Bunnies are cute, furry and soft. They're also a traditional Easter gift for young children. As someone who raises bunnies, I know that bunnies aren't all fun and fur! Before buying a bunny for your child, be sure to consider the following.
Many Bunnies Aren't Child Friendly
Many bunnies are not child or even people friendly. In the wild, they are prey for much larger and scarier animals so it's natural for them to be fearful of things that are larger than them. Children's first instinct when getting a bunny is to pick them up. Most bunnies, when first picked up, kick their feet with all of their might which can cause injury to the child. Whenever I move the bunnies or take them out of the cage, I end up with at least a scratch or two.
While bunnies can be trained not to kick and to stay calm, it takes a long time and a lot of work that young children are just not mature enough to handle.
They Poop A LOT!
Bunny poop is some of the cleanest animal poop. It comes out in little balls, about the size of Whoppers malt balls (if you didn't know any better, you could mistake them for chocolate balls!) However, if you're keeping them in a cage inside of your house, you're likely going to have to clean the poop every few days. Many children slack on this and when they get a whiff of the smell, they realize how foul rabbits can truly be.
They Need to Be Watered Often
Bunnies drink a lot, much more than they eat. Each of our bunnies drinks a large feeding tin full of water everyday. If you forget to water them, it can greatly effect their health. It can get tiring, feeding and watering and cleaning them everyday!
If you truly think your child can handle the responsibility of a rabbit, get them one but please don't put a rabbit in harm just for the sake of Easter. They are a big responsibility and one must consider all of the work they take before taking one on.
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