You Positively GLOW!!

Pregnant rabbits require food with a more energy than normal pet food to be able to support their growing baby bunnies. This is especially important during the last two weeks of pregnancy. The type of food should be different than one that is made for pet rabbits. Most commercial rabbit feeds will work fine as a pregnant rabbit food but some brands are far better than others.

 After your rabbit gives birth to a new litter of baby bunnies it is best to switch her to a high-fat rabbit food. This is important to stimulate the milk production needed to support the health of growing bunnies (Fortun-Lamothe L. 1997). Research shows that you'll see major improvements in the health of growing baby bunnies and improved feed efficiency when using a high-fat rabbit food.

 Most commercial rabbit feeds have very little fat. Additionally, those that claim to have added fat for "show rabbits" are simply adding a little "natural" vegetable oil. Two things are wrong with this scenario. First, these types of rabbit foods still have less than 4% fat when growing rabbits should be getting at least twice that amount! Second, vegetable oil is refined and and lacks the natural vitamins needed. Plants that use oil to store energy in seeds also package vitamin E with it. Feeds that use cheep refined soybean oil will not have the same amount of vitamin E as feeds that use whole natural oil seeds like flax, canola (rape), and others as an oil source. This is important because when adding fat to any diet you should also add vitamin E.

 Following these dietary recommendations for feeding pregnant rabbits will improve their health. If you plan on breeding more rabbits then it is also important to learn how to rear Does before they become pregnant. The information found in the website below is guaranteed to improve your success and reduce the culling rates of nursing and pregnant rabbits and the mortality rates of their growing bunnies. It also details what you should feed your rabbits months before breeding them and how to find the best kind of pregnant rabbit food.


 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5479160

You have heard how Glooscap came to rule over the Wabanaki and how he made the animals, and how at first some of them were treacherous and disobedient. In time, however, he gave posts of honor to those whom he could trust, and they were proud to be Glooscap's servants. Two dogs became his watchmen, and the loon his messenger and tale-bearer. And, because the rabbit had the kindest heart of all the animals in the forest, Glooscap made Ableegumooch his forest guide.

Now in those days Ableegumooch the Rabbit was a very different animal than he is today. His body was large and round, his legs were straight and even, and he had a long bushy tail. He could run and walk like other animals, not with a hop-hop-hop as he does today.

One day in springtime, when the woods were carpeted with star flowers and lilies-of-the-valley, and the ferns were waist-high, Ableegumooch lay resting beside a fallen log. Hearing a rustle on the path, he peered around his log to see who was coming. It was Uskool the Fisher, a large animal of the weasel tribe, and he was weeping.

"What is the matter with him," wondered the rabbit, who was inquisitive as well as soft-hearted. He popped his head up over the log and Uskool nearly jumped out of his fur with surprise. "It's only me--Ableegumooch," said the rabbit. "Do you mind telling me why you are crying?"

"Oh, greetings, Ableegumooch," sighed Uskool, when he had recovered from his fright. "I'm going to my wedding."

"And that makes you cry?" asked the astonished rabbit.

"Of course not," said Uskool. "I've lost my way, that's the trouble."

"Well, just take your time," said the rabbit sensibly, "and you'll soon find it again."

"But I have no time to spare," groaned the fisher. "My future father-in-law has sworn that if I do not arrive for the wedding by sunset today, he will marry his daughter to Kakakooch the Crow. And, look, already the sun is low in the sky!"

"In that case," said Ableegumooch, "I'd better show you the way. Where are you going?"

"To a village called Wilnech," said Uskool eagerly, "near the bend in the river!"

"I know it well," said the rabbit. "Just follow me."

"Thanks, Ableegumooch," cried the happy fisher. "Now I shall be sure to arrive in time."

So off they went on their journey. Uskool, who was not very quick on the ground, being more accustomed to travel in the trees, moved slowly.

"You go ahead," he told the impatient rabbit, "and I'll follow as fast as I can."

So Ableegumooch ran ahead, and sometimes all Uskool could see of him was his long bushy tail whisking through the trees. So it was that Uskool, looking far ahead and not watching where he stepped, fell suddenly headfirst into a deep pit.

His cries soon brought Ableegumooch running back, and seeing the fisher's trouble, he cried out cheerfully, "Never mind. I'll get you out."

He let his long tail hang down inside the pit.

"Catch hold, and hang on tight, while I pull."

Uskool held on to the rabbit's tail, and Ableegumooch strained mightily to haul him up. Alas, the weight of the fisher was too great. With a loud snap, the rabbit's tail broke off short, within an inch of the root, and there was poor Ableegumooch with hardly any tail at all!

Now you would think that this might have discouraged the rabbit from helping Uskool, but not so. When Ableegumooch made up his mind to do something for somebody, he did it. Holding on to a stout tree with his front paws, he lowered his hinder part into the pit.

"Take hold of my legs," he cried, "and hang on tight. I'll soon pull you out."

Ableegumooch pulled and he pulled until his waist was drawn out thin, and he could feel his hind legs stretching and stretching-- and soon he feared he might lose them too. But at last, just as he thought he must give up, the fisher's head rose above the edge of the pit and he scrambled to safety.

"Well!" said the rabbit as he sat down to catch his breath. "My waist isn't so round as it was, and my hind legs seem a good bit longer than they were. I believe it will make walking rather difficult."

And sure enough, it did. When the rabbit tried to walk, he tumbled head over heels. Finally, to get along at all, he had to hop.

"Oh, well," said the rabbit, "hopping is better than nothing," and after a little practice, he found he could hop quite fast. And so they hurried on through the forest.

At last, just before the sun touched the rim of the trees, they arrived at the bride's village. All the fishers were gathered, waiting, and they smiled and cheered at sight of Uskool and his guide--all but Kakakooch the Crow, who was far from glad to see them! In fact, as soon as he saw Uskool take the bride's hand, he flew out of the village in a temper, and never came back again. But nobody cared about him.

Ableegumooch was the most welcome guest at the wedding when Uskool told the other fishers what he had done. All was feasting and merriment, and the rabbit danced with the bride so hard she fell into a bramble bush and tore her gown. She was in a dreadful state when she found she was not fit to be seen in company, and ran to hide behind a tree. The rabbit was terribly sorry and wanted to help her, so he hopped away to get a caribou skin he had seen drying in the sun, and made a new dress out of it for the bride.

"You must have a fine girdle to go with it," said he, and he cut a thin strip off the end of the skin. Then he put one end of the strip in his mouth and held the other end with his front paws, twisting the strip into a fancy cord. He twisted and twisted, and he twisted it so hard the cord snapped out of his teeth and split his upper lip right up to his nose! And now you see why it is that rabbits are hare lipped!

"Never mind," said Ableegumooch, when the bride wept at his mishap, "it can't be helped," and he gave her the cord just as it was, to tie around her waist.

"Wait right here," said the bride, and she ran off. In a moment she was back, carrying a lovely white fur coat.

"This is for you," she said shyly. "It is the color of the snow, so if you wear it in winter, your enemies will not be able to see you."

Ableegumooch was delighted with his present and promised not to put it on till the snow came, as his brown coat would hide him better in summer. The wedding was over now, and he said good-bye to Uskool and the bride, and started for home.

Now it happened that before he had gone far, he came to a small pool in the woods, so smooth it was like a mirror. Looking into it, the rabbit saw himself for the first time since his accidents, and was aghast. Was this he--this creature with the split lip, the hind legs stretched out of shape, and a tail like a blob of down?

"Oh dear, oh dear," sobbed Ableegumooch, "how can I face my friends looking like this?" Then, in his misery, he remembered Glooscap, his Master. "O Master! See what has happened to your poor guide. I'm not fit to be seen any more, except to laugh at. Please put me back to my former shape."

High up on Blomidon, Glooscap heard the rabbit and came striding down from his lodge to see what was wrong. When he saw poor Ableegumooch, all out of shape, he had all he could do to keep from laughing, though of course he kept a sober face so as not to hurt the rabbit's feelings.

"Come now," he said, "things may not be as bad as you think. You know how fond you are of clover, Ableegumooch?"

The rabbit nodded piteously.

"And you know how hard it is to find. Well, with that long cleft in your lip, you will be able to smell clover even when it is miles away!"

"That's good," said the rabbit, cheering up a little, "but it's very uncomfortable having to hop everywhere I go."

"Perhaps, for a time," said Glooscap, "but have you noticed how much faster you hop than you used to run?"

The rabbit did a little hop, and a jump or two, just to see.

"Why I believe you're right!" he cried, but then his face fell again. "But my tail, Master! I mind that most of all. I was so proud of it."

"It was certainly a handsome tail," admitted the Great Chief, "but recall how it used to catch in thorns and brambles."

"That's true!" cried the rabbit, excitedly, "and it was very awkward when Wokwes the Fox was chasing me! Now I can slip through the narrowest places with no trouble at all!" And he laughed with delight. "Why--with my new legs, my cleft lip, and without my long tiresome tail, I'm a better rabbit than I was before!"

"So you are!" said Glooscap, and at last he was able to laugh. When Glooscap laughs heartily, the land shakes and the trees bend over, so the rabbit had to hold on tightly to a tree to keep from being knocked over. "So you are indeed!" laughed Glooscap.

And that is why the rabbit and the rabbit's children, and his children's children have had, ever since that day, a little white scut of a tail, a cleft lip, and long hind legs on which they can hop all day and never tire. And since then, too, in winter, rabbits wear white coats.

And thus, kespeadooksit--the story ends.

Native American story found HERE

Columbia Basin Pygmy Rabbits released!!! For the complete story, check this out.

Netherland Dwarf Rabbits

Netherland Dwarf rabbits are true dwarfs and typically weigh between only 1 1/2 and 3 pounds. Their face and nose is very flat and they come in a variety of colors. Their ears are short and pointy and they have become very popular as pets and in shows. Decades ago they use to have a wild disposition. Selective breeding practices have helped them to become tame even though they are still more active than most other rabbits.

 It is important to handle Netherland Dwarf rabbits often and to be gentle with them so they become use to human contact. In my household we nicknamed rabbits like this "popcorn bunnies" because of their high energy level, but they settle down with time and handling. Be extra careful to not upset them. You can tell if you have because they will thump their back legs in disapproval. Don't take it personally but just realize that they will need some time alone to settle down before you try and handle them again.

 Their digestive system is more sensitive than other rabbits because of their small size. Do not ever give them treats that are high in carbohydrates like bread, grains, or fruit snacks. These things can cause diarrhea which can be lethal. If your Netherland Dwarf rabbit develops diarrhea feed it grass hay (like timothy hay) and clean water for a while. However, it is important to feed pellets because grass hay is deficient in certain vitamins (choline) and minerals (phosphorous) and prolonged feeding just grass hay and veggies will cause health problems. Feeding a baby rabbit food that is specially designed for young rabbits will prevent digestive problems. This kind of rabbit food should be high in fat (about 8% like "momma's milk") and fiber but low in carbohydrates (grain) to promote digestive health.

for more info on the darling Netherland Dwarf go here
 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5532997

art: ruralpearl's photostream flickr

Where's The Litter Box?!

Rabbits need the right types and sizes of fiber in their food!

 You may already know that rabbits need a high fiber diet to prevent digestive problems, but did you know that they need the right types of fiber and, for optimal health, that they need them to be in certain sizes and ratios in their food? If they don't have the right types and sizes of fiber it could slow their digestion, cause diarrhea, stunt their growth, and reduce feed efficiency.

 How can you tell if your rabbit food has the right kind of fiber in the right sizes?

 Rabbits need two basic types of fiber: Indigestible, and digestible. The indigestible types need to be larger in size (approximately 1.7mm or larger) than the digestible types of fiber.

 This is because, at the end of the digestive tract, rabbits sort the unabsorbed portion of their food based on size. The smaller particles are channeled into the ceacum to be fermented by bacteria. If the ceacum contains mostly digestible fiber then good bacteria will ferment it to produce nutrients and vitamins for the rabbit. If the ceacum contains indigestible fiber or high amounts of grain or protein supplements then bad bacteria will grow causing digestive troubles like bloating and diarrhea for your rabbits.

 The best way to tell if your rabbit food will cause problems is to take a pellet in your hands and break it apart. If it is composed of mostly small particles then you'll know that all of it will likely end up in the ceacum and slow digestion as already discussed. If it has large particles then take a closer look at the large particles. If they are "woody" or stringy and tough fibrous plant materials then they'll probably do their job, but check the rabbit food label. If it has a lot of grain and grain by-products, or high concentrations of protein supplements like soybean meal then beware!

 The right kind of fiber in rabbit food provides another level of assurance that your rabbits will be healthy.

For more interesting tidbits about rabbit care, go HERE!
 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5479122

A Tale of Selfless Generosity

Shakyamuni Buddha, Previous Life Stories (Sanskrit: jataka. Tibetan: kye rab): from the famous Indian text presenting 34 morality tales drawn from the previous life stories of the historical buddha, Shakyamuni. The story below is about a selfless rabbit and the Indian god Shakra. In the early Buddhist texts the name Shakra is used as an alternate name for the god Indra.

In this lifetime the Bodhisattva was born as an animal, a rabbit. Yet even as a rabbit, he possessed incredible virtue, goodness, beauty, and vigor; so much so that the other animals viewed him as their king. None feared him and none caused him fear. Among his devoted following, three animals in particular became his closest students and companions. They were an otter, a jackal, and a monkey, who through the Bodhisattva's teaching, forgot their lower animal nature and became infinitely compassionate themselves.

 As instructed by the rabbit in a teaching one night, it was customary that on the next day, a holy day, to offer alms to anyone who passes through their forest. Later that night, the rabbit was distraught as he realized he had nothing to offer. His three companions had ample means to feed a guest, but the rabbit had nothing but the meager blades of grass he ate to sustain himself, which were far too bitter to offer a visitor. Then he realized he could offer his own flesh as food and without hesitation, decided this was what he would do.

 Hearing this, Shakra, the lord of gods, went to test the animals and disguised himself as a weary traveler who had lost his way. Hungry, thirsty, and crying with despair, the four beasts rushed to his aid. The otter was able to supply the man with seven fish, the jackal a lizard and some sour milk, and the monkey some soft ripe mangoes. Seeing that the man had built a fire, the rabbit explained that he was offering his own body and then, without hesitation, lept into the hot coals and swirling flames.

 Shakra rejoiced, reached into the fire and pulled out the rabbit and then lifted him up into the heavens and displayed him before the gods.

 Then Shakra, having in mind the good of the world and the glorious example of the animal bodhisattva, adorned the top of his own palace, Sudharma, the palace of the Gods, with an image of a rabbit. He also adorned the face of the moon with the same image. It is said that even today, the image of the rabbit can be seen in the full moon.

source

WHY PELLETS?!

Feeding your rabbit pellets is important to ensure they get the vitamins and minerals needed for long term health. This is especially true for baby rabbits. Many websites recommend feeding mostly hay and only a small amount of pellets. I use to think the same way until I realized that this caused nutritional deficiencies! This occurs because most rabbit pellets are designed to provide just the right amount of the needed micronutrients as if the pellets were the only thing the rabbit ate. Supplementing rabbit pellets with hay, grain, or other feeds will alter the needed balance of these nutrients and will dilute the vitamin and minerals that are needed.

 However most rabbit pellets are formulated with too much protein and grain. This leads to bloating and causes your rabbits urine to smell like ammonia. The best rabbit food is soy free and uses very little or no grain. Adding minerals in an organic chelated form is also better than inorganic mineral salts like zinc oxide or copper sulfate. Research clearly shows that a balanced diet greatly improves the health and playfulness of your rabbit and you'll see a difference in the quality of the fur coat.

 In nature, rabbits will nibble on many different food items throughout the changing seasons. Although wild rabbits survive on this type of a diet they would greatly benefit if they could add specific vitamins and minerals to their food. Because of this it is best to feed domesticated rabbits a balanced diet of pellets. To clarify, imagine using miniature blocks to build a rabbit. Some of these are needed in large amounts while others are needed in very small amounts. The food given to a rabbit contains a mixture of these blocks and most of them need to be eaten on a daily basis. If some of the blocks were in a limited supply or if there was way too much of some of them then the health of the rabbit will suffer.

 This is why rabbit pellets that are designed for "rabbits of all ages" is likely to cause nutritional problems for "rabbits of all ages." Instead, rabbits should be fed pellets designed according to their age or life-stage. For example, baby rabbits need extra minerals like phosphorous and vitamins like choline. They also need a high energy diet that is high in fat and fiber but low in starch. Adult rabbits need less energy and protein in their diet but need specific chelated minerals to maintain long-term health.

 One other important fact you should know about rabbit pellets is that they need to be of the proper size. This is because pellets that ate too small and are made of fine ground ingredients will cause digestive problems. Pellets that are too big increase waste because the rabbit can't fit the whole thing in its mouth. The ideal pellet size is a diameter of 1/8 inch and a length of around ¼ inch. Searching for the right rabbit pellet is worth the effort!

 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7150032

What's That Noise?

People are curious..do you wonder what sounds rabbits make?
The answer is...YES!!

Here are a few sounds you can listen for and try to understand what they mean.

Tooth-purring- here we have a soft, rhythmic tooth-grinding.  You can imagine the sound.. especially if you have been the recipient of a loving scratch behind the ears.  The sound indicates pleasure and contentment.

then there's Tooth-grinding- here is a louder, crunchy like chewing ice kind of sound. This sound usually indicates pain or discomfort.

Bunnies can Honk/or Grunt as well....its one and the same.  Here is a low, bass sounding noise. It usually indicates excitement, interest, and happiness.

Then how about the Growl/bark- which is a loud, sharp noise. Watch out! This usually means your bunny is angry and or fearful. These sounds can also be accompanied with a lunging forward and "boxing" of their front arms..so beware of a possible nip.

And here's hoping you never have to experience a bunny screaming. (it'll raise the hairs on the back of your neck) Screaming happens when the bunny fears death and is experiencing great pain. Lets vow to do our best to NEVER hear this sound!!

How about the squeak/snort- a nasal sound that usually occurs when your rabbit is extremely happy;possibly when your rabbit is eating, grooming or mating.


We'll finish with the thumping- a sound that has nothing to do with  Disney's Thumper. Folks stamp their feet when frustrated or when they want attention.  When your rabbit does it, its usually a warning of danger, or another sign of frustration or anger.  He'll also do it when he's scared  or trying to scare something away.

Have you heard your bunny snoring?  You've heard the stories of rabbits snoring...especially those that like to sleep on their backs!!

Happy Deciphering!!

BABY LOVE

Baby rabbits are healthier and grow faster with a specially designed baby rabbit food that is high in fat and fiber. In fact, they are accustomed to the doe's milk that is

high in fat and low in sugar (Coates et. al. 1964).

Baby rabbits don't produce enough enzymes needed to digest excess starch (sugar) until later in life. Feeding them a diet with a lot of grain or grain by-products makes them more likely to get diarrhea. A rabbit feed higher in fat and lower in carbohydrates helps baby bunnies make the switch from the doe's milk at weaning and provides the energy they need for healthy growth.

As baby bunnies get older they still naturally use fat as an energy source. In fact, rabbits need a high fiber diet because good bacteria ferment fiber in the caecum to produce the healthy fats rabbits use.

Scientific studies show that increasing the fat content of rabbit food will improve protein AND energy efficiency as well as improve the feed conversion ratio (easily by 20%) for growing rabbits (Arrington et. al.1974).

Most commercial rabbit feeds don't have near enough fat and fall short of the needs of baby bunnies. Generally, they have less than 3% crude fat when research shows that baby rabbit food should have around 8% fat when balanced with high quality protein.

If you choose a healthy rabbit food that has a higher fat content for your growing bunny rabbits then make sure it is using oil from natural sources and not simply refined vegetable oil or worse, rendered animal fat. This is because when adding fat to a rabbit's diet you should also be adding vitamin E, which whole oil seeds from plants naturally have.

• Whole oil seeds are naturally high in vitamin E.

• Rendered animal fat or refined vegetable oils ARE NOT!

Baby rabbits are healthier when fed a high fat natural baby rabbit food that mimics their mamma's milk.

Questions? Go Here for answers!!!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5479092

Resist!!

.Why Not to Buy a Baby Bunny  
Many people buy baby bunnies when in a pet store - their heart is touched by how cute and adorable this little ball of fluff is or they're concerned about the poor, crowded conditions the poor animal is living in. Whatever the reason, PLEASE do not buy baby bunnies from pet stores or street vendors. Too often children accidentally injure or kill the bunny with rough handling and/or the family hasn't educated themselves on how to care for it and many are not prepared for the 10+ year commitment to proper care, diet, housing and vet bills. The unfortunate result is the unwanted bunnies get dumped in parks and neighborhoods to fend for themselves or turned in at shelters which are overcrowded.

Key Reasons Why:
1) The bunnies are much too young to be taken from their mother and may not survive.
2) Pet store employees may be uninformed or may lie and say they know what sex the bunny is but in truth that cannot be determined until the bunny is quite a bit older.
3) They will say it is a dwarf rabbit when the animal is really just  a tiny baby bunny and it will grow and some will become quite large.
4) Bunnies sold in pet stores are too young to have been spayed or neutered yet. As the bunny grows and puberty sets in the bad behavior begins - spraying, biting, easily frightened, excessive chewing, digging, hyperactivity and so on. Spay or neuter is the solution to these problems but must be done when the bunny is old enough.
5) If you buy a rabbit that only encourages the pet store to get more rabbits from breeders to sell and make more money off these poor creatures, all while thousands of bunnies are waiting in shelters for homes, many of whom are euthanized due to overcrowding.
6) Spay and neuter surgeries can be expensive and many people don't want to spend the money. However, when you adopt from a rescue or shelter the bunnies have already been spayed or neutered.
7) An older rabbit is easier to litter box train. Baby bunnies are often messy and it takes time for a baby bun to mature and develop good litter box habits.

source

Potty Training is Simple!

Taking care of a bunny rabbit in your home is simple if you set up a few things before you bring them home. Taking care of a bunny indoors is simple if you start by keeping them in a cage or small enclosure. The purpose is to help them become familiar with the location of their food and water and let them choose a corner that they will use as a bathroom. If you keep them in this location for at least a week they will become comfortable with their living arrangement. Then, under supervision, you can let them out of their cage to roam in the same room where their cage is. They need to be able to remember how to get back to their cage so they can use their chosen corner to go the bathroom or you'll have a mess to clean up. After another couple of weeks you can start letting them roam through a couple of rooms in your home and most bunnies will naturally remember to go back to their potty corner to go to the bathroom.
 Bunnies are very social. They when you first let them out to roam they may want to just explore your home. Let them do it within the boundaries you have set and realize that after a short time they'll start to follow you around and nap where ever you are. Just be careful not to step on them!
 More Information on anything rabbit can be found here. 

 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7173025

People Are Lovely!

Author Gretta Parker is writing children's books about real bunnies that have come to live at her Sanctuary to bring awareness to the alarming number of rabbits dumped at shelters each year. Rabbits are the third most abandoned animal in the United States but do not get the press or funding like cats and dogs do. She was inspired by a $7.50 rabbit she adopted from a North Carolina shelter two years ago. Since she has started her own non profit Baskets for Bunnies, Inc. and this year opened the Flopsy Parker Memorial Sanctuary for elder, disabled, or bunnies with behavioral issues.

 Rabbits are not usually thought of as children, but for Greta, her rabbit Flopsy was not only her son he was her greatest teacher. Flopsy gained popularity on Facebook for telling the world about how many rabbits are abandoned each year after Easter. A former shelter rabbit and his mother tried to start a movement to change the rights of rabbits who are sold as companion pets but governed by agricultural laws in the United States. Parker started Baskets for Bunnies, Inc., a 501c non- profit, and a program called Toys for Hops that distributes free toys for rabbits in shelters and rescues in the United States and Canada.

 Flopsy died Dec 2011, and ss she grieved she read letters from around the world about how Flopsy had inspired people to volunteer or help at their local rescues. She started to write; the product of grief was the self- published book titled The Easter Bunny That Grew Up, which landed on the Amazon ones to watch list its debut week thanks to the people who loved Flopsy on Facebook. Parker used the proceeds to start the Flopsy Parker Memorial Sanctuary that cares for elder, special needs, or bunnies with behavioral issues.

 On November 13, 2012 a children’s book titled The $7.50 Bunny That Changed the World will be released from BQB Publishing. It features real images from Flopsy’s life and tells the full length story of how a little rabbit that was adopted for $7.50 went on to do amazing things in his short life. It is not only a tribute to his life but a tribute to the work his mother continues to do in his name. The proceeds from the books will go to improve the lives of the bunnies at the Flopsy Parker Memorial Sanctuary and to start a mobile spay and neuter clinic for rabbits in Flopsys name. Parker is now working on a series of children’s books called The Bad Newz Bunz based off the real life stories of bunnies that have come to live at the Sanctuary. The first will be a book entitled Stanley the Misunderstood about a rabbit with behavioral issues who is really an artist. Each book will teach children and parents true facts about rabbits and send the message that there are a lot of wonderful rabbits around the world waiting on forever homes in shelters and rescues. To learn more visit http://www.basketsforbunnies.org or http://www.grettaparker.com

Hey!!! Is Hay Really Good For Your Rabbit?

Many people have read on-line that they should feed timothy hay to their adult pet rabbit instead of alfalfa hay. However, this is based upon some common misconceptions that are not true!
Feeding rabbits Timothy hay is a great way to provide them with a low-energy dietary fiber. Timothy hay grown in the western part of the USA is often a better quality because quickly cures in the desert air so it's green.
If you feed timothy hay to your bunny be careful to not feed it too much because it is likely to cause nutritional deficiencies. Timothy hay doesn't provide enough vitamins and minerals that rabbits need to stay healthy. To support long-term health it is important to provide a balanced diet that is fortified with phosphorous, chelated minerals, and essential amino acids.

For example many people have read online that alfalfa is "too high in calories" and can obesity in rabbits. This simply is not true. Although alfalfa has slightly more calories than Timothy hay it is important to understand that the calories in alfalfa are mainly from protein, which your rabbit needs to eat to be healthy.

The types of calories that can make your rabbit fat are from carbohydrates that come from grain and grain by-products. This is why adult pet rabbits will be healthier when they are fed a grain-free diet. Rabbit food that is made for "rabbits of all ages" will cause your rabbit to gain unhealthy weight because it has too many calories. This is why it is important to feed a properly balanced rabbit food that has the right protein to energy ratio. Although it isn't clearly listed on the feed label it is important to read the ingredient list and avoid rabbit food that has a lot of grain and grain by-products or soy products.

Also many people have read online that they should avoid feeding alfalfa to their rabbit because has more calcium than timothy hay. In reality the amount of calcium in hay greatly depends upon the amount of calcium that is in the soil that it was grown in. Also, hay naturally has a lot more calcium than grain! So the only way to lower the calcium content of your rabbits diet is to feed less hay and more grain... but that is definitely not recommended!

Nutritionists know that the digestible phosphorous content and the phosphorous to calcium ratio of the diet are the most important factors that influences calcium metabolism. Phosphorous is a limiting nutrient and is expensive but adding it to the diet of your rabbit is important for long-term health. Baby rabbits need a phosphorous content of around 0.6% (adult rabbits need above 0.3%).

For these reasons it is best to feed your rabbit a balanced pelleted diet that includes all of the minerals and vitamins that your rabbit needs to stay healthy. When you do you'll see a real difference in the quality of their fur coat as well as their playfulness and overall activity level.

Buy now you know...more info. can be found here!!





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7167444

Strange But True!!

Just a few miles of the coast of Japan is an  small, remote island.
This island has a dark history.
And ironically it is also home to hundreds of rabbits.
The islands' name is Okunoshima..and is now nicknamed Rabbit Island. And though the island is only 21/2 miles in circumference it attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Visitors are attracted to the islands natural beauty, its dark past, and the 300+ rabbits that live there predator free. (Tourist will confess that its the bunnies they come to see and pet and enjoy.)

Are you wondering yet what Okunoshima's dark past may be?
Before it became the world largest rabbit petting zoo, Okunoshima was served as the base for the Imperial Army of Japan's lethal gas operation.  From 1929 to 1945, more than 6,000 tons of poisonous gas were manufactured on this remote island, and it was kept shrouded in secrecy.

The island became a thing of mystery and intrigue...for they took its location off the maps of that time, and the workers were sworn to secrecy as well.

Today all that remains of the sinister endeavor are the empty shells of factories, and cordoned off areas that are now believed to be where some of the canisters of gas are buried.

And true to form..the rabbits are thriving and nature has flourished...and what was once a dark, and fearsome place has become a refuge for man and animal alike.

Of course there is speculation as to where the bunnies came from. One story goes that the rabbits were brought in to 'test'/'monitor'  the toxicty of the island by the workers and to use them for testing. The other hypothosis is that school children released 8 rabbits on a field trip in 1971.

A Light-Hearted Account of One Kind-Hearted Woman and Her Adventures with a Brave Young Rabbit In Peter Rabbit and My Tulips, a Tale of Wonder and Discovery, Vitina Corso Gulino Takes the Reader on a Journey through her Very Own Backyard and into the Life of Peter, her Rabbit Companion. 

At an age when most would be basking in the glories of their golden years, Vitina Corso Gulino, , has taken the bull by the horns. Having published her first book, It’s Never Too Late, at the age of 86, Gulino is now taking her passion for writing in the direction of beautifully-written and illustrated book for children and, of course, for the young-at-heart. Her newest book, Peter Rabbit and My Tulips, is the delightful portrayal of a real life rabbit who Gulino affectionately calls “Peter Rabbit”. Peter lives on Gulino’s land. Gulino’s account of Peter and the special bond that forms between the two of them is truly a charming work-of-art and a pleasant detour from the average children’s book, which readers will undoubtedly indulge themselves in again and again. The warmth and care put into this book will, most certainly, set it apart from the run-of-the-mill children’s books published today. Peter Rabbit and My Tulips calls to mind a sort of nostalgia for days gone by. Gulino’s deft touch will not only captivate its readers imaginations, but also steal a place in their heart. There are few stories that so genuinely capture the capricious nature of life. Peter Rabbits and My Tulips offers its readers the important lesson of slowing down and more carefully examine life’s blessings, large and small alike. It takes a woman of Gulino’s age and wisdom to create just such gem.

If you would like a copy to read to your kids or grandkids, go HERE