Thanks guys
I'm not talking so much about the big care related stuff, and how to look after them, but more when you know you need to do something for them, but not knowing the best way to do it.
So maybe things like
Catching a lose rabbit
Encouraging a rabbit to drink
How to keep a bunny cool
How to keep a bunny warm
Moulting Rabbits- How to help them
Reuniting a stray rabbit with its owner
Useful items to have on hand
Grooming your rabbit
If you lose your rabbit
Getting meds into a bunny
Syringe feeding a bunny
Fireworks Season
Increasing hay eating
Does that make sense?
Catching a rabbit:
Stay still in one area, tempt them with food, they might come to you. If it's your own and you need to get them somewhere, they like to follow their humans, so try leading them there. As a last resort, use a towel or blanket and throw it over them. They will stop moving and you'll be able to pick them up.
Encouraging a rabbit to drink:
Had this issue with Jessie. I mashed her pellets with lots of lukewarm water and mixed in some mushed up herbs, which she loved and gulped down. I also put her favourite foods in a shallow dish of water, which I hoped she would lap up as she ate her food. I also put some water on a teaspoon and brought it right up to her lips, which got a few licks. Obviously I also left a bowl of water as well as the bottle, and I flavoured it with a small amount of fruit juice.
How to keep a bunny cool:
Some sort of cover over part of the cage/hutch/run for them to lie in, a cold surface such as a concrete/stone slab or even one of those plastic kitchen tiles from Poundland (keep an eye out for chewing). In the height of summer I would save bottles of coke or whatever, take the wrapper off and scrub the sticky stuff off, then fill it with water and freeze overnight. Then I would just place one in each of their cages - they loved it, they'd lick the water droplets, push it around like a toy and even lie down next to/on top of it. I also partly froze a water bottle so that they had cold water to drink as well as the normal room-temperature water.
How to keep bunny warm:
Get them a friend to snuggle with! Also provide a snuggle box within the cage/hutch, one that stays dry and doesn't allow draughts in. Fill it with hay and/or straw (straw is more insulating) so they can burrow down and be warm. Personally I use fleece, so I give extra blankets in those areas. Insulating the hutch with tarpaulin/some sort of padding on the outside is also a good idea.
Moulting rabbits:
Wet hands and stroke! Safest way, imo, and gets a good amount of hair off, although there are brushes you can buy too.
Useful items:
First aid kit (I have a list of 40-odd items if you want it), obviously always be stocked up on food and cleaning supplies, clean towels and fleeces are a must for me.
Grooming:
Nail clippers (I find it easier to have OH hold while I clip - for black nails I only take the tip off). I already mentioned wet hands for removing hair. I have shampoo on hand but have only used it once or twice. Other than that they're vain little things and do a great job of looking after themselves.
Fireworks season:
I would stay with them as much as possible, and also maybe take them into the quietest room in the house. Whatever I did, I would make sure they had somewhere cosy to hide, maybe a new toy or two to occupy them. I would also have the TV on, it may not make much of a difference but it's something they're probably more used to than fireworks, and mine like to watch it so it may distract them :lol: I'd also have treats/veg on hand and head rubs ready to be doled out.
Increasing hay eating:
Carefully and gradually reduce pellets, they'll make up for the lost food with hay. Also try different types, you may have a fancy bunny on your hands with very discerning tastes. I have also seen somebody feed hay soaked in water - easier for her choking-prone rabbit to eat, if I remember correctly.
The rest I don't have any experience of and wouldn't really know what to suggest, other than a similar position to grooming when trying to syringe feed, and tempting with food/familiar smells/leaving hutch door open and keeping watch/asking neighbours if you've lost your bun.