Breed, Age and Sex

Deciding on a Breed

Once you decide on purchasing a rabbit, you will need to determine what breed you wish to get. Each breed is unique and typically range between 2 and 15 pounds. Some have lopped ears, some have wool, some have short velvety fur (rex fur), and some even have a combination of these or other characteristics. Your decision depends upon your own preferences, time, space, and the availability of the breed in your area.

To view photos of all of the different breeds of rabbits in the US, visit http://www.arba.net and click on the link that says "Breed Photos and National Club Links". This will help give you an idea as to which breed appeals to you. To find specific information about a particular breed, click on that photo and you will be taken to the website for the breed's national specialty club. There, you will find more specific information about the breed.

What Age to Buy

The age of the rabbit is very important when deciding whether or not to buy it. You should NOT buy a rabbit under 6 weeks old (8 weeks if it is a larger breed). Although some irresponsible people will try to sell bunnies as young as 4 weeks old, they are not yet fully weaned at this age. When a bunny is 4 weeks old, they are typically just starting to eat solid food, but still nursing. If they are forced away from their mother to eat entirely solid food, this will disrupt their digestive system and often lead to death. At 6-8 weeks old, they should be eating entirely solid food on their own, and ready to be taken from their mother. Typically, a rabbit will live to be about 5 years old, although some live as long as 10+ years.

Which Sex is Right for You

The sex of a pet bunny really does not matter. There is not much personality difference between bucks and does, although each rabbit does have their own distinct personality. I've found that in my breed, Holland Lops, the bucks tend to be more lively and friendly and the does tend to be more calm and cuddly. So, it depends on your own personal preference as to which sex is right for you.