Bunny Care
Bunnies love hay. It is an essential part of their diet. The managers of the Rescue have bales of hay available for volunteers to access.
Hay is expensive, so be sure to use good judgement to minimize waste when taking hay from the bales to place in the bunny bins. When replenishing hay for bunnies to eat, please follow the steps below:
- Empty the hay bin which usually has hay from previous feedings. Bunnies use their hay bin as a litter box. Volunteers need to empty the bin and clean it out below placing new hay in the bin.
- Wash the bin thoroughly in a designated location, usually outside, with a mild detergent ensuring to remove any debris, urine, or fecal droppings from the bin.
- Replenish the hay from a fresh bale. Bunnies can be very choosey about their hay. Be sure to get advice from Katie regarding which hay to use.
- Ensure that the area around the place where the hay bin sits is clean and dry.
- Replace the hay bin in the bunny pen.
Bunnies love crunchy little pellets of food. Volunteers place pellets in bowls in the pens.
When replenishing pellets, please follow the steps below:
- Empty the pellet bowl into the trash and thoroughly wash the bowl.
- Locate the fresh supply of pellets.
- Pellet food for the bunnies is very expensive, so please use caution when filling the pellet bowls.
- Place the replenished pellet bowl in the bunny pen.
Bunnies need to drink lots of water every day. Volunteers who are assigned to ensure that the water supply is available and that the water bowls are clean must follow the steps below:
- Empty the water bowl into a separate container, usually in the kitchen sink area
- Wash the water bowl thoroughly with a mild detergent ensuring to remove any debris or residue from the previous water supply
- Replenish the water supply with fresh water from the approved source, usually bottled water
- Ensure that the area around the place where the water bowl sits is clean and dry.
- Replace the water bowl in the bunny pen.
Bunnies can be messy. Many volunteers choose vacuuming as their assignment during their visit. Bunny fecal matter consists of dried brown, round pellets. Fortunately, bunny poop is practically odorless. The Rescue has several heavy-duty vacuum cleaners for volunteers to use. When vacuuming bunny pens please follow the steps below:
- Empty the vacuum equipment before starting in any pen. There are easy to open clips on the sides of the vacuum cleaner. Take the contents to the designated trash area.
- Ensure that the vacuum hose is connected to the intake port of the machine.
- Watch for extension cord tangles or obstacles that catch the wire as you move from pen to pen.
- After a while, the vacuum may seem less effective at picking up the debris. Generally, it is because the hose is clogged with hay. This is easily fixed by disconnecting the hose from the unit. Tap the ends on the floor to dislodge the hay. Sometimes the stubborn hay may need to be removed by using a stick or probe into the hose.
- When finished vacuuming a pen, select another pen and proceed in the same manner.
- When your vacuuming assignment is complete, please empty the vacuum container to that the next volunteer can start fresh.