As Spring arrives, your rabbits will be excitable and ready to start wanting to play outside. It's now time to think about prepping those safe play spaces for them and managing all the changes that come with Spring care.
Indoor rabbits can start going outdoors for supervised play time during the day once the weather is consistently above 10C. Here in the UK that can be anywhere between March and May.
Prepare your play spaces:
Take steps to prepare your rabbits outdoor play space. Once the weather is dry enough the first step is to sand, prep and paint any wooden areas like runs and hides. Check for any Winter damage and ensure mesh is still intact and secure.
Rodents or other wildlife may have used your play spaces over Winter so check for signs of wood worms, mice droppings, and soil which may have been dug under. Give everything a brush down, wipe and disinfect before using.
Rake any grass which has turned to moss and seed any grass runs which have turned to mud. Now is the time to seed your pots and grass trays too.
Make adjustments to doors and locks as wood will shrink after Winter. You may now have gaps in your doors or need to move your locks.
Get ready for Spring moult!
Spring brings heavy moulting for all rabbits, no matter their coat type. You should get ready to brush them a lot and help them through the moult to prevent fur blockage by ingesting too much fur. Get your grooming kit at the ready!
Watch for hazards!
There are many hazards around in Spring as people jump into gardening start trying to get rid of pests in their homes and gardens.
Spring is a dangerous time for Fox attacks as baby foxes need feeding and hunting ramps up.
Eating things they shouldn't
- Bulbs - all plants which come from bulbs are toxic to rabbits.
- Slug pellets - these are extremely harmful to nature and wildlife so please avoid using them and do not let your rabbits out in communal areas if others are using them.
- Grass clippings - grass clippings start fermenting once cut and this can cause gastric bloat in your rabbits which is most often fatal. These should never be fed to rabbits.
Monitoring fresh grass
Fresh Spring grass is high in sugar and if given the chance, your rabbit will gorge on as much of it they can get after a boring mud filled Winter. This can cause disruption in their gut bacteria, causing gut dysbiosis (severe gastric distress) and diarrhoea. It can also cause rapid weight gain. Monitor the amount of time they are out and gradually increase the amount of grass they are allowed, checking their weight weekly and watching for any runny poo or excess caecotrophe production.
