7 Ways Rabbits are Environmentally-Friendly

There are many benefits to owning a pet rabbit: they're utterly adorable, they're funny, they're quiet, they're clean... I could go on and on.

But one thing many people may not realize is that rabbits are ecologically-friendly pets. Here are seven ways that pet rabbits help contribute to a healthy environment.

1. You can grow a lot of their food yourself in a backyard garden. Rabbits eat an assortment of greens such as romaine and other dark leaf lettuce, collard greens, kale, parsley, and cilantro, which you can grow in your own home garden vegetable patch. They also love dandelion greens and flowers, so you can kill two birds with one stone and feed your bunnies your unwanted weeds. Growing your rabbit's food yourself helps the environment by cutting down on energy consumption and waste production caused by manufacturing, packaging, storing and shipping commercial food. (See our article Bunny Gardening for Beginners for more information on starting a garden.)
2. You can use both their recycled paper litter and their droppings in a compost pile, which will then fertilize your garden. In fact, rabbit droppings contain a large amount of nitrogen and phosphorus which is essential for flower and fruit production. [1] This is not true for carnivorous pets like cats and dogs. Their waste products are not recommended for compost heaps. Furthermore, many kinds of clay-based cat litter come from strip mining and are non-degradable. [2]
3. Even if you're not a gardener, you can purchase their main diet staple, timothy hay, along with other vegetables, from local farmers, again diminishing carbon emissions, chemicals, and other waste products that result from shipping commercial food. [3]
4. Rabbits are effective paper shredders. No need to waste money and electricity on an electric shredder- rabbits' teeth grow continuously, so they need objects to chew on a regular basis. They will happily destroy your sensitive documents.
5. Rabbits' favorite toys consist of items you would normally throw away or recycle. They love playing with toilet paper rolls, outdated phone books, old towels, cardboard boxes, etc. Again, this reduces waste associated with manufacturing, packaging, storing, shipping and advertising commercial pet toys. But, if you really must buy a toy for your bunny, you can be sure that he/she will also love the cardboard packaging (perhaps even more than the toy itself).
6. Rabbits are content to run around in your house or apartment, so you don't have to make regular trips to the dog park. This reduces gas consumption and carbon emissions. In addition, because house rabbits stay inside and use their eco-friendly litterboxes, you don't have to worry about proper poop disposal like you do with dogs. Not only are many dog poop bags non-recyclable and non-degradable, but dog fecal bacteria currently pollutes our storm drain systems causing disease to humans and wildlife. [4]
7. House rabbits are very clean animals and, in general, they manage to carry on relatively disease-free lives. This means a reduction of harmful chemicals and drugs associated with pet shampoos, flea and tick treatments, and other medications. These pollutants cause an array of problems such as drug-resistant bacteria, contamination of waterways, and health concerns for aquatic animals. [4]

So there you have it: seven ways rabbits are eco-friendly. Just another benefit to owning a pet bunny!

From My House Rabbit.

LOST IN BALGOWLAH: PANDA

Have you seen Panda?

He was last seen on Thursday 9.6.11 at his home in Balgowlah. 

His mum Jessi is frantic and worried he has fallen from the balcony and could not get back up. He may be wandering around, very frightened and possibly hurt.

Panda is just 4 months old and has distinctive black markings and lop ears.

Please call Jessi 0420 943 833
 or James 0439 644 971

or email here at bunnybooksydney@hotmail.com

Even if you just think you have seen him, any information about where he might have been or is now is greatly appreciated. 

Diary of Winifred's Babes: Day 10

Day 10 Babes.

Mama Winifred comes over to lick the nest and the babies look like real rabbits now! They love to be pet behind the ears and wriggle into a ball to go to sleep in my hands and sucking my fingers. There are size differences between some of them and they all seem to be showing signs of individuality. The blue-grey one here is always up on top crawling over everyone, whereas you'll be hard pressed to find out sleepy white friend who is always trying to hog warmth from underneath. The grey spotty one still does the oddest things with his arms and legs!

At any moment now they will open their eyes and maybe even start to take a wander out of the nest- which scares me so much!

The Bunny Rules

1. The bunny is not allowed in the house.
2. OK, the bunny is allowed in the house, but only in certain rooms.
3. The bunny is allowed in all rooms, but has to stay off the furniture.
4. The bunny can get on the old furniture only.
5. Fine, the bunny is allowed on all the furniture, but is not allowed to sleep with humans, on the bed.
6. OK, the bunny is allowed on the bed,but only by invitation.
7. The bunny can sleep on the bed when-ever he wants, but not under the covers.
8. The bunny can sleep under the coversby invitation only.
9. The bunny can sleep under the coversevery night.
10. Humans must ask permission to sleep under the covers with the bunny.

Diary of Winifred's Babes: Day 7

blue-grey otter guy- very wriggly!

 So our little ones start to look like individuals. These were taken today- on their one week birthday!! Mama Winifred is doing a splendid job feeding her babes and even letting us watch sometimes. She comes over to make sure I'm not doing anything too rough with her little ones as I check them each day and has become more and more relaxed. She seems like she's just enjoying being a mama- hopefully she hasn't had to do it too many times before.

grey spotty sleepy guy with long arms and legs!

our pure white guy with pink ears looks just like dad.

triplets that look just like mum!

our darkest friend with light patches on his ears and eyebrows.