The Rabbits
Our motley crew of rabbits lives in the Small Pets section, they're split across two pens. They all have their own characters, some of them are a bit on the cheeky side! They are however, all very friendly, and we handle and work with our rabbits and small pets on a daily basis, so they can often be found coming out for handling with the volunteers to meet the public or going to schools as part of our mobile farm.
Up until recently we've had a selection of various rabbits in our small pets area, they are all getting on a bit though, so we've retired a lot of them to loving homes with our staff and volunteers. We've now replaced them with a family of rabbits from Vauxhall City Farm! The new rabbits are mum (Larry, a brown Lionhead cross) and her litter of 7 (who's father was a French Lop, so quite a mix!). The younger rabbits are all named after Arthurian legend, so we've got Morgana, Guinevere, Caelia, Elaine, Merlin, Lancelot and Percival.
The Continental Giant rabbits live in their own pen, we currently have two brothers, Jekyll and Hyde. We used to have a trio who've since passed on - Lady Grey, Roger and Blackjack, sadly giant rabbits don't live as long as their smaller relatives, usually only 4-5 years. Whilst most of the pet rabbits we see were bred just for the sake of being pets, the giant rabbits have a bit of a different history. The Continental Giant (or German Giant) was originally bred for meat! The heaviest Giant Continental rabbit weighed in at 53lbs, which is heavier then many dogs!
Small Pets Boarding
If you're going on holiday, we can board your rabbit, guinea pig or other small pets (such as hamster, rats and gerbils in their own cages). For more information and details on how to book with us please check our Animal Boarding page.
Thinking about getting a rabbit?
Sadly every year we are asked if we would like to re-home rabbits after owners lose interest in them, or even worse, have rabbits dumped on site. We are not a re-homing service, but are happy to offer advice for any owners having trouble, and remember, dumping an animal is illegal under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. We urge anyone who's looking at getting a pet such as a rabbit or guinea pig to do their research thoroughly beforehand! These animals can live for up to 12 years, so it's not a decision to make lightly.
A rabbit can be an incredibly rewarding pet, but it can take a lot of time and effort. We work with our animals on a daily basis to ensure that they remain happy and friendly - there can be a lot of scratches and bites on the way!
If you are interested in getting a rabbit as a pet, please look into re-homing from an animal rescue centre. Not only will they often help with the brunt of the socialising and ensuring the rabbits are in good health, but they will also be able to offer advice. There are plenty of animal rescues around that would be only too happy to help match you with the ideal pet!