About Burls Bouncing Bunnies

Hi, my name is Amanda. Since the day I was born, I was around many types of animals and taught to have an immeasurable amount of respect for them. I enjoy passing this value along to my children and those that come here to learn about rabbits. Before staying home to raise and now teach my children, I would often take my dog (Kismet) to work with me in a therapeutic manner, as I worked with the elderly and disabled population. She and my current dog, Ranger, have brought so many smiles to faces in need. Now, teaching our future generation about sustainable food sources and appropriate harvest practices has become an absolute passion for me. I have had several classes teaching homeschool children and adults and many have left here with an entirely new sense of respect for rabbits.

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Our first pair of rabbits we brought into our family were Cadbury and Taffeta, back in Spring of 2018. Cadbury was a Flemish Giant mix and Taffeta was a Californian. I think my husband would complete agree that Cadbury is the main reason we now breed Flemish Giants. He was such a sweet, gentle giant! Since then, I have studied and learned from every little bump in the that has occurred with raising rabbits. Each lesson learned was an experience I knew that I could pass along to my clients and use to improve our practices too! We try to handle each rabbit we own and the kits multiple times a day to help aid in their unique personalities and because we just enjoy them so much!

What is the best housing for rabbits?

This depends on your capabilities as their protector and owner. If you are able to bunny proof your house and want an indoor rabbit, then go for it! They chew on everything, so keep that in mind. Rabbits are VERY sensitive to quick temperature changes, so going from air-conditioning to summer outdoor temps can be difficult on your rabbit. Heat stroke is one of the biggest dangers to rabbits. Once a rabbit adjusts to their environment, it is best to keep it as consistent as possible. A hutch indoors or outdoors is great, as long as they aren't always on flat/plastic surface or wire. They need rest spots and ways to get away from their urine. Urine scald is very common for rabbits on flat surfaces and can be extremely detrimental to their health. This is where litter training rabbits can be so nice. Living on the ground, is another option for some rabbits. This is called Colony and it is not our practice, but it definitely has benefits. The reason we do not raise our rabbits in colonies is because of the risk of bugs and diseases rabbits can pick up from prolonged exposure to the ground. It's all a matter of opinion, and each housing methods has it's positive and negative benefits. Glass cages or any type of enclosure that doesn't have ventilation is NOT ok because rabbits are susceptible to respiratory issues.

What else does a rabbit require?

Your rabbit will need pellets and hay. Pellets have the minerals ands salt a rabbit needs, so you will not either of those supplements if you use pellets. We feed Kalmach 18% (each rabbit comes with a ziplock bag with enough food to transition). The added protein is helpful for growing rabbits and mothers. Some people have had great success adding rolled oats and or black oil sunflower seeds. These can help with any weight or coat issues. Both of these must start slow, as with any new introduced food. Our Flemish Giants get a max of 10 seeds per day and oats only as needed (growing or feeding kits). An overweight rabbit is not healthy, so it's important to find a balance for each rabbit. Timothy hay is what we feed and recommend. Treats should be extremely limited until they are about 6 months or older as their gut health can be so sensitive until completely established. Pine cones are a favorite treat at our rabbitry! If they are real dirty, rinse and or boil them to get any bacteria off. Wood is great for them to chew on, but no wood that comes from a tree that provides pitted fruit (example- peach). I would be to provide more information and lists of what is safe and what isn't. Rabbits cannot pass gas, so we do not recommend treats such as broccoli or brussel sprouts. This list goes on! Here is a list that is considered safe but we keep it a bit more limited.

How much water does a rabbit need?

We prefer to have a water source available all the time, and that isn't always possible with water bottles. Do your best to keep bottles, bowls or crocks as clean and full as possible. If you have a doe that is pregnant or nursing, it is imperative that she has more water available to her than usual. We also use a drip system to help keep them cool during the hot summer temperatures. If a rabbit gets too hot, they are able to lay under the dripping water.

Does a rabbit keep itself groomed?

They sure can! That is not always the case, especially if your rabbit gets overweight or simply doesn't have good cleaning habits. Some rabbits get good and bad habits, just like people. Rabbits have very sensitive skin, so using scissors or clippers must be done with extreme caution. The skin of a rabbit can tear very easily, so its really best to keep a close eye and catch tangles before they become a bigger problem. A stripping comb for dogs can be helpful with tangles. You will also need to keep your bunnies nails trimmed, and this is part of our education series. You can also search youtube for a good tutorial. Flour or cornstarch can help stop the bleeding if you cut a nail to short. Here is a good tutorial video from a friend of mine!

Do you offer an educational class in person or online?

I do offer classes in person at this time, and my schedule can be found on our facebook page. Our internet is too limited for online class at this time.