After a baby rabbit has spent their first 1-8 weeks with their mum and siblings, it becomes time for a young rabbit to move on to a new home. If you’re bringing home a young rabbit for the first time, you’ll be very excited, but do you know what your young bunny needs in terms of supporting it's development, how to feed it, what problems to look out for and when to call the vet?

At two months old, your young rabbit won’t have seen much of the world outside of their nest. So, you need to be ready to help your rabbit settle into its new life with you, so they grow up to be a happy, healthy, and confident adult pet rabbit.

Where Can You Buy a Rabbit​

Pet shops are common places to buy a rabbit but unfortunately, they’re not always the best places. Young rabbits often get stressed and can be susceptible to disease. You probably won’t be able to find out information about hereditary breed-related health problems either.

The British Rabbit Council can help you find a registered breeder. Or you could contact your local rabbit charity, there are always young bunnies looking for new homes through no fault of their own.

How to Choose a Pet Rabbit

When choosing a young rabbit, try and see it with its mum and siblings. It’s easier to get an idea of their temperament in a familiar environment. Always ask the breeder about the health of the parents so you’re aware of any potential health problems. A healthy rabbit will have clear bright eyes, clean nostrils and ears and a nice shiny coat.

Once you’ve chosen your rabbit, make an appointment for their first vet visit a few days after their arrival. Your vet will check your rabbit over to make sure they’re healthy, and offer advice on feeding, vaccinations, neutering and much more! Now is a good time to get your bunny microchipped too.

How to Prepare for a Young Rabbit

The few days before and after your new bunny arrives are easily overlooked. Are you prepared? Have you thought about hay, food, bowls, toys, an enclosure and run outside or a dedicated space in your home? What about registering with a vet, or sorting out who is going to look after your bunny when you go away?

You’ll be super excited about your rabbit’s arrival, but the first few days will be stressful for them. If they’re going to live in an enclosure outdoors, keep them in it for the first few days before allowing them out in their run. If you have an indoor rabbit, keep them in their crate in a quiet room of the house.

If you have children, ask them to stay as calm and quiet as possible around the rabbit. Over the coming days you can let them out and gradually introduce them to more sights and sounds around your house and garden. If you have other pets, introduce your bunny to them slowly and carefully. With plenty of interaction and positive encouragement, they’ll soon learn to become confident happy rabbits in their new home.

At this age, young rabbits become very active and curious which can get them into trouble! These are all common teenage behaviours that will soon calm down as they get older. If your new addition lives indoors, make sure everything in your house in rabbit proofed so they don't cause themselves or your belongings any damage! Providing your bunny with lots of toys to play with, chew toys and places to run, play and hide in will help prevent boredom and encourage them to burn of all that energy.

Young Rabbit Development and Appearance

During the first two months of your rabbit’s life, they’ll have developed from a naked, deaf, and blind little kitten (baby rabbit) into a perfectly formed little fluffy bundle of energy. But they still have some growing and developing to do, and lots of learning! During this next phase of life, they’re approaching adolescence or their teenage period.

At this stage, no matter what breed they are or eventual adult size, your young rabbit will look like a miniature version of their eventual adult selves! But, at just two months old their bones, joints and muscles still have a lot of growing to do.

If you have a small breed like a Netherland Dwarf or a Lionhead, they’ll develop relatively quickly and are usually fully grown and considered an adult by the time they’re 6 months old. Larger breeds like the English or French Lop will take a bit longer to develop.

Giant breeds like the Flemish Giant (one of the largest breeds of rabbit) can take up to 18 months to be fully grown. These gentle giants can tip the scales at a massive 10 kg when they’re fully grown compared to the Netherland Dwarf at just 1 kg.

What they eat, how much exercise they get, and essential routine healthcare all go towards avoiding health issues and making sure your young rabbit lives its best life for as long as possible.

Feeding Your Young Rabbit

A young rabbit’s digestive system is quite complicated, and their tummies can be sensitive to new foods. No matter how old your rabbit is, they need a high fibre diet. Up until now, your rabbit will only have consumed its mother’s milk, eaten hay and some pellets.

At least 85% of your rabbit’s diet should consist of high-quality alfalfa hay and grass. This keeps their digestive system moving and will prevent any gut issues.

Bunnies can also be fed fresh foods like carrots, sweetcorn, celery, and broccoli. But some veg like kale, spring greens, and dandelions contain lots of calcium which can cause problems, so avoid feeding lots of those. You can start introducing your young rabbit to vegetables when they’re around 3 months old. But introduce them one at a time just in case they do cause a problem.

How to Groom a Young Rabbit

Grooming is an important part of your bunny’s weekly routine. And grooming is one of the best ways to bond with your bunny. The earlier you start grooming and handling them, the more comfortable they become and the easier it will be to get rid of any unwanted knots in their coat.

Rabbits are pretty good at grooming themselves but a brush once or twice a week will keep their coats clean and in great condition. If you’ve got a particularly hairy breed like an Angora or Lionhead, grooming is even more important. It can be quite a time-consuming process, so having a bunny that’s used to being groomed from an early age will make it easier and less stressful for you both!

In these early stages, grooming is also the perfect opportunity to check their eyes, ears, skin and teeth. Rabbits can be prone to ear infections, especially if they’re a lop-eared breed. Any rabbit can pick up fleas, mites or other skin parasites. Teeth problems are also very common in rabbits.

Check your rabbit all over for smelly ears, discharge from their eyes or nose, unwanted guests in the form of mites, fleas, or overgrown teeth. If you think your bunny has any of these problems, the best thing to do is call your vet for advice.

Neutering Your Young Rabbit

As rabbits reach sexual maturity their behaviour may change. They can get territorial and frustrated. They may start to spray urine around the house marking their territory. And male rabbits may start to hump things or other rabbits they live with.

Some rabbits may even show aggressive behaviours like growling and biting. And females may show some mothering behaviour like nesting, which could mean a false pregnancy. All of this is down to their hormones. Getting your rabbit neutered, when the time is right, can help prevent these unwanted behaviours.

Female rabbits can start to reproduce at around 4 months, so neutering prevents unwanted pregnancies. A litter of baby bunnies could appear unexpectedly if you're not prepared! Males can also reproduce at a similar age, so neutering is recommended at around 4 months for both male and female rabbits.

Neutering can also prevent health problems later in life. So, get your young bun booked in with your vet for the snip as soon as they’re old enough.

Training and Exercise

It’s never too early to start training your young rabbit. Once they’ve settled in, litter training will probably be your top priority, especially if they’re living indoors. With positive rewards, you’ll be able to train your rabbit to do lots of things. It keeps them mentally stimulated and can also form part of their daily exercise.

While your young bun is still growing and their bones and joints are still developing, don’t overdo the training or exercise. Short periods a couple of times a day should be enough. You can gradually build on this over the coming weeks and by the time they reach adulthood they should be getting regular periods of exercise every day. Playing with your bunny indoors or outdoors is the best form of exercise… for you both!

Exercise is important for muscles and for burning off excess calories. A lazy bun will soon pile on the pounds! A fat bunny will end up with joint, heart, skin problems and other health issues. Exercise also stops them from getting bored and getting into mischief.

Rabbit Vaccinations

You’ll be wondering what all the fuss is about when it comes to vaccinations, but they're very important! There are a couple of deadly diseases you won’t want your rabbit to catch. Your young rabbit should already have had their first vaccinations at around 5-7 weeks. Hopefully the breeder gave you all the information you need, including dates and what vaccinations they were given.

The most important diseases to be vaccinated against are myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (type 1 and 2). The timing of the vaccinations will depend on the type of vaccines given, so it’s best to check with your vet on exact timings.

If your rabbit hasn’t already been vaccinated or you don’t know their vaccinations status, your vet will probably start the course of vaccinations again. This makes sure your rabbit is fully covered, which is peace of mind for you.

Getting a bunny is very exciting and rewarding. But don’t forget there’s a lot involved! Make sure you do your homework, so you’re prepared and know what your young bunny needs.

The first 2 to 18 months of your bunny’s life can be overwhelming. They leave their mum and siblings and enter unknown waters. Try to make the transition as stress free as possible! You’ve now got many years of fun and love ahead with your new fur baby.

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

Here at Everypaw, we want to help you keep your bunny healthy and in tip top shape. Rabbit policies are available from 8 weeks of age, so, when it comes to your young rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

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