Pet Rabbit Articles By Precious Pet Rabbits

Adopting Adult And Nearly-Adult Rabbits

The Benefits Of Choosing A Pet Rabbit That Is Beyond Babyhood

Why Not Choose Baby Rabbits?

Baby rabbits are adorable, there is no doubt. The very first litter born at The Nature Trail Rabbitry hooked me for life, I'm sure. They are fun to watch and very sweet. They run and skip with abandon. I enjoy three-week olds the very best.

They also die easily.

Just the day before I sat down to write this, two five-week old bunnies in my barn died. They were doing fine yesterday. I only had a hint that one of them might not be robust. The other was a total surprise.

adult rabbit - pet rabbit It's difficult as a breeder and a herd manager to deal with the death of my rabbits. But had those been my children's pets, the difficulty and feelings of loss in our household would have multiplied tenfold.

Many things can stress a young rabbit. Weaning is a huge stress in a rabbit's life. Leaving their litter is another stress, as is moving to another home.

There are laws in several states which make it illegal to sell bunnies below the age of 8 weeks. You will see that not selling pet rabbits below that age is a requirement for breeders to be listed on my website on the Locate A Local Rabbitry Breeder page of this website.

It's a principle I feel strongly about. Do not risk the health of a bunny and your heart by separating mother and bunny too soon.

Young Rabbits

Young rabbits between two and three months old are a bit sturdier than baby rabbits. They've made it through weaning, especially those on the older side of this range.

Their body mass has increased and they can tolerate small changes in their diet and routine better. They are still somewhat delicate creatures that must be cared for diligently. Excess and drastic change may be their worse enemies.

A downside to young rabbits is that they can be more difficult to litter train. They are not yet sexually mature so it is difficult to predict how becoming hormonally active will affect their individual personalities. Some sweet does turn aloof or even aggressive as they become sexually mature.

In some breeds, especially dwarf breeds, it can be difficult to predict their adult size. You may want a 3 lb. rabbit, but you may end up with a 4 1/2 lb. rabbit, if you buy a young one.

Pet Rabbit Adopted When Nearly Grown - Now An Adult Rabbit

Steve was adopted at age 5 1/2 months. His new owner wrote me the following note:

I'm not sure if you remember me but I bought Steve from you at a Perry showing back in April. I just wanted to let you know that's he's doing super! He's adjusted to living here and he's a total sweetie. He loves to follow me around; he's very attached to me (which I love). I'm glad I was able to adopt him! Thanks again!!

Erica B.

Georgia

Adolescent Rabbits

Rabbits four to six months old are at the best place, in my opinion, for going to a new home. Their adult size will be more evident. They are already old enough to spay or neuter. They are relatively physically sturdy.

They are plenty young enough to develop new relationships and learn new routines. There does seem to be some fear that rabbits this age will not love their new owner as much because they were not raised by them. I have not found this to be true. Most of the pets I sell are in this age range (or older even). Generally within a few days, I receive a very happy email how about well the rabbit has settled in and how well he is interacting with the family.

Adolescent rabbits are mature enough to have the attention span needed to litter train. If you have your bunny spayed or neutered right away, then you will not have to litter train twice, which you may have to do with a young rabbit who changes behaviors with the onset of sexual maturity.

Adult Rabbits

Adult rabbits are the sure thing. You can see their size. You can get a great idea of their personality (there's always additional warming up that will occur as you get to know each other). The rabbit may be litter trained already. If not, adults are already practiced at hygiene practices including the daily bath and using one corner of their cage for elimination. You can capitalize on those habits and litter train pretty quickly.

Adult rabbits that were previously pets are a great option. Sometimes, you can inherit the cage and supplies as well. The fact that the previous owner can no longer care for the rabbits does not automatically indicate that the rabbit was not cared for. Family members can develop allergies, landlords can change policies, pet owners go to college, or their life situation changes and does not allow time or room for the rabbit any longer.

Final Thought

Rabbits grow extremely quickly. In relatively few weeks, any rabbit you purchase will be an adult. Think about whether you want to trade the certainty and ease that comes with older rabbits for the difficulty of litter training and the higher chance of death just to enjoy a few weeks of having a young bunny. Rabbits never outgrow their cute, precious stage. That's just what they are.

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