Being a breeder it can get pretty expensive to buy all of our rabbits toys on a consistent basis. I will be posting more DIY rabbit toys to our blog to help reduce your costs as well! There are some really fancy rabbit toys out there on the market that some of our rabbits could honestly care less about. But sometimes, it's the almost free toys that get the job done and they even last longer! So here is a fun one... start saving those toilet paper rolls!

Items you'll need:

• Toilet paper roll
• Scissors
• 3 sticks that are non toxic to rabbits
• A handful of hay

Carefully with your scissors cut 3 holes on opposite sides of the toilet paper roll so that when you stick one of the sticks through, it will go through both holes.

If you have a rabbit that is picky about eating hay, try to make one of these fun toys to spice things up for them! It may encourage them to eat the hay more often!

If you packed your toilet paper roll tight, it may be a little harder to stick the sticks through to the other side. Just wiggle them and twist them until they go through!

​Buying hay can feel complicated at times especially with a picky eater. 1st cut, 2nd cut, 3rd cut…. What’s the difference? Here we will discuss this!

First cut hay is just as it sounds! It is the first cut of the season out of the field before it blooms. This hay usually has thinner stems but it's more stemy than leafy. It's higher in fiber content and lower in protein and fat content. The color will be lighter with more yellow and brown parts. This is a good quality hay for rabbits. If you have a rabbit that is overweight or is prone to getting G.I stasis, than this is the hay for them.

Click on the link to order 1st cut timothy hay->> 1st cut hay

Second cut hay is a good hay for healthy adult rabbits. It usually has more leaves on the stems which is more attractive to your rabbit. This hay is greener than 1st cut and not as stemy. The protein and fat content is a little higher than 1st cut and the fiber level is a bit lower.

Click on the link to order 2nd cut timothy hay->> 2nd cut hay

Third cut is a very soft and heavy leafy hay. It should be a darker green than 1st and 2nd cut. It's higher in protein and fat content and lowest in fiber content. This hay should be given as a treat or you can mix it sparingly with 1st or 2nd cut hay if your rabbit is a picky hay eater. If you have a rabbit that is underweight, this is an ideal hay to give them as it's higher in protein and fat which should help weight gain. Be watchful of your buns poos. If you notice softer poos, besides their cecotropes, than cut back on this hay.

Click on the link to order 3rd cut timothy hay->> 3rd cut hay

Sometimes it's best to let your rabbit sample each kind of hay and see what they like best. Small Pet Select has a sampler box that has 1st, 2nd, 3rd cut timothy hay, and also orchard grass. 

Click on the link to order your sampler box->> Sampler Box

If you are wanting an indoor rabbit than spaying/neutering is a must! Here we will discuss the benefits of it.

When you bring your baby bunny home they are cute and snuggly but shortly after you may experience hormonal behavior such as nipping or biting, aggressively digging and scratching, no longer using the litter box, circling around your feet, or constant pacing and always on the go. Rabbits can go through this as early as 8 weeks. Every rabbit is different and on rare occasions your rabbit may not experience these behaviors on an extreme level. You may not have to worry about hormonal behaviors or fixing them but this is a rare instance in rabbits! Baby bunnies aren't set in their ways yet so be prepared for changes after they come home. This blog is to educate you for the best or worse case scenario!

If your rabbit is showing any of the hormonal signs above, you will want to contact your rabbit savvy vet to see what age they spay/neuter rabbits. Some are comfortable with doing it as early as three months, where others wait until 6 months. It will just depend on each individual vet. ​

Rabbits are territorial animals. They mark their territory by leaving poops, pee, and chinning everything. Once their hormone levels start raising, they will spray their pee to mark their area and let anyone and anything know that it belongs to them. They will also leave little poop pellets around. After they are fixed they will stop spraying pee and poop should be mostly in the litter pan. 

Not every rabbit will poop 100% of their poos in the litter box but there are a few different options to help try to control this.

1. ​If a rabbit feels stressed or not in control of their environment, it can cause them to leave extra poos outside the litter box. Try to help them feel comfortable in their area by eliminating things that could be causing stress. Depending on where you got your rabbit from, they may or may not have been exposed to children, other animals, or loud noises. If your rabbits hasn't been exposed to very many people or animals than it may be stressful for them to move into a home with loud children or dogs. It may make them feel more comfortable to have their own room or maybe even the laundry room. Just somewhere it is quieter. You can also just work on socializing them into their new environment. Try moving them into a quieter area and slowly socializing them with the kids or dogs.
2. Try a different litter pan. Every rabbit prefers different litter pans. We have three different litter boxes we use for our buns because each of them prefers one over the other. If you have one of those corner litter pans that is shaped like a triangle, try a square or oval box that is bigger. Some rabbits also prefer having privacy so you can try to find a cat litter box that has a tall lid to it or even build a box enclosure around the litter box with a small door for them to get in and out from.
3. Get them fixed as soon as possible! Baby bunnies can be potty trained at a young age. We've had babies that have been potty trained as early as 4 weeks old. Sometimes you get your baby bunny home and they are pooping and peeing everywhere even though they were "potty trained" at their previous home. This is mostly because they are in a new environment and their scent isn't anywhere. This should only last a few days to a week and then they should pick it back up and go in the litter box. If they do pee outside the litter box than take a paper towel, wipe it up, and place the soiled paper towel inside their litter box so their scent is in the box. If they keep peeing in one corner no matter what you have tried, then don't fight it and put the litter box in that corner! If they keep peeing outside the litter box no matter what, then chances are they are going through their hormonal stage at a young age and once they get fixed they will start peeing in the litter box again. Lets just hope your vet is comfortable fixing them at a younger age otherwise you may be cleaning pee for a few months. You can also try putting more than one litter box in their area until they are able to get fixed. Sometimes the more the better!

Rabbits also have a scent gland under their chin and by their genitals. If you have ever seen your rabbit rubbing his or her chin on something, they are marking their territory. When they chin things it doesn't leave any visible residue and humans can't smell it thankfully! So all in all chinning is harmless. Let them chin away!

The scent gland by their genitals usually does not need to be maintained but if your rabbits living area is cleaned and you smell a musky smell, it may be these scent glands. They produce a dark yellow or brown wax substance and can easily be removed by a wet Q-tip. You will want to gently hold them back and move the fur away around their genitals until you see the waxy substance. Sometimes it's kind of packed down in their so twist the wet Q-tip to loosen the wax and it will make it easier to come out. The smell is horrendous but once it's out, your rabbits area will smell so much better!

If you are thinking about adding another rabbit to your home, fixing your current rabbit is a must. It will reduce their urge to want to mate or aggressive behaviors. Usually your rabbits hormone level will drop within the first few days but I have seen some rare instances where it takes several months. Always just slowly introduce your rabbits in a neutral area and monitor them closely to see how they react to each other. 

I get this question on a daily basis so that always means it’s time to blog! The number one quality families want in a bunny is for them to be snuggly. You will see in our videos we post on Instagram of us holding and handling the buns and they are calm. I’m always asked… “Which bunny is the most snuggly out of the litters?” So let’s get into the nitty gritty of what to expect when adopting a baby bunny.

First off, rabbits are a prey animal but did you know that domesticated rabbits are not even the same species as wild rabbits? Those cute cotton tails you see hopping around your backyard are apart of the hare family. Domesticated rabbits belong to the Lagomorpha family. Although rabbits are prey animals, there are many ways to socialize domesticated rabbits to have them living happily in your home.
The first and most important stage in bunnies lives is how they are raised from birth, which is the breeders job. Here at Blue Clover our bunnies live indoors in the most realistic home style environment. We have individual solid floor pens that are spacious enough for each mama and her babies. Aside from a clean and spacious environment, socializing is the most crucial part of a bunnies development. Every breeder or person has their own opinion and I respect that but this is my point of view from raising rabbits since 2011.

When babies are born here they are handled from day one. Did you know domestic rabbits eyes don’t even open until around 10-11 days? Wild baby bunnies are born with their eyes open for obvious reasons. Otherwise there probably wouldn’t be very many wild buns hopping around due to predators! So since domestic bunnies eyes aren’t open, they cannot associate anything with sight yet. They are also born deaf. So this leaves “touch”. They can most certainly feel everything around them. It’s so important to make a bond with them at this early stage so they are familiar with being handled and pet. Once their eyes open, they can associate you handling them with sight now and you are not a threat to them. This is a crucial step in development and one of the main reasons why we are not a “hobby breeder”. This is a lifestyle and it’s every single day for me. Occasionally I have helpers come too!

So all that being said, no breeder can ever guarantee personality traits in baby bunnies. We can give you a description of what they are like currently, which is usually easy to handle and sweet, but things can change and most likely will change. Some change more than others and it’s not always bad changes. Just normal bunny behavior changes! I've seen it where people have had super snuggly babies and then a few months pass by and they are still very social but don’t like being handled. Sometimes it is honestly human error and I have actually helped numerous people just tweak and adjust the way they pickup and handle their bunnies and everything is ok after that! And in rare cases, sometimes the buns just do not want to be picked up. So yes, you can have a snuggly baby bun (and you most likely will) but it “can” change.

Rabbits go through a hormonal stage and it can start as early as 8 weeks which is right when you would be getting them. That doesn’t mean that every rabbit that leaves changes the day they get home. But it’s just to educate you that it is possible that the hormone levels could increase that early. A hormonal rabbit will usually be “testy” or have an attitude like a teenager. Males will tend to run in circles around your feet and almost all male buns will spray pee once they start getting hormonal as well. Both genders can get attitudes and you may notice them stomping their feet because they don’t approve of something or they are irritated. This is all normal behavior to expect and the solution is getting them fixed sooner than later. Call to ask your local exotic (experienced with rabbits) vet to see what age they spay and neuter rabbits. Some can do it as early as 3 months while others will wait until 6 months old.

All in all, when you see cute tiny baby bunnies online, be sure to keep this information in mind when making a decision whether to get one or not. Baby bunnies are cute and snuggly and adopting them from responsible and reputable breeders will definitely increase the odds of having a social and hopefully snuggly bunny. But the reality of it doesn’t always turn out that way. We are in contact with SO many families that have adopted bunnies from us and a lot of them have snuggly bunnies still to this day. It’s not too common that we’ve had families have difficulties handling their buns but it has happened as with every other rabbit breeder in the world.

If you are completely set on only wanting a snuggly bun then your absolute best option is to get one that is at least 6 months old and already spayed or neutered. Those buns will mostly be set in their ways by then. So if they are easy to handle at that stage then you probably got yourself a winner!
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This blog wasn’t to scare you out of adopting a baby bunny. But more so to educate you on what you could possibly encounter. Like I said above, if you find a responsible breeder that handles their babies daily, your chances will definitely be higher of getting a snuggly bun!

The reason I chose to list this as the first reason is because it's the most meaningful to me. We started taking our bunnies out in the community last year and we've recently been blessed to find a few more homes and a nursing home to bring them to! There is nothing like seeing the look on families faces when they come to pick up their bunnies. Don't get me wrong, it's such a good feeling. But to see the residents in these homes smile and say that it made their whole week is simply priceless. I've heard so many stories that break my heart such as families never coming to visit them anymore because they are too busy or "not themselves" anymore due to their condition. I could rant on about my opinion on that but I won't. But I will say we only get our family once and once they're gone, they're gone. Be there for them and spend time with them. 

Also we recently just started doing bunny therapy session in our home! I love watching people oh and ah over our animals. It brings joy not only to them but us too! I'm so thankful that God has opened a door for us to be able to do this. We are in the long process of finding a new home that is bigger to accommodate larger groups and more activities for our community to come to! Can't wait to see what the future holds for Blue Clover!

Here are a few pics from the adult family homes we've been to! I wish you could see the looks on their faces but unfortunately due to confidentiality, we can't post their faces. They all have the biggest smiles though!!

We raise boxers as well and it still amazes me to this day that Bailey and Bo do SO well with our bunnies. I remember how good Bailey was when she was just a puppy and when we got Bo I said to myself...there is no way I will have two boxers that are good with bunnies. Well lo and behold Bo loves the bunnies as well! They are so gentle with them and Bailey is such a nurturing dog. I almost think at times she thinks they are her babies! From some of the pictures below you'll know what I mean! Boxers are high energy dogs but with the proper training they can be very well behaved. I've been considering writing a blog post on how I socialize our dogs with the bunnies so you may see that in the near future!

I frequently get emails from families that just send me updates on their bunnies. A lot of the time the emails start out as, "I know you're busy but..." or "I don't know if you'll see these but...". I am a very busy lady but I LOVE getting updates and I see and respond to every one of them! Never hesitate to send me pictures or updates! Some of my best days start out with messages I wake up to of families who are sending me selfies with their bunnies or letting me know how well they are doing. Some people even have questions or concerns and I never want you to feel like you can't ask me! The fact that you are reaching out and concerned or just wanting to see if something is ok gives me comfort that you care about the well being of your bunny! If you have a bunny from us than you have bought into a life time support system through us so don't hesitate to use it!

Below are pictures I've received from families! These are so valuable and they're all saved to my computer!

​​It's very important that your rabbits get the right amount of nutrients every day. Feeding your rabbit incorrectly can lead to obesity, dental issues, and possibly even death. Rabbits are more sensitive animals than a cat or dog so making sure they have the correct diet is vital to their well being.

Rabbits need a high fiber diet. Even though they can eat fruits, they should be given in small quantities. More as treats than a full meal. If you notice their stool getting soft or stuck to their bottoms, stop giving fruit and only offer them high fiber foods. Once they begin having normal stool again, you can add a smaller amount of fruits back to their diet. Remember fruits are high in sugar which is why they should be given in small quantities. Your rabbit will most likely enjoy most fruits you introduce and beg for more. Don't give in! 

Safe fruits:
Pineapple
Cantelope
Strawberry
Blueberry
Apple
Banana
Blackberry
Raspberry 
Papaya (Also used to unblock the digestive system when necessary)
Pear
Starfruit

Not all vegetables are high in fiber. For instance, carrots are high in sugar and should only be given sparingly. Next is a list of vegetables that are safe for rabbits but should only be given in small amounts.

Safe vegetables in small amounts:
Carrots 
Parsnips
Sweet peppers
Beetroot
Squash
Pumpkin (Also used to unblock the digestive system when necessary)
Cauliflower (Can cause gas)
Broccoli (Can cause gas)

​Most leafy green vegetables are high in fiber and should make up a good portion of your rabbits diet. Some families choose not to feed pellets to their rabbits which is completely ok. They can get the right amount of vitamins and nutrients from assorted leafy greens and a mixture of hays. A lot of families choose to feed pellets because it's already a balanced diet and it's much cheaper than 4-6 cups of fresh vegetables every day.

Safe vegetables:
Romaine lettuce
Broccoli leaves
Celery
Kale
Radish tops
Parsley 
Mint
Basil
Cilantro
Dandelion leaves
Collard greens
Bok choy
Mustard greens
Asparagus
Cucumber
​Spinach
Clover

Unfortunately there are rabbit foods and treats on the market that are not suitable for your furry little friends. Be careful when choosing a pellet that there aren't any colorful treats and seeds. The colorful treats are just carbohydrates which can cause obesity. Stay away from the following foods/ treats.

Unsafe foods:
Yogurt drops (A treat specifically for rabbits found in most pet stores)
Cereal
Hamster food
Bread
Pasta
Cookies
Crackers
Avocado
Nuts of anykind
Potatoes
Corn (No nutritional value)
Soy beans (No nutritional value)
Rice
Dairy
​Meat

I'd love to hear what you feed your rabbits! Comment down below!

​Proverbs 27:23 “Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds.”

​1. Willow Ball/ Nature Ball  Shop

2. Oxbow Timothy Carrot  Shop

3. Oxbow Timothy Twists  Shop

4. Cups  Shop

5. eCOTRITION Snak Shak Activity Log  Shop

6. Grass Beds  Shop

7. Organic Apple Orchard Sticks  Shop

8. Living World Nibblers Shop

9. Loofahs  Shop

10. Carrot Sticks Shop

It’s important to have some first aid materials for your bunny in case of an emergency or illness. We always hope that nothing will ever happen but it’s best to be prepared just in case. You can have the safest housing and be feeding them the healthiest way but accidents and illness can still occur.
 
Here is a list of items we recommend you keep on hand. We’ve included links to some of the harder items to find on Amazon. It’s best to get a container to keep all these items in so it’s easy to grab.

Recommended Items:

• Q-tips
• Tweezers
• Disposable Gloves- To keep things germ-free.
• Vetericyn Wound & Skin Care- (Buy On Amazon) This is an antibacterial spray that can be used on cuts and scrapes. It’s safe for rabbits to use.
• Nail Clippers- (Buy In Our Store) It’s important to keep your rabbits nails trimmed regularly. Every rabbits nails grow differently so plan on cutting them every 4-6 weeks.
• Styptic Powder- (Buy On Amazon) If you cut their nails too close to their skin it could cause them to bleed. Accidents could also occur where their nail could get ripped off. You simply just dip their nail in the powder to stop the bleeding.
• Oral Syringes- (Buy On Amazon) You’ll need a syringe if your rabbits stops eating and needs to be fed orally. Rabbits can get GI Stasis (when the digestive system slows down or stops) so it’s important to administer the proper nutrients or medicine recommended by your vet to get their system flowing again.
• Oxbow Critical Care- (Buy On Amazon) A good supplement to syringe feed your rabbit if they stop eating.
• Papaya Tablets- (Buy On Amazon) Papaya is a natural way to keep their digestive system moving. This tablet is especially recommended for rabbits with more fiber such as lion heads, angoras, or any long haired rabbit.
• Rectal Thermometer- (Buy On Amazon) If you ever need to check your rabbits temperature it will need to be done rectally.
• Ice Pod- (Buy On Amazon) These are important to have during the heat of the summer. Rabbits can get overheated and these pods help keep them cool.
• Towel- A towel is important to have on hand in case you need to restrain them safely.

 

When to see a vet?

If there is ever an emergency beyond your knowledge please seek advice from your rabbit savvy vet. You can take your rabbit to the vet for an annual checkup once a year to make sure they are healthy. If you have adopted a baby bunny, it’s also highly recommended to get them neutered or spayed as soon as they can be. This is usually between the ages of 3 months-6 months. Every vet is different so call to ask how old the rabbits need to be. This will help with litter training or any behavioral problems.
​
To find a vet near you that cares for rabbits, refer to this guide. Rabbit Vets In The U.S

One of the most important things to invest in for your rabbits is their living area. Some people are not a fan of caged animals and there are other alternatives for you to house your rabbit in a safe area without having them caged.

Pens
Exercise pens are a great way to have a cage free setup and you can be more creative with the goodies you want to put inside their area. With cages you are restricted to what you can put inside because of the limited space.
 
This first pen below is nice because it’s inexpensive and you can attach more than one if you want to expand the space. Some rabbits can jump pretty high so we recommend getting a pen at least 36” high. The higher the better, so if you want to spend the few extra to get a 42” it would be a good idea! It comes with (8) 2ft panels so it’s 16sqft. These pens are light weight and easy to move so if you wanted to give your bunny playtime outside, you just simply fold it up and setup outside!
Click on the link --->  amzn.to/2Pxy8kY
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Do you have a rabbit that is a chewer? Maybe they are chewing on wall base boards, carpet, or furniture? Well here are some tips and tricks to help!

Your Rabbits Area
How is your rabbit housed? I’m assuming most people reading this have indoor bunnies. Do they have complete free range of your house or are they fenced in a certain room or area? It can be costly to bunny proof your entire house but may be worth it for the time being. Confining them to a certain area or room is a good start to learning their behaviors and do some training. Be sure they have enough room and space to play in. If they are confined in a cage all day or most of their life, it will definitely play a roll in their behavioral changes and bad habits. Rabbits love attention and need attention like any living creature. If your bunny received a lot of attention when you first got them but then later down the road “life happened” and you drastically change how much they are interacted with, it could cause them to be bored or stressed and can result in bad chewing habits. Spend time with your rabbit in their area and be sure to give them attention daily. Try to be as consistent as you can.
​
Are They Spayed/ Neutered?
If you got your rabbit when they were still a baby, chances are they didn’t have a bad chewing habit. Most families get their baby bunnies home and all is well until about a month or two later and then behaviors start to change. It’s not always a bad change. Some families choose not to get their rabbits fixed and their personalities are great and they are still good pets. When some rabbits get into that hormonal stage, they can start chewing on unwanted things. Getting them fixed is the start to calming them down.
 
Toys
Every rabbit has a different personality. Not every rabbits will play with or like the same toys. You may need to experiment around with a different variety of toys until you find something they like. Luckily rabbit toys are pretty inexpensive and some are even free! One method to try is the “digging box”. If you have a whole sale store near you such as Costco, be sure to always grab an extra empty box on the way out! Rabbits usually love a digging box and it keeps them entertained for along time. You can fill it with newspaper, toilet paper rolls, or any safe material that they like to shred. Put the box in their main play area and monitor their behavior to see if it’s helped minimize the chewing problem.
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All in all, rabbits chew and need to chew to ensure healthy teeth. Some chew more than others and you won’t really know until they grow out a little more and hit that hormonal stage. Try these tips to deter from any damage to your home!