Baby Rabbit, Black English

Rabbits must be at least 8 weeks old and fully weaned before they can leave their mothers.

If you believe this advertiser is letting their rabbits go before 8 weeks of age, please report them to us.

Microchipping a rabbit is the process of implanting a chip under the rabbits skin and registering the keepers details on a national database so that the rabbits keeper can be traced.

Although microchipping rabbits is not mandatory like it will be shortly for dogs, it is still advisable that all responsible rabbit owners/breeders make sure their rabbits are microchipped and that their details are kept up-to-date on the microchipping database.

When buying or adopting a rabbit that is microchipped, make sure the seller gives you the paperwork that accompanies the pets microchip, and that you contact the microchip company to update your details as the registered keeper of the pet within 21 days.

From 1st October 2018 the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 came into effect.

Breeding Dogs
An animal activities license is required for anyone who keeps a breeding establishment (Including private dwellings) for dogs which meets the following conditions :

• If in a 12 month period their dogs give birth to 3 litters or more, regardless of whether they are in the business of breeding and selling dogs.
• Anyone “in the business” of breeding and selling dogs needs to be licensed regardless of the number of litters they have in a 12 month period. *

Selling Animals as Pets
An animal activities license may be required for someone who is “in the business” of selling animals as pets. This includes all commercial selling of pet animals, including pet shops and businesses selling animals over the internet. This can be any types of pets, from cats, rabbits, rodents and other pets. *

* The decision as to whether you are classed as “in the business” of breeding and selling dogs, or selling animals as pets is decided by your local council and the requirements vary between each local council authority. Many local authorities apply a business test which they will use to determine whether an individual requires a license.

Finding a Local Councils Requirements
You can use the Find Your Local Council website page to check what the requirements are within your local authority as well as the contact details needed to discuss anything further with them.

Third Party Sales
Please note that Pets4Homes do not allow anyone to advertise kittens or puppies bred by third parties. All Puppies or kittens advertised MUST have been bred by yourself, unless you are rehoming an older pet that you can no longer keep.

Reporting an Advertiser
If you believe this advertiser should be licensed and they have stated they are not, then please report them directly to their local council via their website, who are responsible for licensing and should be able to investigate the advertiser and liase with ourselves.

All rabbits should be vaccinated and have their vaccinations kept up-to-date, this is part of being a responsible rabbit owner and will be your responsibility.

Rabbits should receive 2 initial vaccinations against 2 common dieseases, Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) and also Myxomatosis. The vaccinations can start from around 6 weeks of age. Rabbits should also receive a a six monthly or yearly vaccination booster.

If the seller has not vaccinated their rabbit, then it will be your responsibility to make sure this is done straight away.

Many responsible rabbit breeders will make sure they have been fully vaccinated before they let them go to new homes.

If the seller has said the rabbit is vaccinated, please make sure you receive the rabbits vaccination record paperwork.

Read Further advice on rabbit vaccinations

Neutering is a small surgical operation performed by a vet to prevent a rabbit from being able to have babies.

If you do not wish your rabbit to have babies, then neutering your rabbit is a great idea and has many health benefits.

Read Further advice on neutering your pet