The Rabbit-Raising Problem Solver: Your Questions Answered about Housing, Feeding, Behavior, Health Care, Breeding, and Kindling

by Karen Patry

Overview

While rabbits are well-known for being cute and fuzzy creatures, they can also be very difficult to care for. Whether you’re an experienced rabbit farmer or building your first hutch for a pet bunny, The Rabbit-Raising Problem Solver has answers to all of your most pressing questions. In a handy question-and-answer format Karen Patry expertly addresses every aspect of rabbit care, including housing, feeding, breeding, kindling, health, and behavior. This informative, easy-to-use guide has reliable, humane solutions that will keep your animals healthy and happy. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612121420
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	05/06/2014
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	944,277
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Karen Patry owns Aurora Rex Rabbit Ranch and runs the website, raising-rabbits.com. She is a member of the American Rabbit Breeder’s Association and the National Rex Rabbit Club. She lives in Port Angeles, Washington.

Table of Contents

Preface

 

Part 1  All About Rabbits: From Wild to Domestic

 

Chapter 1  The Nature of the Beast

 

Run, Rabbit, Run

Eat, Rabbit, Eat

Family and Social Life

Basic Bunny Biology

 

Chapter 2  The Rabbit as a Pet

 

Rabbit Care 101

What Kind of Rabbit?

Shopping for a Pet Rabbit

Bringing Your Bunny Home

Thinking Inside the (Litter) Box

The Playful Rabbit

 

Chapter 3  The Business of Raising Rabbits

 

Looking at Meat Breeds

Looking at Fiber Breeds

Let's Talk Genetics

Managing a Rabbitry

 

Part 2  Basic Care of Rabbits: Housing and Feeding

 

Chapter 4  Housing Rabbits: Inside or Out?

 

Hutch, Sweet Hutch

Climate Control

Bedding and Litter Options

Cleaning and Disinfecting Hutches

 

Chapter 5  Feeding Rabbits

 

Digestive Tract Discussed

It's Not All Lettuce and Carrots

Hay: Not Just for Horses

Picky, Picky

Fats, Minerals, and Other Supplements

Water, Water, All the Time

What Rabbits Shouldn't Eat

 

Part 3  Making More Rabbits: Breeding and Kindling

 

Chapter 6  The Mechanics of Mating

 

Is the Time Right?

Introducing the Happy Couple

Spotting a Successful Mating

Trouble in Paradise

Back-to-Back (to Back) Litters

 

Chapter 7  The Pregnant Rabbit

 

Is My Rabbit Pregnant?

Care and Feeding of the Pregnant Doe

My Doe is Growling at Me!

Preparing for the Big Day

Day 28: Time for the Nest Box

 

Chapter 8  Kindling and Newborn Kit Care

 

What's Normal?

Leave Mother Nature Alone

Pregnancy Problems and Kindling Glitches

Runts and Peanuts

Checking the Nest Box

 

Chapter 9  Managing the Nursery

 

Not Peter Rabbit's Mother

Is She Feeding Them Enough?

Nest Box Escapees and Dead Kits

Orphan Kits and Foster Does

Stages of Kit Development

Weaning the Kits

 

Part 4  In Sickness and in Health: Illness and Injury

 

Respiratory Diseases

Enteric Complexes (Intestinal Illnesses)

Parasites

Ailments and Injuries

Less Common Health Issues

 

Resources

Index