🐰 Rabbit Care Guide – Darwin & the Top End

Rabbits do not tolerate extreme heat well. Darwin and the Top End can become dangerously hot and humid for rabbits.

Rabbits must always have access to deep shade, good airflow and plenty of fresh, cool water. Never leave a rabbit in direct sun, a hot shed, enclosed hutch, vehicle or other area where heat can build up.

On very hot or humid days, outdoor shade alone may not be enough. Your rabbit needs access to a genuinely cool, well-ventilated area. Frozen water bottles wrapped in a towel can also provide a cool surface to rest against.

Watch carefully for signs of heat stress, including panting or rapid/shallow breathing, drooling, weakness, lethargy, unusually hot/red ears or collapse. Heatstroke is an emergency — contact a veterinarian immediately. Do not suddenly immerse or pour cold water over an overheated rabbit; cooling needs to be gradual while veterinary help is sought. If you cannot provide a reliably cool environment during Top End heat, a rabbit may not be a suitable pet for your setup.

Rabbits are social animals and generally benefit from living with a compatible, properly bonded rabbit. They do best when living with at least one compatible rabbit. Bonded pairs of rabbits provide each other with comfort and companionship, but the bonding process requires time and patience. Desexing is strongly recommended when rabbits are kept together to prevent unwanted litters and can assist with bonding.

🌾 Hay – Available at All Times

Rabbits must always have access to fresh, dry hay. Hay is the most important part of their diet and helps keep their digestive system and teeth healthy.

For rabbits in the Darwin/Top End area, suitable options include:

• Oaten hay – a good everyday choice
• Rhodes grass hay – suitable if clean, dry and good quality
• Pasture or grass hay – also suitable
• Lucerne hay – better for young, growing, pregnant or nursing rabbits; it should not normally be the main unlimited hay for adult rabbits

Hay should smell fresh and be free from mould, excessive dust and moisture. Never feed damp or mouldy hay.

🌿 Fresh Grass

Rabbits can also eat fresh grass. Introduce new grasses gradually, especially when taking a rabbit to a new home.

Only collect grass from areas that are free from pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals. Do not feed lawn-mower clippings, as they can heat and ferment quickly.

🥣 Pellets

A good-quality rabbit pellet can be provided in addition to hay and grass. Pellets should not replace hay.

Avoid suddenly changing the rabbit’s pellets when you first take your rabbit home. If you want to change brands, gradually mix the new food with the old food.

💧 Water

Clean, fresh drinking water must be available 24 hours a day.

In Darwin’s hot climate, check water frequently and keep containers out of direct sun where possible.

🥕 Vegetables & Treats

Fresh leafy vegetables can be introduced gradually. Carrot and fruit should only be given in small amounts as treats.

⚠️ When You First Take Your Rabbit Home

For the first few days, keep the rabbit’s diet as similar as possible to what it was eating before. Sudden changes in food can upset a rabbit’s digestive system.

A healthy rabbit should be eating regularly and producing plenty of normal droppings. If your rabbit stops eating, stops producing droppings, develops diarrhoea, or becomes unusually quiet, seek veterinary advice promptly.

Rabbits are small, delicate animals and can be seriously injured very easily. Even a friendly, confident rabbit needs a safe and secure environment.

⚠️ Common Household & Property Dangers

Swimming pools, ponds & water containers
Rabbits can fall into swimming pools, ponds, buckets, troughs or other water containers and drown. Never allow a rabbit unsupervised access to these areas. Pools and ponds should be securely fenced or inaccessible.

Being stepped on
Rabbits are often very quiet and may suddenly run behind or underneath your feet. Always look where you are walking, particularly at night or when the rabbit is loose inside the house. Teach visitors and children to do the same.

Doors & gates
Always check before closing doors, gates or enclosure panels. A rabbit may be sitting behind them or attempting to follow you through.

Recliners, sofas & furniture
Rabbits may hide underneath furniture. Reclining chairs and sofa mechanisms can cause severe injuries. Always locate your rabbit before moving furniture or operating a recliner.

Cars & machinery
Never allow rabbits to roam around driveways, garages, vehicles, mowers or other machinery. Check underneath vehicles before moving them.

🐕 Dogs, Cats & Other Animals

Even a normally friendly dog or cat can seriously injure or kill a rabbit within seconds.

Never assume that animals are safe together simply because they have previously behaved well. Introductions should be carefully controlled and rabbits should have a secure area where other animals cannot reach them.

🦅 Outdoor Predators

In the Darwin/Top End area, rabbits need protection from dogs, cats, snakes and birds of prey.

Outdoor enclosures should be secure from the sides, underneath and above. Check regularly for holes, damaged wire or places where predators could enter.

☀️ Heat

Rabbits can become dangerously overheated.

In the Top End climate, rabbits must have shade, ventilation and access to a cooler protected area at all times. Never leave a rabbit in direct sun, a closed vehicle, hot shed or poorly ventilated enclosure.

🧒 Children

Young children should always be supervised around rabbits.

Rabbits generally prefer being handled close to the ground. They can struggle suddenly when frightened and may be badly injured if dropped.

Children should be taught not to chase, squeeze, carry or pick up a rabbit without supervision.

🔌 Electrical Cables & Poisonous Substances

Rabbits naturally chew. Keep electrical cables, chargers and extension leads completely out of reach.

Also prevent access to:

• Cleaning products and chemicals
• Pesticides and poisons
• Rat or mouse bait
• Fertilisers
• Medications
• Cigarettes and vaping products
• Plastic, foam and other materials that may be swallowed
• Plants that have not been confirmed as rabbit-safe

🏠 Escaping

Rabbits can squeeze through surprisingly small spaces and can also dig underneath fences.

Check the enclosure regularly and make sure gates are properly closed. A rabbit that escapes may quickly encounter roads, dogs, snakes, neighbouring properties or other dangers.

🚨 Know Your Rabbit

Spend a little time observing your rabbit every day. You will quickly learn what is normal for them.

Seek veterinary advice promptly if your rabbit suddenly:

• Becomes unusually quiet or weak
• Has difficulty breathing
• Cannot stand or walk normally
• Has been dropped or stepped on
• Has been attacked or bitten by another animal
• Has fallen into water or nearly drowned
• Is bleeding or has an obvious injury
• Appears to be in pain
• Is behaving very differently from normal

Rabbits often hide illness and pain. If something does not look right, don’t wait for the rabbit to become obviously sick before seeking advice.

Keeping rabbits indoors is becoming increasingly popular. This arrangement allows you to form a closer bond with your rabbits while keeping them safe from outdoor dangers. Provide a rabbit-proof, escape-free area, and consider toilet training them for added convenience.

Indoor rabbits still benefit from outdoor access to a secure, predator-proof space. You might even train them to use a cat flap for supervised outdoor play. Be sure to keep hazardous items, like electrical cords and cleaning products, safely out of reach.

A common myth is that rabbits can live solely in a hutch. In reality, a hutch should only be a safe resting place. Rabbits need plenty of room to run, jump, and express natural behaviors. Ideally, their hutch should be attached to a large run or enclosure with ample space.

At a minimum, a suitable enclosure for two rabbits should measure 3m long x 1.5m wide x 1m high, as recommended by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. Inside the enclosure, include a burrow-like space with clean bedding and a separate area for toileting. Burrowing is a natural behavior that helps them feel secure.

The hutch must also be predator-proof, weather-resistant, and equipped with fly-proof netting to protect against mosquitoes.

Rabbits are active and intelligent creatures that need daily exercise and mental stimulation. They enjoy running, jumping, digging, and exploring. Make their environment engaging by providing toys, tunnels, and safe digging areas.

If possible, give your rabbits supervised access to a grassy, enclosed area for exercise. Alternatively, let them roam safely inside your home. Daily grooming and playtime are essential for bonding and keeping them happy.