CHAPTERS

Chapter Three: Purchasing Himalayan Rabbits

Assuming that you’ve already made up your mind about keeping a Himalayan rabbit breed, it’s time to now know where to acquire these long fluffy creatures! Most newbie keepers don’t know where to start when it comes to acquiring a rabbit which is why most of them end up either getting scammed or acquiring one that is not of great quality or ill. This chapter will cover the things you need to know about purchasing a pet rabbit, the factors you need to consider before choosing your source, tips on how to spot a reputable breeder so that you can be assured that the rabbit is of quality, healthy, and well – raised.

Things to Consider When Buying Rabbits

There are many places where you can buy a Himalayan rabbit but there are also many things to consider before doing so. This section will provide you the answer to some of the most common questions when buying in certain places and from certain breeders.

FAQs when purchasing from Pet Shops:

Is it good to acquire a pet rabbit from my local pet shop?

Yes and no. Yes because buying from pet shops is usually the go – to place when purchasing different kinds of species. It’s very accessible, and very enticing because you have many options to choose from not to mention the accessories and other necessities that come with it. It’s like a one – stop shop for pet owners. However, the downside is the quality of the breed you’re going to acquire. Most breeders do not recommend buying from pet stores because the store owners usually don’t know anything about the particular rabbit breeds that they’re selling.

What are the disadvantages of purchasing from pet stores?

There are many disadvantages in buying from pet stores; some of them include the following:

• Inadequate keeping: The animals being sold in pet shops are not being properly taken care of. They’re probably selling or breeding rabbits for the sole purpose of making money off of it, and not really taking the time to care for the rabbit’s particular needs.
• Illnesses and genetic problems: Most rabbits die after they were brought home from the pet stores due to lack of adequate care, this is the reason why lots of keepers discourage other newbies from buying in such stores. Pet stores also tend to take away the bunnies sometimes too early from their mother which is why they may be prone to many illnesses or has an unhealthy condition.

FAQs when purchasing from Flea Markets:

Is it good to acquire a pet rabbit from my local flea markets?

Just like in purchasing from pet stores, acquiring a Himalayan rabbit from flea markets are highly discourage because normally rabbits being sold in flea markets are of mixed rabbit breeds. What’s great about purchasing a Himalayan rabbit species is that it’s very unique from other rabbit breeds because of their elongated body type. However, you should still be careful because Himalayan rabbits look very similar to Californian rabbits, you might want to review the physical attributes of Himalayan rabbits in Chapter 1 to make sure that you’re getting the right breed. Perhaps the only advantage from buying in flea markets is that the purchase price of rabbits is way cheaper than pet stores or private breeders.

What are the disadvantages of purchasing from flea markets?

Another major disadvantage is that you don’t know where these rabbits came from, you don’t know their previous living condition, if they’re healthy or not, and the breeder may not have taken care these rabbits properly.

Pros and Cons of Buying from Backyard Breeders

Here are some pros and cons of buying rabbits from backyard breeders:

Pros:

• Health: Backyard breeders are small time rabbit keepers, which mean that they usually have only a couple of litter that is being sold. It also means that since they only take care of a couple of litters, you can be assured of its quality and health.
• Background Check: Another pro is that you can ask the breeders questions in terms of the previous living condition, the food, the age, the breed, the health status etc.

Cons:

• Be careful though because there are still some backyard breeders who only breeds rabbits because they want to get rid of their excess litter or just sell them.

Pros and Cons of Buying from Rabbit Enthusiasts

Here are some pros and cons of buying rabbits from rabbit enthusiasts:

Pros:

• Highly recommended: These people are generally the go – to place of any keepers who already have had some experience when it comes to buying rabbits.
• Mostly reputable and expert in rabbit breeding:  They wouldn’t be called enthusiasts or experts if they do not know a lot about a particular breed that they’re selling. These are the people who are reputable breeders because they don’t just sell their pets to anyone; they also like to make sure that their bunnies will go to good homes.
• Passionate: They care for their pets so much that they’ll go the extra mile of making sure that you’ll be ready to raise the bunnies that they bred. Aside from that they are happy to help newbie keepers through having a sort of support system or mentorship on how you can properly raise your pet.

Cons:

• Very expensive compared to other sources: The only disadvantage is that the rabbits can be quite expensive, but you can be guaranteed of the quality, the health. However, it is worth investing in because you won’t have to worry about the health and wellness of your pet in the long run, and also save you a lot of money.

Tips in Spotting a Reputable Rabbit Breeder

Here are the things you need to look for if you’re purchasing from a backyard breeder or rabbit enthusiasts:

Continue Reading…