the wood of the tree will have the taste of the fruit and your pet will enjoy gnawing on that instead of its cage.
Rabbits cannot regulate their body temperature and can die from over heating or extreme cold in just hours.
In the warmer months, freeze water in bottles and wrap them in towels and leave in the hutch. Your pet will lie against them to keep cool. Also, cover the hutch with old sheets and wet down thoroughly. We collect rainwater in buckets to do this, saving money on water costs too. Air will circulate around the wet sheet providing much need cooling for your pet.
Provide extra water containers in summer too. There are water bottles available that hold a lot of water and can't be tipped over that fix to the side of the cage. Be careful as the openings are often made of metal which will heat up so much the animal will not drink from them. The bottles can also become quite hot and the water distasteful. I have heard many stories of animals that have died in the heat when their water bottles have remained full for these very reasons. In very hot conditions, make sure you change the water three times a day.
In the cooler months, make sure your pet has sufficient hay in its sleeping area to keep warm. The ground can be freezing in some areas and your pet may not be able to sustain its body temperature long enough to survive a cold night. If the animal's sleeping area is not off the ground, make sure that there is enough hay or bedding provided so they are not in direct contact with the cold ground.
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