What do rabbits need?
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The Scottish government legislation for rabbit welfare imposes the need for all rabbits to have all 5 of their essential welfare needs met. These include:
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Housing & EnvironmentClick on the photo to learn more about how to create the perfect habitat for your rabbits
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Diet & NutritionClick on the photo to learn more about feed your rabbits
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HealthClick on the photo to learn more about monitoring the health of your rabbits
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Choosing Toys For Your RabbitsDid you know many toys sold for rabbits are unsafe and harmful for rabbits? Click the photo to read our interactive guide to choosing safe and suitable toys for your rabbits.
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Welfare & Wellbeing Policies
Rabbits are sentient beings that require a gentle approach, as a prey herd species they are fragile and susceptible to many health issues and will often tolerate abuse due to their nature which can be traumatic and lead to learned helplessness.
Harnesses -
Safety is paramount and harnesses are not safe to use on any rabbits due to their skeletal structure and way they naturally exercise. Baby Blue Bee Bunnies do not recommend the use of collars or harnesses on rabbits.
Clothing -
Dressing rabbits up in any form of clothing (out with medical post op vests) is stressful and restrictive to rabbits and should never be done. Rabbits do not like to feel trapped and putting clothing on them can make them feel defensive and vulnerable and extremely stressed. Even if a rabbit will tolerate this, it is not enjoyable nor kind. Baby Blue Bee Bunnies do not recommend dressing rabbits up in any form of clothing.
Trancing -
Trancing ie "placing a rabbit on it's back" causes a rabbit to play dead and makes them stressed and terrified. This should never be done to a rabbit.
Excursions -
Rabbits are very particular over their home environment and like to map out where their safe places are, creating a network across their community space of entrances, exits and cover. When we take rabbits to new places for short periods of time, they will desperately seek to map out where is safe and where is not.
When unable, they will act frantic. If they feel unsafe and unable to make decisions, rabbits will self soothe by grooming their face and paws, this is called 'avoidance behaviour'. You will also see them standing on their back legs a lot, this is them trying to find cover and being alerted to danger above.
Taking your rabbit out of their home territory should only be done for health and welfare reasons: vets and boarding for example and they should then go straight back to where they know as soon as possible.
Taking your rabbit out for the day in no way benefits your rabbit, in fact much the opposite. The nature of rabbits as a species is to stay where they know and feel safe. They should always stay with their warren members at all times so taking one rabbit out away from their companion/s should never ever be done.
Not to mention the increased risks of predators, disease and viruses. Parasites are commonly picked up which can be found in long grass and where dogs have been toileting.
BBBB does not support the taking of rabbits out excursions.
