You may be surprised to see there isn't a single chicken in this newsletter...it's all rabbit rabbit rabbit! Why? Because bunnies are brilliant and in light of Rabbit Awareness Week we thought they deserved to be in the spotlight for a change. So whether you are a fan of fur or feathers we hope you enjoy this week's fun and frolics!

 

Rabbit Awareness Week

Did you know that rabbits are the third most popular pet in Britain? There are between 1.6 – 2 million pet rabbits in the UK today, and it's no wonder, with their adorable appearance and sweet natured temperament. But sometimes bunnies can be neglected, which is why the Rabbit Awareness Week is launched every year, to help us give our full attention to our pets.

RAW is running from 26th April to 2nd May this year, and there are loads of great things going on. Vets around Britain are offering free health checks for rabbits and there is lots of advice on the website about feeding your pets properly. If you think you've got a beautiful bunny you can enter a photo into the RAW gallery and it might be crowned the face of 2010. Visit the website for more info.

What better time to give your rabbit an MOT and some TLC!?

 

Biggest Bunny

Think your bunny's big? Take a look at his one! At a staggering 4' 3'' and 3st 7lb Darius has just broken the world record for the largest rabbit. The continental giant breed comes from a family of extra big rabbits and his mother and grandmother held the previous records.

So what's the secret to owner Annette's success in breeding record breaking bunnies? She vows “there really isn't one, other than just treating them well and looking after them”. Darius gets lots of exercise and has a good diet. A BIG diet, in fact, including 12 carrots, 3 apples, 2 bowls of rabbit food and a cabbage each day. Oh, and lots of hay to snack on between meals.

You'd think Darius couldn't possibly grow anymore wouldn't you!? But at 13 months old he is expected to have another 6 months of growth left. Crikey! We just don't think we have an Eglu big enough for this bunny...

Rabbit Obesity

From giant bunnies to giant tummies. You'd think it would be simple to feed a rabbit, wouldn't you!? Well, according to rabbit experts 80% of pet bunnies aren't fed the right diet. Most people know that rabbits need fibre in their diet, but not many realise that it is two kinds of fibre they need to keep their digestive systems busy. Indigestible fibre is the kind you see come out as hard droppings, and digestible fibre is moved around before emerging as sticky droppings and then re-eaten to extract nutrition. Rabbits can get very poorly if not given the right amount of both.

There are lots of great rabbit foods available that will give your pets the fibre and nutrients they need, and one option is the Burgess Excel Feeding Plan. Burgess has worked with leading vets to produce the ideal diet for bunnies, which includes herbage, tasty nuggets, nature snacks and a supply of fresh greens and water. You can read the plan and buy the food by visiting the website.

It's good to feed your rabbit a small amount of fresh fruit and veg such as apples, cabbage, grapes and turnip, but bunnies tummies do not agree with potato, rhubarb, beans or avocados.

You can win some brilliant Burgess food by entering this month's competition...

Snap Happy

Rabbit Awareness Week are running a competition to find the faces of RAW 2010 which is a great chance for your rabbits to show off their good looks. We don't think rabbits get enough credit for their appearance so we have decided to run our own competition too. Every bunny is beautiful and they deserve to be admired so we want you to take a snap and send it to us. The best three photos will win some fantastic prizes, as follows:

1st Prize – A selection of goodies worth over £60, including an Omlet tshirt for the proud pet owner, a beware of the rabbits plaque, a funshade and a complete package of Burgess Excel food.

2nd Prize – A smaller selection of Burgess Excel food.

3rd Prize – Burgess Excel Fresh Herbage and Forage.

Send your photos to stephanie@omlet.co.uk by Sunday 9th May. And it's not just pretty pets we are looking for – any rabbit that makes us smile could be a winner!

Peter Rabbit

A lot of our products on the online shop are aimed at chicken keepers and we realise that those of you that are bonkers about bunnies may have felt neglected recently. That's why we are so proud to present our brand new range of Peter Rabbit paraphernalia, that rabbit owners everywhere will love. Peter is undoubtedly the most famous rabbit in history so we thought he deserved a place in the wonderful world of Omlet.

You'll find bookmarks, bags and bibs, along with some other great gifts that we think anyone would be hoppy to receive. Click here to see the full selection.

 

Shows

After the success of the Ideal Home Show, Omlet have another string of shows coming up shortly. Our next stop is Grand Designs Live, at London's ExCel. This runs from May 1st to 9th and it is always a popular choice with anyone interested in home and garden design. You can find us on stand G108. Visit the website for more info.

We will also be at the Malvern Spring Gardening Show from May 6th – 9th. Great for budding gardeners, this is the place to find show gardens to inspire and excite. There'll be talks and demonstrations to give great gardening advice and lots of stalls to buy goodies for the garden. We will be there too so come along and say hello.

The rabbit eglu will be on display at both shows so if you are thinking about keeping rabbits or you want to treat your pet bunnies to some new accommodation you can have a good old look at it and ask us any questions you might have.

 

The Omlet Team

P.S. The winner of the decorate an egg competition will be announced in the next newsletter.

P.P.S. We are still looking for homemade items to sell in our shop – email stephanie@omlet.co.uk for more info.

With Rabbit Awareness Week approaching Emma Magnus, Clinical Animal Behaviourist, gives us her top tips for keeping a rabbit:

 

• Rabbits need a diet high in digestible fibre to keep their digestion functioning correctly and to help them wear their teeth down. Experts in rabbit nutrition recommend feeding a diet that is basically hay with some green vegetable leaves and a small amount of a pellet or cereal mix. Providing lots of hay also helps prevent behaviour problems such as over-grooming or excessive destruction of the home environment.
• Rabbits are prey animals and are likely to react negatively to any sudden movements or loud sounds. For this reason they require gentle regular handling as often as possible to prevent them becoming fearful and perhaps aggressive. They should also be kept safe and secure from predators such as our pet dogs and cats as well as foxes.

• Provide an environment that offers as much space as you can. Ideally, rabbits should have daily access to a run and also have a covered area that they can retreat to if they feel the need to hide.

• Have your rabbit regularly vaccinated for Myxomatosis and VHD. Always take your rabbit to the vet if you are concerned by any changes in behaviour, eating or drinking habits.

• Rabbits are naturally social animals, living in groups. Try and keep rabbits together in pairs – opposite sex rabbits that have been neutered are less likely to show aggression to each other. Introduce the rabbits somewhere neutral first, unless they are brother and sister.

• Clean your rabbits out regularly – a minimum of once a week in the colder weather and twice a week when it is warm. Rabbits usually toilet in one area of the hutch or run so can easily be litter trained by placing some of their dirty bedding in the tray. This technique can also be used to introduce a rabbit to a new home as it will help them settle by smelling their own scent.

• Keep your rabbit’s weight down by feeding an appropriate diet and giving them plenty of exercise. Rabbits eat the first set of faeces that they produce and if they are not able to reach around to their backside they can get sticky and attract flies that lay their eggs on the wet fur. Flystrike is a nasty condition that is often fatal.
  

It is a great time to be getting on with planting up some fruit and veg for the summer. Seeds to get going in later April/May include salad leaves, tomatoes, courgettes, peas, pumpkins and runner beans. All of these are easy to grow for the first timer and will give you a great crop later in the summer.

One simple thing you can do with even the smallest space is grow a few salad leaves. Although we have an allotment I will always grow these in a pot near the kitchen door so I can just pick a few fresh as needed – but kept away from the chickens, as they also find them very tasty! Everyone sells mixed salad leaves seeds, some very cheaply and we have a number of free packets through recycling or grow- your- own initiatives locally. Just get a pot and fill it with compost, then sprinkle the seeds on the top and cover with a fine layer of compost. Keep them watered, they are quite happy outside - obviously if we get a late frost bring them in or protect at night. That is all there is to it – keep them watered and within just over a month you will start getting leaves. Harvest by picking the outside leaves when 10-15 cm long, leaving the centre to keep growing and they will last a few weeks. They will eventually bolt, but keep planting a few seeds every few weeks for a never ending supply for the whole summer.

My advice for a few tomatoes would be to buy some plants to grow on at this time of the year. We grow a few varieties from seed, but if you only want a handful of plants then buying plants of different varieties is the best idea. They will

 

About You

Your name and age: Louise Ellis-Barrett, 34.

Where and with who do you live? I live in Epsom Surrey with my husband Simon and my pets.

Your occupation: Primary School Librarian.

What pets do you have? Socrates the rabbit, Amber a Brown hen and Peridot a Bovan Nera, as well as Oberon the cat.

Which is your favourite season? Spring because of the wonderful blossom, bright morning walks to work and the sound of birdsong.

What would you choose as your last supper? Scrambled eggs (fresh from my own hens) with smoked salmon on a marmite covered crumpet to be followed by a large sorbet - a scoop of strawberry and a scoop raspberry from Oddono's, a small Italian company who make the best ice cream and sorbet in London at least!

What is the most daring thing you have ever done? Ventured onto the beach when the tide is coming in – I have a phobia of the sea so this was a very daring venture.

Do you have a hobby or a hidden talent? I have many hobbies including playing both saxophone and clarinet, gardening, sewing, knitting, cross stitch, embroidery and reading/reviewing children’s books for my online magazine.

What song do you most like dancing to? Rasputin by Boney M.

If you won the lottery what's the first thing you would do? Double check they have the right person as I have never ever bought a ticket!

About Your Rabbit

What is your rabbit called? Socrates.

How old is your rabbit? 4 years old.

What breed is your rabbit? Himalayan.

What is your rabbit's favourite food? Banana wins hands down and is closely followed by chocolate and mushroom.

Does your rabbit have any party tricks? Chicken bowling.

What's the best thing about keeping a rabbit? The cuddles.

What's your rabbit's favourite thing about the Eglu? Safety from foxes and coolness in the house in the summer where he stretches for a snooze!