Our Rabbits & Guinea Pigs

We usually have a good selection of rabbits and guinea pigs in stock, some of which are bred by ourselves at home.

Our babies are weaned on to Burgess Excel complete food and have access to fresh grass and natural forage, sunlight and plenty of space to exercise from day one, which helps them to develop a healthy digestive system as well as strong bones and teeth.

Housing Your Rabbit & Guinea Pig

Fresh air, exercise, the correct diet and suitable enrichment are vital to both the health and happiness of your pet. A secure, fox-proof outdoor run attached to the hutch or shed is an ideal way to provide exercise and enrichment to your pet. No hutch / pen is 'too big', especially for rabbits which are very active, and any hutch should be tall enough to enable them to stand upright. Provide plenty of hides, pipes, hay racks, interactive or chewable 'toys' and bedding. 

Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Need 'Friends'!

Both species are highly social and studies have shown that keeping them alone causes stress, which can lead to serious health problems. Guinea pigs will live happily in same-sex pairs or groups of females, but female rabbits are best kept together as males may not tolerate another male when they reach maturity. Neutered male and female pairs live well together, and neutering females can also avoid the risk of ovarian cancer in later life. Female rabbits are best paired when they are very young or as litter mates, and we do not recommend putting unfamiliar female rabbits together as they may fight. If you are keeping more than two of either species, provide plenty of hides / sleeping areas so that they can get away from each if they wish to.

Pelleted Food versus 'Museli' foods

Both species spend most of the day eating grass and hay, so getting the right diet is essential. Hay should always make up the largest part of their diet (around 85-90%) and a commercial pelleted food may be added in small amounts. Pellets are bite-sized nuggets, with each mouthful having the same composition, which helps ensure rabbits and guinea pigs eat a balanced diet. Despite them not being as pleasing to the eye as the muesli mix, they are much better for your pet. Muesli-type mixes encourage selective feeding – your pet will eat the ‘sweet’ bits it likes, and leave the other nutritious pieces such as the pellets. This will eventually result in deficiencies, which can then lead to teeth and other health problems. Burgess Excel produce pellets that contains essential digestible and non-digestible fibre to provide healthy gut mobility, as well as tasty herbs and pre-biotics to support ‘good’ gut bacteria.

Is hay important?

Rabbit and guinea pig teeth grow continuously, and it is the specific chewing action of eating grass and hay that keeps the teeth worn naturally. This is vitally important: those that don’t eat enough hay will develop painful ‘spurs’ on their teeth where the teeth have not worn down properly. These cut into the gums and tongue and restrict their ability to eat. Once this problem occurs, they will require regular, expensive dental treatment at the vets. Excel produce a wide range of different hays, herbage and dried forage.

Can I change my pet’s diet?

Never change their diet suddenly, especially with rabbits. Abrupt changes can trigger potentially fatal digestive upsets: both rabbits and guinea pigs use bacteria in their gut to help digest food and sudden dietary changes can disrupt the population of these “friendly” bacteria, and can lead to a lethal condition known as 'gut stasis' in rabbits which causes the stomach to bloat. Baby rabbits and those changing home or prone to other stresses are particularly vulnerable: take at least 1-2 weeks to change over to a new food and maintain unlimited hay at all times. Both species need food moving through their gut continuously, so should they not eat even for a short period, seek veterinary attention straight away.

Vaccinating Your Rabbit

It is essential to vaccinate your rabbit against both myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease as soon as possible after purchase, even 'house' rabbits. These diseases are still very common and can be fatal. Both diseases are usually covered by a single 'combi' vaccine which is given annually to maintain protection.