For me, on a personal level, exercise is important for our rabbits. I feel it helps them get fresh air on a regular basis and keeps them stronger and healthier. I know not everyone has time for it, and to be honest I don't always have time either. But for the most part on a regular basis I like to take our rabbits out one by one for at least an hour of play time. Of course during rain and snow I don't bring them outside... so instead I bring them inside. But even on days, like today that was bitter cold, I routinely cycled through them one by one until everyone has had time to run and play. Our numbers stay low, specifically so that I always have time to spend with each rabbit on a regular basis. I check every detail of our rabbits honestly several times a week. I know so much about their little personalities that I can tell in a heartbeat if someone isn't acting right.
Recently we have had our first bought with Barbering. I like to keep my jrs together as long as possible. I always feel so guilty separating them to live a life alone. So if they seem to be getting along fine, then together they stay. I may have to reconsider this method, as we had 2 pens of barbering. This can be an issue in multiple ways. The fur can cause intestinal problems, which can be fatal to the rabbit. On the non fatal note, it makes your rabbit look silly and non showable. So while this was easy to resolve, my next scenario has not been. We now have a little buck, who must have enjoyed barbering his brother so much, that he has taken to barbering on himself. This can become a habbit if not addressed immediately. I instantly loaded his cage with toys and toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay. So far this seems to be keeping him plenty occupied. Barbering can also be a sign of poor nutrition. While I know I give our rabbits lots of greens and fresh food and a consistent diet of high protein food, I am not overly concerned. However, I was able to research and find that foods high in magnesium can help address this issue. Spinach leaves, Pumpkin seeds and Banana are all high in magnesium. Of course you want to do small amounts. So I am giving it a test and hoping to see improvement in my little barber. Now if only there were something magical to make his brother grow a nice show worthy coat instead of looking like a teddy bear.
Recently we have had our first bought with Barbering. I like to keep my jrs together as long as possible. I always feel so guilty separating them to live a life alone. So if they seem to be getting along fine, then together they stay. I may have to reconsider this method, as we had 2 pens of barbering. This can be an issue in multiple ways. The fur can cause intestinal problems, which can be fatal to the rabbit. On the non fatal note, it makes your rabbit look silly and non showable. So while this was easy to resolve, my next scenario has not been. We now have a little buck, who must have enjoyed barbering his brother so much, that he has taken to barbering on himself. This can become a habbit if not addressed immediately. I instantly loaded his cage with toys and toilet paper rolls stuffed with hay. So far this seems to be keeping him plenty occupied. Barbering can also be a sign of poor nutrition. While I know I give our rabbits lots of greens and fresh food and a consistent diet of high protein food, I am not overly concerned. However, I was able to research and find that foods high in magnesium can help address this issue. Spinach leaves, Pumpkin seeds and Banana are all high in magnesium. Of course you want to do small amounts. So I am giving it a test and hoping to see improvement in my little barber. Now if only there were something magical to make his brother grow a nice show worthy coat instead of looking like a teddy bear.
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