Pooka Bunnies Outdoor Accommodation

Most of the Pooka Bunnies are housed outside in converted sheds. I provide one shed per bonded pair of Pooka Bunnies, although i also have one shed that houses a family of four does. I believe that sheds are the perfect accommodation for bunnies for the following reasons:

• They provide more space than most hutches
  
  
• With proper locks they can be easily fox proofed
  
  
• They keep bunnies sheltered from bad weather
  
  
• It's quite easy attach a run to the shed for garden access
  
  
• Shelves/different levels can be added
  
  
• They are relatively cheap to buy

With all the extra space sheds provide there's plenty of room for lots of wonderful things to keep bunnies occupied, such as boxes, bunny tents, tunnels and flower pots. Litter trays are a good addition too, as they make cleaning out much easier. The flooring in my sheds is laminate - very easy to clean! Laminate is nice and cool to lay on in summer and can be blanketed in straw and hay for warmth in winter.

Pooka Bunnies Diet

Hay

Hay is an essential ingredient in all bunnies diet. Lagomorphs (that’s Bunnies to you and I) have a specially designed digestive system, that requires the constant consumptions of high fibre materials such as grass and hay. (This is why if your bunny stops eating it is extremely important that it sees a vet ASAP!).

Some bunnies can be very fussy when it comes to hay, but thankfully for fussy bunnies there's a large selection of different hays and grasses available. If you are unsure of what types of hay your bunny will enjoy, then why not try a taster selection sample pack from The Hay Experts -

http://www.thehayexperts.co.uk/



















Dry Food

Muesli or mixed food is a no, no! I have had bunnies become ill due to mixed food and wouldn’t risk it again. There are a few reasons I prefer not to use muesli/mixed food:

• It can be fattening
  
  


• It can cause digestive problems; including diarrhoea
  
  


• It can contribute to a dental condition known as 'Malocclusion'
  

All Pooka Bunnies are fed on Burgess Supa Rabbit Excel Pellets. I have a few ill/older bunnies and I have found switching mixed food for pellet has helped with a few of their problems, examples:

Bugs has malocclusion, and used to need regular dental operations but since the switch over a year ago he hasn't required anymore surgery so far.

Hattie has had weight issues which were difficult to correct. After switching to Excel she slowly lost the weight, gained much more energy and her patchy coat has grown thick and glossy.

We also had several bouts of GI Stasis over years while feeding mixed food but haven’t since changing for pellets.

I also have it on good merit that Science Selective is another really good pellet based dry food for bunnies. I back pellet based dry food 100% because:

• The pellets help bunnies to naturally grind their teeth down (Especially helpful for 'dental' bunnies)
  
  


• The high fibre contents is great for healthy digestion
  
  
  


• It's not fattening (at least when given in the appropriate quantities)
  
  
  

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables are another important part of a bunnies diet. Pooka Bunnies love broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, celery, kale, spinach and spring greens. They also enjoy fruits such as apples, bananas, pineapples and tomatoes - Yes, a tomato is a fruit, it's a berry! Do NOT allow your bunny to eat tomato leaves, they are toxic to bunnies.

It is important to remember to slowly introduce any new vegetables and fruits into your bunnies diet. Feed only small portions and monitor your bunnies reaction - If they have any symptoms such as diarrhoea, then you should stop feeding the vegetable or fruit. You can try slowly re-introducing it but if it makes them ill again then it's best to completely cut it out of their diet. Some bunnies have sensitive tummies, thus can only eat vegetables and fruits in very small portions.