my new rabbit

Question
Hello,
I'm a preschool teacher and just bought a 7 week old dutch lop eared. Its still skiddish when I pick it up or reach in the cage to pet it. She's been getting better but I want her to be comfortable around me before I bring her to school. Any ideas on how to get her used to me or what kind of treats or foods I should give her. I have alfalfa, a wild harvest pellet blend and yogurt treats which she loves. I will take ant advice and help you can lend!! Thank you

Answer
Hi,

if you truly want my advice, please do not take it to school.  Rabbits are not great animals for such an environment.  They are very fragile animals and I am sad to say that often what happens is they are injured or someone gets nipped.

Please do not bring the rabbit to school.  They are not good animals for young children.  They don't like being held, they aren't great with high energy environments with lots of shouting and running around, they cannot take rough handling, and they have a very delicate gi tract.  Further as prey animals, if they are injured or sick, do not broadcast to you they are, so if you are not highly aware of whether they are in trouble, the first time you realize there's a problem is when bunny is either dead or about to be.

So please, do not bring the bunny into the classroom.  People buy rabbits without fully researching what kind of pets they are, and do not have a realistic idea of what they need beforehand.  I strongly suggest you read 'The House Rabbit Handbook'.  Also, you can go online to the House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org) and browse over hundreds of articles about rabbits, covering all aspects of rabbit care and behavior, and find rabbit-savvy vet recommendations around where you live (www.rabbit.org/vets/vets.html) as not all vets are good rabbit vets.  They are still considered exotic animals and as such not all vets know them well.

And I will give you a heads-up: somewhere between 4-6 months she will hit sexual maturity.  She will get more protective of her cage and when she is in the cage and you reach in, she may box or nip at your hands.  This is a sign she is ready to be spayed.  You must have a good rabbit vet do this to ensure the surgery is successful and her post-op care is correct.

Her diet right now should be: hay, timothy grass hay.  A little alfalfa now is okay as she is growing, but after age 1, you have to stop because it has too much calcium and it will lead to kidney sludge or stones.  Food pellets: nothing else in there except food pellets - Oxbow brand is excellent.  Timothy food pellets.  Do not give yogurt treats.  Give her either papaya bits, or papaya tablets as these are good for her gi tract.  No sweets, no high carb items.  This is bad for their gi tract and can lead to conditions that will kill them.  Their gut is extremely delicate compared to ours, and dogs and cats.  It is not a predator gi tract.  It is more like a horse's or cow's gi tract.  It cannot handle lots of sugars and carbs.  They are designed to eat low energy foods.

Please spend time on the House Rabbit Society site and read up on nutrition, other needs, and their behaviors.

Lee