Category: Extras

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Extras recipes

Sicilian Pasta and Broccoli

Sicilian pasta and broccoli

This Sicilian pasta and broccoli recipe is one my mom made a lot when I was a kid. She’d tell us how, when she was growing up, her family was poor. So, they ate this meal weekly, because it was inexpensive. Also, it’s typically a meatless dish. However, the first time I prepared this for my own family, my husband complained about the evident lack of protein. Therefore, I have since added ground beef. And although it changes the original somewhat, it makes for an excellent meal.

There are a number of other Sicilian pasta and broccoli recipes to be found on the internet. But most of them are missing the tomatoes that are in this one. Or they add pine nuts. Though a lot of them are also meatless. However, whichever way you prefer, I hope you try this recipe and let me know what you think;.

Ingredients for Sicilian Pasta and Broccoli:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 12 oz broccoli florets, washed
  • 2 (14.5 oz) cans whole tomatoes, pulsed or diced in food processor with 2 cans of water
  • 12 oz elbow macaroni
  • 4 tbsp olive oil, divided (you can use extra virgin olive oil, butter, or any kind of oil you choose)
  • 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic
  • 1 tbsp each basil and oregano, divided
  • 2 1/2 tsp salt, divided
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp pepper, divided
  • Shredded Parmesan or mozzarella cheese

Instructions for Pasta and Broccoli:

  • First, put 2 tbsp olive oil in 4.5 quart saucepan, heat over medium heat, and add ground beef, breaking up with a non-stick cooking spoon.
  • Next, while the ground beef is cooking, add 1 tbsp minced fresh garlic, 1/2 tbsp basil and 1/2 tbsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper, and stir till combined. And then stir occasionally.
  • Then cook 12 oz of elbow macaroni according to directions. But don’t drain water completely, because you might need to add some of it to broccoli and beef mixture.
  • When ground beef is browned, drain fat and set aside. In the same saucepan, on medium heat, add last 2 tbsp of olive oil, broccoli florets, remaining basil, oregano, 1 tbsp garlic powder, remaining 1 tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper, tomatoes, 2 cans of water, and stir till combined, cooking ~ 6-8 minutes.
  • And add the ground beef to the broccoli mixture and stir till well combined.
  • With a slotted spoon, add the elbow macaroni to the mixture, adding some pasta water if needed. And stir till all combined.
  • Finally, serve and top with your favorite Italian cheese. Enjoy!
Sicilian pasta and broccoli

Thanks for stopping by! If you made this recipe, please let me know in the comments.

Categories
Extras recipes

Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions

Italian sausage sandwich with a side of oven roasted broccoli with cheese

The first time I tasted Italian sausage sandwiches with peppers and onions was at Grapevine Mills mall in Texas. It was at this really cool eatery. And it featured all my favorite flavors: garlic, tomato, and onions on a crispy roll. But it was many years until I decided to try my hand at making the recipe.

These sandwiches are great for when you have company like a tailgating party.  And they contain delicious Italian sausage and sautéed vegetables. They are also really easy to make.  So, please enjoy this recipe.

Ingredients for Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions:

Italian sausage cooking in a saucepan on the stove
  • ~1-1/2 lb of Mild or Sweet Italian Sausage links
  • 6 Ciabatta Rolls
  • 1 Bell Pepper, Seeded and Sliced
  • 1 Onion, Peeled and Thinly Sliced
  • 1/8 C Butter
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper

You’re probably familiar with cooking sausage. Maybe you grill it or broil it. You possibly even cook it on the stove in some oil.

However, the way I’m going to cover it might seem a little strange. Although, this way is better for cooking the sausages completely through. And also browning them evenly.

  • browned Italian sausage on greased aluminum foil lined jelly roll pan
    What sausages look like after broiling them.
  • Italian sausage links on greased aluminum foil lined jelly roll pan
    What sausages look like before broiling them.

Instructions for Cooking Italian Sausage Sandwiches with Peppers and Onions:

  • First, put Italian sausage links in a saucepan. And fill pan with cold water until the sausages are covered.
  • Next, put the saucepan on the stove on med to med-hi heat.
  • Then, in another saucepan, melt the butter on med heat. And add your vegetables, salt, and pepper. Next, cover, cooking on med to med-low until vegetables are tender.
  • When the water begins to simmer in the sausage saucepan, cook ~6‐8 mins.
  • The internal temperature of the sausages should be at least 165 degrees; so, if they’ve reached that, then remove the pan from the burner.
  • Finally, turn off the heat source.
sliced red bell pepper, sliced white onion, and sliced tomato sautéing in pan

Now the sausage links are fully cooked. But they appear to be washed out. Though they won’t be for long.

Final Instructions:

  • Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. And spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Next, place Italian sausage links on aluminum foil.
  • Then, turn the oven broiler on hi heat.
  • Finally, put the jelly roll pan under the broiler for 3-5 mins. Then flip sausages over to the other side. And broiler another 3-4 mins.

When the sausages are browned the way you like, take them out of the oven, and turn off the broiler.

We slice our Italian sausages in order for them to fit the Ciabatta rolls better. Though you can do it however you want. Then add your sautéed vegetables. And that’s it. A lot of times I’ll add sliced and seeded tomatoes as well. But you could also add Mozzarella cheese if you wanted.

Serve with your favorite side like roasted vegetables.

Categories
ducks other fowl

How to Introduce New Ducks

close up photography of ducks
Photo by Kristi Evans on Pexels.com

Maybe you have some ducks and are thinking about getting more. You might be asking yourself whether it’s anything like introducing new chickens. Then this post will help you know how to introduce new ducks to an existing flock.

And the best part of familiarizing your new ducks with the established ones is that ducks, for the most part, are not as adamant in their pecking order as chickens are. It would even appear as if ducks didn’t have one. Unless you’re watching closely.

older duckling in pond

How to introduce new ducks to each other

So, how do you introduce new ducks? What’s the best way, with minimal stress on both the new ducks and established ducks?

  • First of all, the best time of year to introduce new ducks is in the fall. Their mating season, however, happens to be when most people want to introduce new ducks: spring and summer. That is also when hatcheries sell ducklings.

The reason mating season isn’t a great time to bring in new ducks and ducklings is because the drake, or male duck, tends to be more aggressive during this time. Female ducks can also get more assertive, but it isn’t to the same degree as males.

  • Wait to introduce new ducks until the ducklings are at least 7 weeks old. And as with chickens, don’t only introduce one at a time. Also, if you have a drake, I recommend waiting until the ducklings are bigger in order to protect themselves.

With that being said, not all drakes will be murderous. However, it does happen. Though, sometimes it just depends on the breed of duck you have. But, if you just have an all female duck population, or only introduce female ducks, this is the best situation.

  • Most people introduce new ducks on public ground, away from the coop. This is so territorial behavior won’t occur. Or at least will be less likely.

Watch for aggressive behavior. Or signs that your birds are getting stressed. Either are unmistakable. If you have a bird that’s being aggressive or one that’s getting stressed, don’t get discouraged. It might take a few ‘re-introductions’ until everyone is on the same page and ok with the new set-up. You definitely don’t want to rush things.

With our first set adult ducks and then ducklings, we had tried to re-introduce our ducks and ducklings several times. But then we waited for mating season to end, because Kirishima was so out of control. However he never stopped being that way. In the end, we chose the majority over the one.

2 crested ducks in a pond

Sharing a home

After you’ve successfully introduced the new ducks to your existing flock, it’s time to bring the newbies to their new home. You can do this one of two ways. Either let them join the established members in the coop, just as it is. Or you can make a partition in the coop, or run, where they’ll be separated for a few days. Just make sure it’s predator proof and resistant to the elements.

Ducks prefer sleeping outside, in the big wide open, next to a body of water. Even if no one is picking on them. After all, it is their natural habitat. However, if you take care of waterfowl, make sure they go into the coop at night. Because there are predators who will eat them as well as chickens.

Integration

A few nights in a row should be all it takes to get everyone used to each other. After that, let all your ducks out to free range together. But preferably when you’ll be available to watch their interactions. If after about 15 minutes, and all looks as it should, and everyone is doing good, then let them be.

Mixed flock of ducks

Do you notice any feathers?

The only thing people seem to be concerned about is whether or not there is feather loss. Or feather pulling. And if so, they attribute it to bullying. Though, if you observe your ducks, you’ll know whether you have a bully.

I already mentioned that, during mating season, female ducks can be more ‘assertive’. They won’t let the newer ducks around the watering hole, or the wet ground, where everyone else wants to dig for bugs. But the main thing is, that female duck has her eyes set on the drake she prefers.

We have 2 established female ducks. And when we introduced our new ducks and adolescent ducklings to the group, Aizawa, the female Mallard, didn’t care one bit. She still doesn’t. But Bakugo was the one keeping the new ducks away from her water, her bugs, and I suppose, her drake. Aka, the rooster.

Mallard duckling and mixed flock of chicks outside

This year we have 3 new ducklings, and two of them favor Aizawa, the Mallard. But the third ones still seems to be developing; I wonder if it’s a drake. And so far there have been absolutely no issues. Squirt could care less about the ducklings, and therefore Bakugo could care less. So it made me wonder, are the ducks influenced by the drake’s reaction? Thus far I haven’t been able to discover anything on the subject. However it certainly is an interesting question.

crested duck in a pond

A word about drakes

Drakes can be aggressive both to females and ducklings. So if you have any, as with chickens and roosters, you need to have a proper ratio of 3 or 4 ducks to every drake. Because, if you don’t, it will cause drakes to be even more violent.

Some will even attack and kill their own young. You might not have any issues once you’ve introduced the new ducks to your established flock. But if you do, and you have a drake who is murderous or infanticidal, you’ll have to make a decision of whether you’ll re-home him or let nature take its course.

Quarantine adult birds

If instead you have adult ducks to introduce to your established flock, the main thing you’ll want to add to this list is to quarantine the newcomers first. And that’s to make sure the new ducks are free from diseases and parasites. Quarantine can last anywhere from 7 days to a month. Though, the longer it is, the more time you’ll have to fully know what’s going on with the birds you’ll be introducing.

I hope this helps answer any questions you might have regarding introducing ducks to an existing flock.

Categories
Extras recipes

Banana Pineapple Cream Cheese Dessert

slice of banana pineapple cream cheese dessert with whipped cream, pineapple, and a cherry on a white plate

When I was very young, I remember my mom made this banana pineapple cream cheese dessert.  But I don’t recall exactly where she got the recipe, except it was through a friend of hers. I also know that I loved it.  And then I started making it when I was old enough. 

Furthermore, there are several ways to make this recipe, as well as different fillings. And it’s a deceptively rich dessert with all of the layers: bananas, pineapple cream cheese, and chocolate, topped with whipped cream.  So, if you have a sweet tooth, this is a very satisfying dessert.

Ingredients for Banana Pineapple Cream Cheese Dessert:

  • 1 box of Nilla wafers
  • 1/2 stick of melted butter
  • 3-4 bananas
  • 8 oz package of cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 stick of butter (1/2 cup), room temperature
  • 1/4 c white sugar; 4 TBSP white sugar
  • 1 can crushed pineapple (drained), reserving 1/3 of the can
  • ~5.9 oz package (or family size) of instant chocolate pudding
  • 2 c whipping cream
  • 1/2 c chopped pecans or almonds
  • 1 small jar maraschino cherries, drained
layer of bananas on a Nilla wafer crust

Instructions for crust:

  • First, crush Nilla wafers and combine with 1/2 stick melted butter
  • Then press wafer mixture firmly in bottom of 9X13 pan and chill in refrigerator for 10-15 mins

Instructions for banana layer:

  • Slice bananas and add to crust layer
  • Then refrigerate pan with crust and bananas while preparing fillings
cream cheese and pineapple blended in a mixing bowl with a spatula
This is the pineapple layer with drained crushed pineapple, cream cheese, butter, and sugar or Truvia.

Instructions for pineapple cream cheese layer:

  • First, mix cream cheese, remaining 1/2 c of butter, and remainder of sugar together with blender
  • Next, add drained, crushed pineapple, and blend in thoroughly
  • And then spread onto banana layer and refrigerate

Instructions for pudding layer:

  • Prepare instant chocolate pudding according to directions
  • Moreover, when it’s set-up, spread it onto pineapple layer and refrigerate
chocolate pudding layered in 9x13 glass pan
The next level is the chocolate pudding.

Instructions for final layer of banana pineapple dessert:

  • With mixer, beat whipping cream and 4 TBSP white sugar until stiff peaks form
  • Next, spread liberally onto chocolate pudding layer
  • Then, top with chopped nuts, maraschino cherries, and remaining crushed pineapple
  • And refrigerate 8 hours or overnight before serving
  • Finally, serve and enjoy!
banana pineapple cream cheese dessert with layers of whipping cream, cherries, pineapple, chopped nuts

Have you ever made this dessert or one of its variations? What do you think of it? Your comments are appreciated.

If you enjoyed this post, please like, share, and please don’t forget to follow!

Categories
Crazy Cute Pictures Extras

Cool Wild Animal Pictures

juvenile Mississippi Kite

If you read my blog, you know I live in Oklahoma. And because I don’t live in a city, we are on one acre in a neighborhood of 1-5 acre lots. So we do get wild animals. Though, maybe not the ones you might tend to think of when you hear or read the word ‘wild’. This post of Cute Animals is actually going to be about cool wild animal pictures.

wild, juvenile Mississippi Kite in tree

Also, for today’s post, I’m only going to focus on one animal. Which means that the pictures I’m posting are all of the same bird, a juvenile Mississippi Kite.

wild baby Mississippi Kite

The Kite had its home in one of the trees on our property. But we found it one day outside, under our Silver Leaf Maple tree.

juvenile Mississippi Kite under tree

We thought that was strange, that it was just standing under the tree. So we went to check it out.

young Mississippi Kite under a tree on top of a pot

And, as we approached, the Kite got alarmed. Because, being a wild animal, it wasn’t used to being around humans.

person holding juvenile Mississippi Kite

Therefore, after getting gloves on and a towel, my husband was able to pick it up. Yet, the Kite was still scared, and started screaming.

juvenile Mississippi kite with wings outstretched

Though we couldn’t see any outward injuries after inspecting the bird. So we surmised that, perhaps it fell out of its nest, because it was too young to fly.

juvenile Mississippi kite with wings in mid-air

It was understandably scared, however, within a couple of weeks, it either got attacked by a cat, a dog, or its parents tried helping it. And it ended up getting a serious wing injury which further prevented it from flying.

juvenile Mississippi Kite in tree

My husband nursed it back to health, both by catching and buying insects for it. Thus, we learned a lot about Mississippi Kites from this juvenile wild bird.

cool picture of teaching a Mississippi Kite how to fly

My husband eventually taught it how to fly. Or helped it learn. But its parents were never far away. We even got video footage of one of the parents bringing food to its offspring.

man holds wild young Mississippi Kite

It finally left when all of the other Mississippi Kites left, migrating to South America for the Winter last year.

Have you ever had an encounter where you’ve helped a wild animal? Hopefully not one where a wild animal was trying to hurt one of your pets or livestock. Your comments are appreciated.

Categories
Crazy Cute Pictures Extras

Cutest Cat Pictures Ever

cutest grey fur kitten
Photo by Vadim B on Pexels.com

For the past 3 weeks I’ve been running a blog on cute animals. It’s featured backyard birds, like ducks and chickens, goats, and dogs. But this week we’ll pay tribute to cats with some of the cutest cat pictures ever.

Cake in a Toy Stable

cutest picture of gray cat in toy stable

Cake is our Russian Blue cat, and she loves getting into things. Boxes, toys shaped like boxes, or hiding spots, she’ll take a seat and stay a while. I love this picture and think it’s one of the cutest, because it captures Cake in one of those spots.

Calico kitten

cutest calico kitten

I had to include a picture of a kitten. I mean, who doesn’t think kittens aren’t some of the cutest creatures on earth?

Pie sleeping

The next two adorable pictures are of Pie, a dumpster cat. She was found by her humans and was the runt of the litter. Hence, she still looks like a kitten.

cutest picture of cat sleeping
cutest picture of cat

Meow Meow Kitty Kitty looking out the window

This is our other cat Meow Meow. She usually stays hidden most of the day under my bed. She has 2 interests: Eating and sleeping. And not necessarily in that order. But sometimes she’ll snuggle up next to me if I take a nap.

adorable picture of tortoiseshell cat by window

Gypsy, our neighbor’s cat

Gypsy is a really cute and friendly cat. She likes to come into our yard every morning and evening. And one interesting fact about her is that she doesn’t have a tail.

cute picture of gray and white kitten

Our cat, Cake, lounging on a chair

cutest picture of gray cat lounging on chair

This is another really cute picture of our cat, Cake. She likes to fall asleep virtually anywhere. But this time she was snoozing on a chair.

Itty Bitty, when she was itty bitty

The next 2 pictures are of Itty when she was first brought to us. A found her in the middle of the road. She was too young to be away from her mother. So we bought some milk replacement and started giving it to her.

cutest calico kitten
cutest cat picture of kitten drinking milk from a bottle

Smokey

This is a cute picture of Smokey. He’s no longer with his humans. But when he was, he was a huge people person cat. And he had a Labrador for a best friend.

cutest cat picture of cat leaning over a couch

Do you like cats? Which picture was your favorite? Your comments are appreciated.

Categories
Extras recipes

Chicken Tortilla Soup

chicken tortilla soup

I started making this recipe many years ago when we lived in Dallas. This chicken tortilla soup is very easy to make. And I usually prepare it with chicken quesadillas after the chicken is cooked and shredded. But you can have it either way, because it’s delicious.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 -2 lbs Chicken Breasts
  • 2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
  • 3 cans Water
  • 1/2 can Rotel, drained (I use Mild, but you can use whichever you want)
  • 1/4 tsp each Salt, Garlic Powder, and Cumin
  • 1/8 tsp Pepper
  • 1 pkg of Tri-color Tortilla Strips
  • 1 Avocado
  • and 1 cup Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese

Instructions:

  • First, put the first 6 ingredients in a pot over medium-hi, and heat till the liquid starts to boil.
  • Next, once boiling, put burner on low, cover, and simmer till chicken is cooked.
  • Then, shred chicken and put back into the pot.
  • And serve over sliced avocado, tortilla strips, and shredded cheese.

If you want to make chicken quesadillas, you’ll need flour tortillas and shredded Mexican blend cheese. I usually use soft taco size tortillas. However, you can use whatever you prefer.

Place one tortilla on a plate, add some shredded chicken, and sprinkle with plenty of shredded cheese. And finally you’ll top it with another tortilla before placing the quesadilla in a pan on low heat. Heat through, till bottom is browned. Then flip over with a spatula, heating that side till it is browned as well.

chicken quesadillas

If you made this recipe, what did you think of it? Do you have your own for chicken tortilla soup or quesadillas? Your comments are appreciated.

Categories
Crazy Cute Pictures Extras

Very Cute Dog Pictures

black and white short coated dogs
Photo by Eddie Galaxy on Pexels.com

Last week’s blog was of cute baby bird pictures. Today I’m posting very cute dog pictures. Whatever your preference for pet, these photos of man’s best friend will warm your heart.

very cute picture of lab mix dog

Charlee

This is Charlee. She’s a cute lab mix, who’s full of personality and high energy. And she likes to chase bunnies, frogs, and to dig. Things her owners swore they would disown her for. But they can’t, because they are crazy about her.

2 very cute, big dogs lying on top of each other

Bentley and Nikki

Nikki is the shepherd mix on the left, while Bentley is the lab mix on the right. She’s the boss in their relationship. However, when it comes to their owner, they’re both very attentive and faithful.

very cute picture of dog licking face

Samson

This is Samson, otherwise known as Courage the Cowardly Dog by his parents. Because, even though he’s almost 7 years old in human years, he’s still just a puppy at heart. That’s since he’s afraid of every little thing. But still we think he’s really cute!

picture of very cute pit bull mix dog

Oz

Ozma or Oz is a really cute half pit, half lab who loves to carry her own leash when out on walks. And she also loves to cuddle.

very cute pic of Sheltie driving

Moses

This is a really cute picture of our late dog Moses, in the driver’s seat. He loved to run around outside, and he was a great pet. We miss him very much!

really cute picture of labradoodle

Tessa

Tessa is a sweet labradoodle. She loves everyone and thinks a stranger she meets is her new best friend.

really cute pug

Maddie

This is a picture of Maddie, an absolutely sweet pug, who also is no longer with her family. But when she was, she would wait for her human to get home before she would eat her food. And she loved to get as close to her human as was physically possible.

cute dog with its tongue out

London

This is a very cute picture of London, who likes to lick faces. However, she knows she’s not supposed to. So, when her face is near her human’s face, she licks her own face, religiously.

cute labrador

Minti

Minti is another cute lab. And when her human is sitting down, she takes small steps, one at a time, to get closer till her head is in her human’s lap.

Categories
Crazy Cute Pictures Extras

Cute Baby Bird Pictures

three brown ducklings on gray stones
Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.com

Today’s post is on cute baby bird pictures. Last Saturday I started this weekly post on crazy, cute pictures of our feather or fur babies. However, I want to mix up what the photos will be of; from specific types of animals to pets and farm animals.

So, what are the benefits of seeing pictures of cute animals? Or cute baby birds, for that matter? Are there benefits? Absolutely! You may have noticed when looking at your own pets, or even just at cute animal pictures, that you feel better. Happier. In some studies they have found that dopamine flows to the brain when we see cute animals or pictures of cute baby animals. And that includes looking at pictures of cute baby birds.

Other studies have found that we are more focused after watching or looking at cute animal pictures. And still others discovered that people were more relaxed after seeing cute animal pictures. For more information, you should check this out.

So, whatever your reasons for wanting to see some cute baby bird pictures, I’ve collected a few to share with you to make your day.

MY CUTE DUCKLING, SQUIRT

Squirt is our most recent duckling hybrid to hatch, and unfortunately she had no siblings ready to hatch with her. She’s all by herself right now. All she has is us. And one stuffed animal in her box.

cute picture of baby duck

She follows me around like I’m her mama duck; albeit an ugly large duck. But she feels very safe around me.

very cute picture of baby duck looking at camera

She’s a very cute duckling, from her peeps to her mannerisms.

cute duckling picture

She enjoys looking at phones and walking around. But sleeping and feeling safe and warm are the best.

very cute picture of duckling

We won’t know what she’ll look like yet, since she’s a hybrid. And she’s still developing. Her dad is a white Pekin, while her mom is a Mallard.

BLACK AMERAUCANA CHICK

This is the most recent black Ameraucana chick to hatch. We have 2 broody hens and 3 cute chicks from them. This is the third cute baby chicken. You might not be able to see it, but this chick has such chubby cheeks; but they aren’t really cheeks. It’s the beard that are typical for Ameraucanas.

cute picture of Ameraucana chick

FIRST SET OF CUTE INCUBATED CHICKS THIS YEAR

This cute set of chicks was incubated by my husband. Some of them are Ameraucanas and some are Easter Eggers. We don’t know for sure all of their sexes, but soon we’ll know.

very cute picture of black Ameraucana chicks

CUTE ADOLESCENT DUCKLING

This is our first incubated hybrid duckling. It was raised with chicks, which was very cute to watch. Its mother is a Mallard, and its father is a Pekin, just like Squirt. So far it looks like a very good mixture of both parents.

very cute picture of adolescent duck in pond

MORE CUTE AMERAUCANA and EASTER EGGER CHICKS

Here is another picture of even more chicks that my husband incubated. They are so cute with their fuzzy, chubby beards!

cute close-up picture of chick

CUTE BABY WOODPECKER

This is a photo of a cute baby woodpecker that fell out of its nest outside of our house. This happened a few years ago. We couldn’t find its parents, so we took it in. It had no fear and was so very cute!

cute picture of baby woodpecker

I hope you enjoyed these cute baby bird pictures. And as always, if you have any of your own to share, please don’t hesitate!

Categories
bunnies non-fowl

How to Care For a Pet Bunny

selective focus photo of rabbit
Photo by Riika J on Pexels.com

Today I’m going to go over how to care for a pet bunny. If you are at all familiar with my blog, you know that I have chickens and ducks. Well, I also have cats. And I used to have bunnies. You can check out this post to see some amazing pictures, and even share some of your own.

very cute gray dwarf lop eared bunny

When we started on this journey, living in the country, I never imagined we would have the animals we have. And I certainly never thought I would love them all the way that I do.

If you recently got a rabbit or are thinking about getting a bunny for your child or grandchild, then this is for you. So how do you take care of a pet bunny?

Myths about Caring for a Pet Bunny

First, let’s unravel the fiction surrounding the care of rabbits:

  • Fiction #1: Bunnies make the perfect pets for children.

False! Bunnies are easily frightened by sudden movements, noises, and really anything. It takes time for rabbits to feel safe in our presence. However, if you spend time with kids, showing and reinforcing them how to interact with a bunny, then they can be great with each other.

  • Fiction #2: Bunnies are low maintenance.

False! Bunnies eat constantly. If they go without eating for 12 hours, their bodies can release toxins that could be fatal. Rabbits also have this mischievous side to them, that requires them to be monitored, or they could get into trouble or have an emergency. And lastly, if you don’t pay attention to your rabbit at all, it will get lonely. There have been bunnies that have died from broken hearts.

  • Fiction #3: Bunnies like to cuddle.

False! I know that I said rabbits get lonely if left to their own devices, (or into trouble) although that doesn’t mean they want to be cuddled. Especially when you just get your bunny, it won’t want to be handled very much at all. At least not until it knows and trusts that you are not a threat. Bunnies don’t like being picked up, and they will immediately try to get away. They have sharp claws, and if a child picks up the rabbit, this won’t be a good situation for either of them.

  • Fiction #4: Bunnies can live outside.

False! Rabbits do much better indoors, due to the simple fact of the lack of predators in your house. They are prey animals, and they know it. So, imagine having your bunny outdoors where all of the noise surrounding them could be something waiting to devour them. They’re already extremely timid creatures, and they’ll remain so, unless they know they are safe.

Another thing to consider is if you live somewhere it gets hot in the summer, then your bunny won’t fare as well living outside. Rabbits do much better when it’s cooler than when it’s hot.

pet bunny cage
  • Fiction #5: Bunnies can stay in a hutch or cage.

False! Keeping a rabbit cooped up in a cage all day is cruel. They need space to run and stretch. If you leave your bunny outdoors or in a cage all day, chances are high that you or your kids will eventually forget about it. The bunny may get fed and watered, however interaction will probably dwindle down to next to nothing. Out of sight, out of mind.

  • Fiction #6: Bunnies like carrots.

False! Rabbits actually only eat the leafy part of the carrot. However, the main thing bunnies are supposed to eat is Timothy hay; that makes up the majority of their diet. The rest of their diet comes from leafy greens–no more than a cup per bunny per day. They absolutely love fruit, although these need to be treated like candy. Giving a rabbit fruits on a regular basis isn’t good for their health, so only a very tiny bit once a week. And then there’s the bunny food in pellet form, comprised primarily of alfalfa or Timothy hay. This should only be a handful, as the Timothy hay is the majority of what they eat.

Now that we’ve gone over some myths besetting the care of bunnies, let’s discuss the reality.

Facts about Caring for a Bunny

  • Set up safe indoor housing.

Whether you choose to put your bunny in a cage, or let it run loose in your home is entirely up to you. Though, if you have it in some type of bunny cage, make sure the cage is at least 5 times the size of the bunny. You want the cage that big so the bunny can stretch and jump.

Also, keep the bunny’s quarters close to the family, so it won’t get neglected.

We had two dwarf lop eared bunnies. They both slept in cages, but when we were home, they were free in the family room and kitchen. The rest of the house was blocked off with child gates. If we still had them, I would’ve had my husband enclose the back patio, with the intention of that being the bunny room.

gray dwarf lop eared bunny in enclosure
  • Bunny-proof your home.

Bunnies like to explore and they like to chew. On everything. And even if you have your rabbit in a hutch or cage, you will need to let it out sometimes for exercise. You need to create a safe place for your bunny while also protecting your things. So, it’s a good idea to get wire covers, furring strips, and even get baby gates to block off certain areas.

Also, there are a lot of houseplants that are poisonous to rabbits. And rabbits don’t have the good sense not to eat them. Bunnies are constantly chewing or nibbling on anything and everything. If you’re unsure whether a plant you have is bad for your pet bunny, you can look it up or just keep it out of reach. You can check this site out for more info.

pet bunny litter box
  • Set up a bunny bathroom.

No, really, I’m being serious. Bunnies can be trained to use a litter box like cats. However, with that being said, the litter materials are completely different. You don’t want to use the same litter you would use for a cat, because bunnies eat and eat. This will make them sick.

Instead stick with organic material like paper, although newspaper isn’t as absorbent. You don’t want to use wood shavings either, because they can cause liver damage or allergic reactions in rabbits. Once you have a thin layer of paper laid down, then spread a thick layer of hay. This is because rabbits like to eat while they do their business.

Once again, when we had rabbits, we had one potty-trained. The older one. When he would go to the bathroom on the floor, bunny pellets, we would scoop them and him up, and then deposit all into the bunny bathroom. Every time. It didn’t take long at all for him to learn that was where he was supposed to go potty.

very cute cat and bunny eating greens together
  • Give your bunny a balanced diet.

A big part of caring for your pet bunny is with nutrition. Most of what your bunny will eat or is supposed to eat is Timothy hay. Your bunny should also get some vegetables, like leafy greens. What we gave our bunnies is Half and Half. It’s half baby spinach and half baby lettuce. But they also liked Spring Mix. Iceberg is not good for rabbits, so you want to avoid giving that to bunnies.

I already mentioned that bunnies love fruits. Though you want to give fruit in moderation. Like a bite of an apple once a week. Our bunnies loved blueberries, but again, we limited how many we gave them. And how often.

Don’t give your bunnies rhubarb, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, corn, peas, potatoes, seeds, beets, onions, chocolate, candy, or most human foods.

If you have a bunny younger than 6 months, then you can give rabbit food pellets comprised of alfalfa. However, if you have a bunny older than 6 months, then you’ll want to feed it pellets made from Timothy grass.

Make sure your bunny has access to fresh, clean water daily. If it uses a sipper bottle, make sure the bottle works properly and that your bunny knows how to work it.

  • Provide some chewing outlets.

Bunnies are going to chew no matter what. Although, with some cunning on our part, we can give them what they want. With some mental stimulation thrown in as well.

You can get some untreated wood or cardboard and give it to your rabbit. That will keep your bunny entertained. You can purchase bowls or balls of willow wood. Or you can even use items in your own home. Paper towel or toilet paper rolls, and other cardboard materials that we throw away, make good chew toys for bunnies.

Avoid giving your rabbit something sharp, with loose pieces, or soft rubber, in case the bunny manages to swallow it.

proper way to hold a pet bunny
  • Be gentle.

Again, bunnies are prey animals. I cannot stress that enough. They don’t like being held, but that doesn’t mean you can’t touch them. You just have to learn how to properly. So another big part of taking care of your pet bunny is when we’re being gentle.

Bunnies groom each other. Their noses, eyes, tops of their heads, and backs. Every rabbit is different. And whether you got a pair or just one at a time, (and introduced a second bunny later), will determine the rabbit’s preference of where they like to be touched. By you. Sometimes it will just take time for the bunny to earn your trust. And this isn’t necessarily a reflection on you, but a good place to start is by petting your bunny’s nose.

Bunnies are born scared. Remember the movie The Croods? “Never not be afraid?” Our second dwarf lop eared bunny was like that. We got him after we got Mabel, and he acted very scared. Our first lop eared rabbit warmed right up to us. He was the boss. He though he owned the place, he was that confident. But Ricardo, he wass another story entirely.

So how are you supposed to be gentle? Well, don’t pick the bunny up like a prey animal, for one. Always support it with one hand under its stomach and one hand on its back side. Lift carefully with both of your hands, bringing it close to your body. And don’t ever let your bunny hang loose or carry it by the scruff of its neck.

child being gentle with pet bunny
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

My most important piece of advice when it comes to being gentle and taking care of a pet bunny is to be patient. I have had a lot of animals in my life, and I never force my world into theirs; because I wait for them. I take care of them like they need, but I resist the urge to do what I want; whether that be picking them up or cuddling them. I wait for them to approach me. And you know what? They do. Always. Every single one of my animals trusts me implicitly. Because I take care of them and I’m patient.

I hope you enjoyed this post, and if you have any questions or have anything to share, I would love to hear from you!