Thai Topiary - A herd of topiary rabbits on the lawn at the king's summer palace in Thailand

To Oat or Not to Oat?

Rabbits can eat oats and other grains when fed as a part of a balanced diet. However, don't feed them too much because it can cause digestive troubles that lead to diarrhea and bloating. Generally rabbits should not be fed a diet that has a starch content higher than 11% to 14%. The starch content of every grain is different and varies between 57% (oats) to over 70% (corn). This means that if you feed your rabbit oats or other grains that it should only be a very small part of their total diet. 
 Diarrhea and bloating occurs when too much undigested starch passes into the caecum which is then quickly fermented by bacteria. While a small amount of starch can help to speed the fermentation (digestion) of fiber, too much starch can actually cause a change in pH which results in a change of bacterial populations. These "bad" bacteria thrive on the easily fermented starch and cause digestive troubles.
 For additional information about rabbit diets go here. 


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7147191

Lionhead Rabbits

Lionhead rabbits are recent arrivals that came from another wool breed. They require less grooming to maintain because they have less fur than true wool breeds and make great companions. Lionhead rabbits make great pets and get use to human contact when handled properly. However, caring for them can be a little more difficult than other pet rabbits because they require regular grooming. If you don't groom your rabbit regularly then two things can happen. First, if it has fur around its vent area then poop can cake up on it and create a mess. Second, without regularly removing excess hair by combing your rabbit then your rabbit might consume too much fur while it grooms itself. This leads to a condition called wool block (digestive system blockage) and can be fatal. A high fiber diet for your rabbit helps prevent wool block by quickly moving food (and hair) through the digestive system. However, not all high fiber rabbit food is the same. Before feeding it to your rabbit break apart the pellets to see if they contain large fibrous particles. If it is made solely of finely ground particles then it will likely contribute to wool block. You can also supplement their diet with grass hay (like timothy hay).
To learn more about Lionhead rabbits or other breeds of rabbits that make good pets..go Here.


 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5533631

More Good Reading

We hear 'tail' that there's a great new book out about the favorite housepet..rabbits!!
We hear its a must read whether you're considering adopting bunnies or if you have already adopted or even if you have had a bunny as an companion for years.

The author, Stephen Flores,  is a volunteer and educator for the San Diego House Rabbit Society and has been a bunny parent for many years. It's an easy-to-read book loaded with valuable information and tips covering a broad range of topics including diet, housing options, bunny proofing, behavior, communication, medical issues and much, much more. At the end of each chapter there is a handy summary of key points which makes it helpful for future reference.

You can obtain a copy of your own at Amazon or at The Bunny Guy.

Calcium in rabbit food and Timothy Hay

Did you know that rabbits passively absorb calcium from their diet? This is different from most other animals that actively absorb it by using calcium pumps (proteins) embedded in the intestinal cells. However adding synthetic vitamin D3 (the active form) to rabbit food will cause rabbits to make these calcium pumps and actively uptake MORE calcium from their food (rather than passively absorbing it) AND it causes the kidneys to retain the calcium in the body rather than simply expel it. Avoid rabbit food that adds synthetic vitamin D3! - David

https://www.naturalrabbitfood.com/timothy-hay-for-rabbits/

Pet Rabbit Food

The nutritional needs of rabbits change as they grow up and so should their pet rabbit food. Baby pet rabbits require a diet that is low in starch, sugar, carbohydrates, and protein supplements because they can't digest it. If your rabbit has diarrhea then you are probably feeding a food that is too high in these things which include grains, wheat middlings, grain by-products and soybean meal. Check the feed label before buying your pet rabbit food.
 As a result many people suggest feeding baby rabbits timothy hay to prevent diarrhea. However, they do not realize that this grass hay lacks the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that baby bunnies need for healthy growth. Feeding it will prevent your baby rabbit from getting the nutrients found in a balanced pelleted diet.
 The solution is to feed your baby pet rabbit a balanced diet that is high in fat and fiber instead of starch. This type of diet mimics "mamma's milk" that is high in fat but low in sugar. Take care to make sure that the fat comes from whole oil seeds that are high in vitamin E instead of refined vegetable oil or animal fat. Baby rabbits should continue to eat this style of food until they are "teenagers" or somewhere between 10 to 12 weeks of age. Then you should gradually switch to feeding them a low energy rabbit food that is high in fiber (containing timothy hay) that is designed to meet the nutritional needs of adult pet rabbits.
 It is important to continue feeding an adult pet rabbit food that is balanced and designed to provide the minerals and vitamins they need to maintain a healthy immune system, bone health, and an active lifestyle. If you skimp and just feed grass and vegetables they may develop mineral and vitamin deficiencies that lead to muscular dystrophy (meaning they will become partially paralyzed) or other nutritional diseases. Feeding treats is OK as long as they are not high in calories and they are only fed in small quantities.
 It's really that simple! Feeding the right type of pet rabbit food will ensure that your pet rabbit grows and lives an active, healthy and long life. You will avoid nutritional deficiencies and prevent costly vet bills. Furthermore, appropriately feeding these two styles of a balanced pet rabbit food will significantly reduce odor and messes as well as promote a healthy and shiny fur coat.
 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6195039
Or go HERE for more information on our Food

Hares at Play

The birds are gone to bed, the cows are still, 

And sheep lie panting on each old mole-hill; 

And underneath the willow's gray-green bough, 

Like toil a-resting, lies the fallow plough. 

The timid hares throw daylight fears away 

On the lane's road to dust and dance and play, 

Then dabble in the grain by naught deterred 

To lick the dew-fall from the barley's beard; 

Then out they sturt again and round the hill 

Like happy thoughts dance, squat, and loiter still, 

Till milking maidens in the early morn 

Jingle their yokes and sturt them in the corn; 

Through well-known beaten paths each nimbling hare 

Sturts quick as fear, and seeks its hidden lair. 

  

John Clare (1793-1864)

by Jerzy Grzesiak

We have an amazing supporter of Sherwood Forest Rabbit Food in a benevolent place called THE RABBIT HAVEN, which is situated in the rolling green hills of Santa Cruz, California. (my old stomping ground.)

 The Rabbit Haven was formed to achieve the following goals:
 *To educate the public all about rabbits, including their care, diet, grooming, medical and social needs.
 *To provide rescue, shelter, medical care, foster care, and spay/neuter services for abandoned and endangered rabbits.
 *To place rabbits into permanent, safe, loving, indoor homes.


 Heather Bechtel, Founder and Director of The Rabbit Haven, began working with rabbits and other animals in 1958. Her family was involved in the medical field and provided much needed help and education to her in these early years. Heather has been involved in animal care (especially medical care) and rescue since that time. Heather comes from a medical and business background with a strong focus in non profit program development and management. She founded the Rabbit Haven in 1987. At that time, a special bunny entered Heather’s life causing her to focus on the needs of rabbits. She credits Bernstein (Bernie) with inspiring her to learn as much as possible about the care and needs of rabbits and to share that information with other people. Bernie was injured, sick and needed so much help when she found him. He required a high level of support to help him survive. She found that it was very difficult to find much information at all to help him. In the process of finding the medical care he needed, she realized that there was a profound lack of material regarding rabbits and their proper care. Few veterinarians that she contacted even knew how to care for rabbits. This situation concerned her. She realized that this lack of care information was a serious problem that was keeping many rabbit caregivers from being able to care for their rabbits. Rabbits were in trouble. They lacked the most basic care. In addition, very few people knew how to care for rabbits and had limited (if any) services available. Heather decided to make every attempt to remedy this troubling situation.

 Bernie’s plight led her to the formation of The Rabbit Haven, a (Haven) where rabbits could receive sanctuary, care, support and have the chance to find loving homes of their own. In addition, the Rabbit Haven Education Center was designed to help educate the public and shelters about rabbits and how to care for them.

To learn more about The Rabbit Haven and all the work it does to save rabbits and to educate and inform the public about the care and love of rabbits, Go here and here !!!
And we thank them for also spreading the word about our great food!! Yet another win, win for all!!

The Dangers of Soy In Rabbit Food

There are many more reasons why soy is bad for you and your bunnies. A better source of protein for rabbits is alfalfa because it has higher levels of many essential amino acids and vitamins without any of the ant-nutritional factors found in soy. Balancing it with the proper amounts of other nutrients will promote long-term health for your rabbits.
 Most rabbit food has soy products in the list of ingredients because it is cheap and considered a good source of protein (soybean meal). Ironically soy is also loaded with trypsin inhibitors that bind to the enzyme trypsin and deactivates it. This enzyme is required to digest the protein that your rabbit eats. If the protein can't be digested then it can't be absorbed. This can lead to digestive problems when the undigested soy reaches the end of the digestive tract where bacteria begin to ferment it. This changes the pH and promotes the growth of bad bacteria that then cause diarrhea or bloating. It is best to avoid rabbit food made with soybean meal and other soy products.
For more reasons why you should avoid soy in your rabbit's diet-read the rest of the article HERE 




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7164973

RABBIT SHOOTS THE SUN

It was the height of summer, the time of year called Hadotso, the Great Heat. All day long, from a blue and cloudless sky, the blazing sun beat down upon the earth. No rain had fallen for many days and there was not the slightest breath of wind to cool the stifling air. Everything was hot and dry. Even the rose-red cliffs of the canyons and mesas seemed to take on a more brilliant colour than before.

The animals drooped with misery. They were parched and hungry, for it was too hot to hunt for food and, panting heavily, they sough what shade they could under the rocks and bushes.

Rabbit was the unhappiest of all. Twice that day the shimmering heat had tempted him across the baked earth towards visions of water and cool, shady trees. He had exhausted himself in his desperate attempts to reach tem, only to find the mirages dissolve before him, receding further and further into the distance.

Now, tired and wretched, he dragged himself into the shadow of an overhanging rock and crouched there listlessly. His soft fur was caked with the red dust of the desert. His head swam and his eyes ached from the sun's glare.

'Why does it have to be so hot?' he groaned. 'What have we done to deserve such torment?' He squinted up at the sun and shouted furiously, 'Go away! You are making everything too hot!'

Sun took no notice at all and continued to pour down his fiery beams, forcing Rabbit to retreat once more into the shade of the rock. 'Sun needs to be taught a lesson,' grumbled Rabbit. 'I have a good mind to go and fight him. If he refuses to stop shining, I will kill him!'

His determination to punish Sun made him forget his weariness and, in spite of the oppressive heat, he set off at a run towards the eastern edge of the world where the Sun came up each morning.

As he ran, he practised with his bow and arrows and, to make himself brave and strong, he fought with everything which crossed his path. He fought with the gophers and the lizards. He hurled his throwing stick at beetles, ants and dragonflies. He shot at the yucca and the giant cactus. He became a very fierce rabbit indeed.

By the time he reached the edge of the world, Sun had left the sky and was nowhere to be seen.

'The coward!' sneered Rabbit. 'He is afraid to fight, but he will not escape me so easily,' and he settled to wait behind a clump of bushes.

In those days, Sun did not appear slowly as he does now. Instead he rushed up over the horizon and into the heavens with one mighty bound. Rabbit knew that he would have to act quickly in order to ambush him and he fixed his eyes intently on the spot where the Sun usually appeared.

Sun, however, had heard all Rabbit's threats and had watched him fighting. He knew that he was lying in wait among the bushes. He was not at all afraid of this puny creature and he thought that he might have some amusement at his expense.

He rolled some distance away from his usual place and swept up into the sky before Rabbit knew what was happening. By the time Rabbit had gathered his startled wits and released his bowstring, Sun was already high above him and out of range.

Rabbit stamped and shouted with rage and vexation. Sun laughed and laughed and shone even more fiercely than before.

Although almost dead from heat, Rabbit would not give up. Next morning he tried again, but this time Sun came up in a different place and evaded him once more.

Day after day the same thing happened. Sometimes Sun sprang up on Rabbit's right, sometimes on his left and sometimes straight in front of him, but always where Rabbit least expected him.

One morning, however, Sun grew careless. He rose more leisurely than usual, and this time, Rabbit was ready. Swiftly he drew his bow. His arrow whizzed through the air and buried itself deep in Sun's side.

Rabbit was jubilant! At last he had shot his enemy! Wild with joy, he leaped up and down. He rolled on the ground, hugging himself. He turned somersaults. He looked at Sun again - and stopped short.

Where his arrow had pierce Sun, there was a gaping wound and, from that wound, there gushed a stream of liquid fire. Suddenly it seemed as if the whole world had been set ablaze. Flames shot up and rushed towards Rabbit, crackling and roaring.

Rabbit paused not a moment longer. He took to his heels in panic and ran as fast as he could away from the fire. He spied a lone cottonwood tree and scuttled towards it.

'Everything is burning!' he cried. 'Will you shelter me?'

The cottonwood shook its slender branches mournfully. 'What can I do?' it asked. 'I will be burned to the ground.'

Rabbit ran on. Behind him, the flames were coming closer. He could feel their breath on his back. A greasewood tree lay in his path.

'Hide me! Hide me!' Rabbit gasped. 'The fire is coming.'

'I cannot help you,' answered the greasewood tree. 'I will be burned up roots and branches.'

Terrified and almost out of breath, Rabbit continued to run, but his strength was failing. He could feel the fire licking at his heels and his fur was beginning to singe. Suddenly he heard a voice calling to him.

'Quickly, come under me!' The fire will pass over me so swiftly that it will only scorch my top.'

It was the voice of a small green bush with flowers like bunches of cotton capping its thin branches. Gratefully, Rabbit dived below it and lay there quivering, his eyes tightly shut, his ears flat against his body.

With a thunderous roar, the sheet of flame leaped overhead. The little bush crackled and sizzled. Then, gradually, the noise receded and everything grew quiet once more.

Rabbit raised his head cautiously and looked around. Everywhere the earth lay black and smoking, but the fire had passed on. He was safe!

The little bush which had sheltered him was no longer green. Burned and scorched by the fire, it had turned a golden yellow. People now call it the desert yellow brush, for, although it first grows green, it always turns yellow when it feels the heat of the sun.

Rabbit never recovered from his fright. To this day, he bears brown spots where the fire scorched the back of his neck. He is no longer fierce and quarrelsome, but runs and hides at the slightest noise.

As for Sun, he too was never quite the same. He now makes himself so bright that no one can look at him long enough to sight an arrow and he always peers very warily over the horizon before he brings his full body into view.

story found HERE
art: Kate Osborne

We missed it!! I wasnt paying attention!! Last year was the Year of the Rabbit- 2011. And now we wont celebrate it again until 2023! (I wont share with you how old I'll be when it rolls around again. I will need to have been born under that moon...the moon of longevity.)

 Famous People Born in the Year of the Rabbit:
 Johnny Depp, Germaine Greer, Neil Sedaka, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Jordan and Drew Barrymore. Harry Belafonte, Ingrid Bergman, Lewis Carroll, John Cleese, Peter Falk, Peter Fonda, James Fox, David Frost, Cary Grant, Oliver Hardy, Bob Hope, Whitney Houston, John Hurt, Michael Keaton, John Keats, Julian Lennon, Arthur Miller, Roger Moore, Tatum O'Neal, George Orwell, Neil Simon, Jane Seymour, Dusty Springfield, Sting, Orson Welles, Norman Wisdom.



 The Rabbit is the symbol of longevity.
 Their fundamental nature and strength is drawn from the moon. The Chinese believe a person born in this year is very fortunate! Soft spoken rabbits find happiness and contentment. Rabbits are gracious with excellent manners. There is no great inner struggle in their heart. They believe in their own judgment and ability to survive. Rabbits need trust and tenderness in a relationship. Like the rabbit they hop over obstacles, and always land on their feet! The rabbit's soft, vulnerable looking exterior is protected by an armor of cautiousness. Hares are very lucky in business and combined with their excellent bargaining wisdom will go far. They find it hard to work under pressure. Hares are the peace makers and good scholars. They may look easy going, but they are actually quite cunning! Being a strong willed person, they go quietly, yet determinedly towards their goals. Rabbits are considerate, understanding, warm, friendly, and easy to be with. They know how to relax!

I know we're speaking to the choir here...about the love of bunnies.
But how often are we asked why bunnies make good pets?

We thought we'd share a few thoughts on the subject.
Rabbits arent  for novelty Easter "gifts" anymore...and never should be.  Easter should be about jelly beans and coloring eggs and thinking of the Savior.
Rabbits are living, breathing, feeling pets.

Never-the-less rabbits are indeed growing in popularity as house companions.  Did you know that there are now 5.3 million pet rabbits in the world!? Crazy!!
Do you wonder why the rise in popularity? Some folks attribute it to the internet.  It seems that more people are sharing their positive experiences with their pet bunnies. Rescues and rabbit organizations  are using the internet to get the word out as well.  It seems that when people talk on the internet, others listen.

So..you may just be a rabbit person...like some people are dog persons or cat persons or reptile people.
What is a rabbit person? What do they look like?
It may be that a rabbit person is a person that derives as much pleasure from watching their pets behavior as much as and if not more than handling your pet.  Observing your bunny's personalities is quite satisfying if you are truly a rabbit person. You may have a silly rabbit,or a frisky bunny, much the same way a kitten can be. And just as dogs are known for their loyalty...so can your sweet bunny be.  Rabbits are intelligent and are easily litter-box trained and they learn to respond to their name and can master some tricks. (I know a bunny that loves to go tubing with its human family on Lake Powell!!)
And though it appears to be a cheap pet...$20.00 or so...bunnies dont deserve to be second rate pets. Do your research to be sure you and a rabbit are a good match. And understand that a rabbit may not be the best pet for small children. Children love to snuggle and pick up and haul around the things they love. Rabbits dont necessarily LOVE being picked up and hauled around...they prefer the ground.  They arent darling stuffed animals to be mauled and squashed.
There are more than 48 recognized breed of domestic rabbits. There are so many to choose from-Giants and minis and dwarfs- long eared ones and short eared breeds-Some come with long fir and others are short-haired. Colors seem limitless and there's even a rabbit bred so that one ear sticks up and the other flops down...called a unicorn lop..or a helicop lop which has both ears sticking straight out to the side!!
There is indeed great joy,amusement and satisfaction  in owning a rabbit for a pet, if you've done your research and taken the time to learn what to expect from your rabbit too!!
So ears up friends, and be a wise and informed pet owner!!

Ball Bunny by ThalitaDol on Etsy

I was trying think who the most famous rabbit was in the world. When  I ask that, what rabbit comes to your mind first?
To be honest, the first one that came to my mind was Rabbit, from Winnie the Pooh. After that, I thought of Peter Rabbit and all his troubles in Mr McGregors  garden.
Searching the web straightway produces  a very comprehensive list.
Each of these rabbits seems to bring back memories from my childhood.
How about you?
Did we miss any?

#1 Bugs Bunny..."what up doc?"  Good old Bugs and Elmer Fudd

#2 Br're Rabbit...I wonder if you have to be over 50 to even know who this is? Thats a sad state of affairs if this is so.  Look him up...and then read it to a child you love.

#3 Peter Rabbit...thank you Beatrix Potter

#4 Velveteen Rabbit..while your at the library getting The Brier Patch and Tar Babies for the antics of Br're Rabbit,  pick up this story for the kids too...and for yourself!

#5 Easter Bunny...not every kid should get a real live Easter Bunny...but they all should get chocolate!!

#6 Harvey...once again dating myself quite a bit.  Jimmy Stewart is and always will be a dream boat. Go rent the movie!! Its great!! Everyone should meet the 6 ft invisible rabbit!!

#7 Trix the Rabbit....Trix are for kids...and sugar highs.

#8 Roger Rabbit...naughty rabbit

#9 The Energizer Bunny...pink, cool and pounding the skin!

#10 Rabbit from Winnie the Pooh...Hundred Acre Wood  wouldnt be the same without him.

#11 Thumper...wasnt he Bambi's best friend? Making the most of large feet!!

#12 The Hare..from The Tortoise and the Hare...personally I prefer tortoises...but bunnies are the next best. We love the Hare even in his foible.

#13 The White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland...what time is it again? Who's late for a very important date?

#14 Little Bunny Foo Foo...who remembers this song...bopping mice on the head?  Another naughty rabbit I'd say....poor field mice.

Anybody want to round out the list...who did I miss?

DID YOU KNOW!?!?

William Cowper (1731-1800) was a highly popular poet in 18th century England. He had three great loves of his life- they were his three rabbit companions , Puss, Bess and Tiney. He included his three rabbits in his poetry and letters, and wrote articles in the prestigious "Gentleman's Magazine" about them. Cowper was also a skilled carpenter and went to great pains constructing apartments for his three beloved rabbits. And like every responsible pet owner should be, he went to great lengths to learn all he could about the proper care of and best diet for his three little furry friends. William battled severe depression and suicidal tendencies all his life, and Puss, Bess and Tiny were a great source of strength for him, and helped to alleviate some of the debilitating symptoms of depression. He wrote about Puss in his famous poem "The Task". In Book III of that work in the section "The Garden", he describes his close relationship with Puss:

The Rabbit-Human Bond

Well – one at least is safe. One shelter’d hare
Has never heard the sanguinary yell
Of cruel man, exulting in her woes.
Innocent partner of my peaceful home,
Whom ten long years’ experience of my care
Has made at last familiar; she has lost
Much of her vigilant, instinctive dread.
Not needful here, beneath a roof like mine.
Yes – thou may’st eat thy bread, and lick the hand
That feeds thee; thou may’st frolic on the floor
At evening, and at night retire secure
To thy straw couch, and slumber unalarm’d.
For I have gain’d the confidence, have pledg’d
All that is human in me to protect
Thine unsuspecting gratitude and love.
If I survive thee I will dig thy grave
And, when I place thee in it, sighing, say,
I knew at least one hare that had a friend.

Robert Pinsky wrote this about another poem of Cowpers' entitled Epitaph on a Hare:

 "This poem about his not very nice but beloved pet rabbit, Tiney, is funny and charming, but those qualities do not divorce the poem from Cowper's intense melancholy and dread. The poem is about death and comfort, and it demonstrates the genuineness of its humility by its careful attention to details. The straightforwardness and smiling directness are sad, temperate, heartfelt, and moving, as well as droll."

Here lies, whom hound did ne'er pursue,

Nor swifter greyhound follow,

Whose foot ne'er tainted, morning dew,

Nor ear heard huntsman's hallo',



Old Tiney, surliest of his kind,

Who, nursed with tender care,

And to domestic bounds confined,

Was still a wild jack-hare.



Though duly from my hand he took

His pittance every night,

He did it with a jealous look,

And, when he could, would bite.



His diet was of wheaten bread,

And milk, and oats, and straw,

Thistles, or lettuces instead,

With sand to scour his maw.



On twigs of hawthorn he regaled,

On pippins' russet peel;

And when his juicy salads failed,

Sliced carrot pleased him well.



Turkey carpet was his lawn,

Whereon he loved to bound,

To skip and gambol like a fawn,

And swing his rump around.



His frisking was at evening hours,

'For then he lost his fear;

But most before approaching showers,

Or when a storm drew near.



Eight years and five round-rolling moons

He thus saw steal away,

Dozing out all his idle noons,

And every night at play,



I kept him for his humor's sake,

For he would oft beguile,

My heart of thoughts that made it ache,

And force me to a smile.



But now, beneath this walnut-shade

He finds his long, last home,

And waits in snug concealment laid,

Till gentler Puss shall come,



He, still more aged, feels the shocks

From which no care can save,

And, partner once of Tiney's box,

Must soon partake his grave.

DID YOU KNOW!!!??

Can you guess how many teeth a rabbit has in its cute little bunny face?!
 The answer would be...28!!
A bunny has 4 incisors, 2 on the top and two on the bottom plus a whole bunch of other ivories. They have some teeth called "cheek teeth" that they use to grind their food.
Did you also know that rabbit's teeth never stop growing!? (like horses or beavers) And so...just like horses and the busy beavers...rabbits need to wear down their teeth by always chewing, nibbling, crunching on good things. So its very important to provide your bunny with all kinds of 'chew toys,' and a high fiber diet. For if you dont, your sweet rabbit may just choose to chew on the leg of you antique dining room table or your expensive carpet, or even on dangerous cords that swirl around on the floor.
 The high fiber diet is  the best answer for good dental health of your rabbit. Sherwood Forest Natural Rabbit Food is an excellent source of fiber for your bunny. Providing cardboard boxes and tubes, unsprayed apple branches and willow baskets for chewing are another good idea as well.
 Lets do all we can to avoid costly vet visits for our dear pets!! Chewing is a good and very necessary trait for our rabbits!! Chew on friends!!!
(one of my darling grandbabies just got his first 2 bottom teeth...I guess it got me think'in about rabbit teeth.)