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Rabbits are low-maintenance pets with some special qualities which make them ideal for young people.

If you want a single rabbit, then anything goes. If you want two or more, then does (females) are the safe option. Bucks (males) will fight if they smell a doe nearby (in a neighbour's garden, perhaps), and mixed genders will breed readily.

Choose rabbits with shorter coats, as the long-fur breeds require daily grooming. There is a marked tendency for smaller rabbit breeds to be aggressive. Rabbits moult twice a year, so don't be alarmed if the fur comes away in clumps.

House rabbits securely away from predators, such as foxes, mink, rats and cats. A stout wire enclosure, with a wire top, rain shelter and good drainage is ideal. Be sure to use a concrete base if your ground is soft (rabbits dig well). The traditional 'hutch' is fine, provided it is large enough. The rabbits need to be able to stand on their back legs, and at least eight square feet of area is required. Make sure that a sheltered 'dark' area is provided.

Feed the rabbits with whatever proprietary rabbit mix they prefer (experiment), and supplement with green offcuts from the kitchen. Lettuce will give rabbits loose stools, so avoid that! Ensure water, from a drinker bottle, is always available. Water left for them in bowls will be spilt in no time. Rabbits love to play, and a block of softwood or a cardboard tube will entertain.

Handle rabbits firmly but gently, gripping them above and below the chest/abdomen. Never carry a rabbit by its ears! A rabbit may grip you with its teeth, but very rarely aggressively. Rabbits can be house-trained, if started early enough, and will soil only one area (use paper-lined tray).

Rabbit dung is an excellent fertiliser for your soil, and may be dug direct, there is no need to rot.

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