Nibbles Rodent & Rabbit Rescue

07/03/2025

🐰 Is your rabbits' diet meeting their needs? 🥕🌿

A proper diet is essential for a rabbit’s health, digestion, and dental care. Here’s what your rabbit should be eating every day:

✅ Hay, Hay, and More Hay! – 80–90% of their diet should be high-quality hay, such as Timothy, meadow, or orchard hay. It keeps their teeth healthy and supports good digestion.

🌿 Forage (Fresh & Dried) & Herbs – A mix of safe, dried and fresh forage (e.g., dandelion, plantain, bramble leaves) plus fresh herbs like basil, parsley, and coriander provide essential nutrients and variety.

🥣 Pellets, Not Muesli – A small amount of high-fibre pellets (not muesli!) ensures a balanced diet without encouraging selective feeding.

🚫 Avoid Sugary Treats, Seeds & High-Carb Foods – These can cause digestive issues, obesity, and dental disease. Stick to natural, rabbit-safe foods!

🌟 A healthy diet is the foundation of a happy rabbit! Let’s give them the best care possible. 💚

📢 What’s your rabbit’s favourite healthy snack? Drop it in the comments! ⬇️

📝 Want to learn more? Check out our blog on rabbit diets here: https://www.nibbles.org.uk/post/feeding-your-rabbits

Learn the key principles of feeding your rabbits a balanced diet, with tips on safe foods, hydration, and avoiding common dietary mistakes for optimal health.

06/03/2025

The Space They Deserve vs. The Space They Get

Would you keep a dog in a crate 24/7? Would you be happy living your entire life in a space barely bigger than your own body?

Rabbits and all species of rodents need room to run, stretch, and act naturally—but most cages and hutches sold in pet shops fall far short of even the minimum welfare recommendations.

🐾 The smaller outlines in this image? Those represent enclosures commonly sold as ‘suitable’ for rabbits.

🐾 The largest rectangle? That’s the minimum space recommended by welfare research.

The difference is shocking. Yet, these tiny cages remain on sale, misleading new owners into believing they are enough.

We need to rethink what we accept as ‘normal’ for small pets. If the science tells us these enclosures are too small to meet even basic welfare needs, why are they still legal?

It’s time for change. Stay with us this month as we explore why better housing standards for rabbits and rodents are urgently needed.

🔄 Help us spread the message—share this post and make the unseen, seen.

05/03/2025

🐰 Finding Calm Through Connection 🐹

Mindfulness isn’t just for humans—when we create a safe, enriching environment for our rabbits and rodents, they return the favour by showing us the beauty of living in the moment.

Meet Elliott, who’s so comfortable in his surroundings that he flops over into pure relaxation—even while his pen is being cleaned! This is a rabbit who feels completely secure and at ease. Seeing this level of trust and contentment is a reminder that when we take the time to meet their needs—providing space, companionship, and care—they thrive. And in return, their presence brings us joy, calm, and connection.

Take a deep breath and enjoy this little moment of peace with Elliott. 🌿✨

How does your pet show you they feel safe and happy? Tell us in the comments!

04/03/2025

2017: The Year We Built for the Future

By 2017, we faced a battle we couldn’t keep fighting. Our old rabbit housing was falling apart before our eyes—waterlogged runs, rotting wood, and enclosures so worn that cleaning them felt impossible. No matter how hard we worked, we were constantly chasing a losing battle. It wasn’t just frustrating; it was a wake-up call.

Something had to change. The rabbits deserved better, and so did we.

So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We searched high and low for funding, applied for every possible grant, and poured our hearts into designing housing that would provide safety, comfort, and a future-proof space for the animals in our care.

This was our biggest project yet—and what we quickly learnt was that everything takes far longer than expected!

But we were ready. We had a vision. And finally, it was time to begin. This wasn’t just about new housing; it was about building a future—one where the rabbits who needed us would have a safe, secure place to recover and thrive.

Together, we built for the future before. Now, we need to do it again.

03/03/2025

🐰 The Reality of Rescue – Rabbits & Rodents Need You!

📢 Did you know? Thousands of rabbits and rodents are in rescues across the UK, waiting for a second chance. Yet many people don’t even realise they’re there!

It’s time to change that. Read our latest blog to discover why adoption matters and how YOU can help.

💛 Be their voice – share this post, spread awareness, and help more small pets find loving homes!

🔗 Read & share the blog: https://www.nibbles.org.uk/post/the-magic-of-adoption

🖼️ Download & use our profile picture to show your support!
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02/03/2025

🌿 A Huge Thank You to Nis & Duncan! 🌿

We want to send a massive thank you to Nis & Duncan for their incredibly generous donation of a big box of mixed hay! 🥰🐰 This amazing gift is an absolute treat for the bunnies in our care, and as you can see, they’re already tucking in with so much enthusiasm! 🐾💚

Hay is the heart of a rabbit’s diet, and having a variety of fresh, high-quality hay keeps them happy, healthy, and engaged. This donation means the world to us—and to our buns—so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness and support! 💕

Check out these happy hay-munching faces! 😍👇

01/03/2025

🔧 Fighting for the Future—One Repair at a Time 🔧

Earlier this week, we looked back at the moment we realised our original hutch-run setups weren’t built to last. It was a tough lesson, but we adapted. We rebuilt, repaired, and moved forward.

Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a similar battle—but this time, the stakes are even higher.

Spring is approaching, and with it, the chance to get stuck into vital repairs and maintenance. Some of our 12 rabbit units are in desperate need of work. And the empty units, left unused for the last 18 months, won’t survive much longer unless we step in now.

But with our future so uncertain, we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place.
💔 Do we push forward and invest in repairs, knowing we could be forced to close by the end of 2025?

💔 Or do we risk losing these units altogether, knowing that if we do secure Nibbles’ future, we’ll have even fewer resources left?

We don’t want to sit back and watch everything fall apart. We want to fight.

Over the years, we’ve become experts in repairs and maintenance—we know how to make every penny stretch, and we’ve got the tools on standby, ready to go.
But there’s one thing we can’t fix with a hammer and nails: our funding crisis.
We know Nibbles is still vitally needed. We know there are rabbits and rodents out there who will have nowhere to turn if we disappear.

The good news? You have the power to change this.

💛 With as little as £2 a month, you can help secure our future. You can ensure we don’t just survive, but that we continue to rebuild, improve, and be here for the animals who need us the most.

💪 We’re ready to fight for Nibbles—are you?

👉 Join us today: www.nibbles.org.uk/pledge

28/02/2025

🏡 Where Can You Find Welfare-Driven Housing?

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about welfare-driven housing—what it is, why it matters, and how research has shaped our understanding of what rabbits and rodents truly need.

But where do you actually find housing that meets these standards? The pet market is flooded with unsuitable, inappropriate, and even harmful enclosures, making the search for appropriate housing feel like an impossible task.

At Nibbles, we know this struggle all too well. That’s why we’ve built much of our own housing—from rabbit enclosures to hamster habitats—simply because finding suitable options is so difficult.

🏡 Best Housing Options for Rabbits & Rodents

🐰 Rabbits – The easiest hacks use converted sheds or wendy houses with attached aviaries or a 10ft x 6ft dog kennel. These provide secure, spacious environments where rabbits can move, explore, and express natural behaviours.

🐹 Hamsters & Small Rodents – Bucatstate offers a 100cm x 50cm x 50cm enclosure, with a 120cm x 60cm x 60cm version recently launched—a game changer for hamster, mouse, and gerbil housing.

🐹 Guinea Pigs – C&C cages remain one of the best non-DIY solutions, offering modular, expandable setups. A 5 x 2 grid enclosure is the minimum recommended size for a pair of guinea pigs.

🐭 Rats, Degus & Chinchillas – Sadly, suitable housing is much harder to find. The largest cages currently available are around 90cm (L) x 60cm (W) x 120cm (H)—which is often still too small. The best option here is to join two cages together (which requires some modification and tools) or build a custom enclosure from scratch. We’d love to see the pet market step up and provide better options for these species!

📢 The Fight for Better Housing Continues
Finding welfare-driven housing shouldn’t be this hard. But together, we can push for change—by demanding better, supporting ethical brands, and educating others.

🐾 Follow us for up-to-date welfare information and stay tuned for next month, where we’ll be diving into nutrition and diet for small pets!
📢 Share this post to give these forgotten animals the voice they need—real change starts with awareness!

27/02/2025

🐰🐹 The Pet Trade Must Do Better – It’s Time for Change! 🐹🐰

We would love to see the day when the pet trade takes the long-term welfare of rabbits and rodents as seriously as we do. These animals bring so much joy, but to truly care for them, we need to meet their welfare needs throughout their lives—and that starts with ensuring they receive a healthy, species-appropriate diet.

Too many of the diets and treats sold in pet shops fail to meet basic nutritional needs. Owners who want to do the right thing often struggle to find safe, balanced food, while misleading marketing continues to put profit over welfare.

🐾 Rabbits and rodents deserve better.
🐾 Owners deserve transparency.
🐾 The pet industry must step up.

If you believe the pet trade needs to do more to meet the needs of these animals, show your support by liking and sharing this post. 💙 The more people who stand up for better standards, the greater the chance of real change.

✨ Stay with us over the coming weeks as we share correct diets for rabbits and rodents, helping you make the best choices for your pets. Together, we can create a better future for them.

26/02/2025

Rescue isn’t just about saving lives—it’s about changing them. And thanks to you, that’s exactly what we’ve done. 🏡💛

Edgar & Ethel. Rosie & Jim. Elliott. Each of these rabbits arrived at Nibbles in desperate need. Overweight, matted, neglected, abandoned—they had been passed around, left behind, and left to suffer. But with your support, we were able to step in and change their futures.

✨ Edgar & Ethel arrived shut down, overweight, and covered in mats. With care and patience, they are now healthy, curious, and learning to trust again.
✨ Rosie & Jim had been passed from home to home, with overgrown nails, filthy coats, and a poor diet. Today, they are thriving—confident, active, and full of energy.
✨ Elliott was dumped in woodland after the pandemic, left to fend for himself.

Thankfully, a kind stranger saw what happened, and now, after being neutered and vaccinated, he’s still waiting for a family to call his own.
These rabbits—and so many others—wouldn’t have had a second chance without your kindness. But we can’t do this alone.

💛 600 people pledging £5 a month would reopen all our rabbit housing.
💛 500 people pledging £10 a month would allow us to keep saving rabbits like Edgar, Ethel, Rosie, Jim, and Elliott.
💛 Every single pound makes a difference.

Rescue is only possible because of you. Your support transforms lives, offering rabbits like these the future they deserve. Can you be part of the next rescue story?

🔗 Find out more or donate today: www.nibbles.org.uk/donate

25/02/2025

🌟 10 Years of Nibbles: Leaving 2016, Having Learnt the Hard Way🌟

When we look back at the early days of Nibbles, there’s one thing we know for certain—we did things the wrong way around. We really should have had the centre before we had the rabbits. Instead, we found ourselves in 2015 with over 100 rabbits and… well, no actual rescue.

But hindsight is always 20/20, right?

In that madness, we made quick decisions within the budget we had. We thought we were making smart choices. We’d kept rabbits outside for years in a shed and aviary setup back in Devon, so we didn’t think twice about using hutch and run combos at Nibbles.

What we didn’t appreciate? Just how wet it is in West Wales.

Turns out, it doesn’t just rain—it pours. For days. Sometimes weeks. The sheer volume of rain meant the ground couldn’t absorb the water fast enough. Even on paved areas, the water had nowhere to go. The runs would flood, leaving pools of water sitting on the surface. No matter what we did, we couldn’t stop the rabbits from getting wet—and staying wet.

And that led to a serious problem. Sore hocks and bums. Constant dampness took its toll, leaving some of the rabbits with painful sores.

The winter of 2016 was bleak. With no other option, we had to stop the rabbits from using their runs during heavy and prolonged rain—which seemed to be all the time. It went against everything we believed in. Rabbits need space to move, stretch, and express natural behaviours, but their runs had become a risk, not a refuge.

And as if that wasn’t bad enough, our carefully chosen hutch-run setups didn’t even last a full year. The relentless Welsh rain, paired with our constant need to disinfect and scrub everything down, meant they were already falling apart.

By the end of 2016, we knew something had to change.

We couldn’t keep doing this. The rabbits deserved better.

We left that year with a clear mission—to replace every hutch with bigger, better, and most importantly, drier housing that could withstand the elements and give our rabbits the proper environment they deserved.

It was a daunting goal, but we weren’t about to give up.

24/02/2025

✨ 994 Days of Love, Care & Hope… and Now, a Forever Home! ✨

Some rescues happen in the most unexpected ways. When social services asked a local dog rescue for help, no one expected rabbits to be part of the story. But in the midst of the rescue effort, two rabbits were discovered—living in unsuitable conditions, their welfare compromised, and in desperate need of help. A dog rescue wasn’t the right place for them, so they reached out to us.

That’s how Ethelred and his brother found their way to Nibbles. And thanks to our incredible supporters, we were able to say yes when they needed us the most. ❤️

Because of you, we gave them a safe space. Because of you, we could neuter them, vaccinate them, and provide daily care for as long as they needed it. And for Ethelred, that was 994 days—over two and a half years of love, patience, and hope. Overlooked because of his shyness, his ‘boring’ colour, and his quirky breed, he waited far longer than we ever wanted.

But today, we get to share the happiest news… 🎉 Ethelred has found his forever home! He now has a wonderful family and a wifebun of his very own. 🐰💕

This is what your support makes possible. Every single pledge helps us be there for rabbits like Ethelred—rabbits who have nowhere else to turn. But right now, without enough regular funding, we won’t be able to continue this life-saving work beyond 2025.

We need £2,000 in monthly pledges to secure Nibbles’ future into 2026. Will you help? Just £2 a month could be the difference between saving the next Ethelred or having to say no.

🐾 Make a pledge today: www.nibbles.org.uk/pledge

Together, we can give more rabbits their happy ending. ❤️

23/02/2025

🐰 You Made This Possible – Thank You! 🐰

A massive thank you to you for signing up to make a monthly pledge to Nibbles over the last few weeks. 💙

We have been absolutely blown away by your kindness and generosity, and for the hope you’ve given us for the future of Nibbles. While we still have a long way to go before that future is secure, knowing that so many of you believe in these animals and in the work we do has been truly incredible. It’s given our whole team a renewed sense of purpose and positivity that we didn’t even realise we were missing.

But here’s the most amazing part.

Because of you, we were able to say YES to Glyndwr.

When Glyndwr needed our help, we didn’t have to hesitate. We knew that the additional funding from your pledges meant we could cover the cost of his care each month. And because of that, we could open our doors and welcome him safely to Nibbles.

He arrived with us last weekend, a little unsure of his new surroundings at first but he's now settled in wonderfully and most importantly he’s safe. He has everything he needs—food, warmth, veterinary care, and love. And when the time is right, we’ll find him the perfect forever home.

That’s because of you.

And with more support, we can do this again.

Every new pledge helps us move closer to saying yes to the next rabbit who needs us. Each pledge strengthens Nibbles, keeps the animals in our care safe, and ensures we’re ready to step in when we can.

If you haven’t already, please consider making a pledge today. It doesn’t have to be much—just £2 a month helps keep Nibbles running and makes a real difference.

Your pledge = hope, safety, and a second chance.

👉 www.nibbles.org.uk/pledge

And to those who have already pledged—on behalf of Glyndwr and every animal who will now find safety because of you—thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

💙 Elysia, James, Carole-Ann, Jordan, Alica, Rebecca, Sara, Gemma, Madeline, Pamela, John & Jodi, because of you, Glyndwr is safe tonight. Because of you, Nibbles has hope. And together, we can save the next one. 🐾

22/02/2025

💔 A Future Without Nibbles? We Don’t Want to Imagine It. 💔

We wish we didn’t have to talk about this every week.
We wish we could just focus on rescue, rehabilitation, and finding animals their perfect homes.
We wish we weren’t constantly fighting to survive.

But if we stop talking about it—if we stop fighting—Nibbles will disappear.

Right now, we’re giving it everything we have to keep South West Wales' only specialist rescue for rabbits and rodents open.

We want to be here to champion these forgotten companion animals. To fight for the long-term changes that will improve their welfare across the board. To make sure they are never seen as disposable or an afterthought.

But right now, our battle isn’t for the future of rabbit and rodent welfare—it’s for our own survival.

We’re not asking for much. Just enough to keep going.

Right now, our focus is on keeping our 12 rabbit units open into 2026. That alone is a huge fight.

And we can’t do it without you.

If you’re reading this, if you care about what we do, if you want to make sure there’s still a place for rabbits and rodents in need, please sign up today.

💛 For as little as £2 a month, you can help keep Nibbles alive.

We will keep fighting. Right up until the last possible moment. But we need our community to fight alongside us.

👉 Sign up and be part of their future: www.nibbles.org.uk/pledge

21/02/2025

🐰🐹 What Does Welfare-Driven Housing Actually Look Like? 🐭🐀

Last week, we talked about just how far behind the pet trade is when it comes to our understanding of rabbit and rodent welfare. The enclosures sold in shops often don’t meet even the basic needs of these animals.

So, what does welfare-driven housing actually look like? 🏡✨

At its core, it’s about providing enough space for animals to move freely and express their natural behaviours—something that is not only vital for their well-being but also part of current animal welfare legislation. When animals have enough space, they’re healthier, happier, and less likely to develop stress-related behaviours like bar biting, pacing, or repetitive movements.

📏 Scientific Research & Minimum Space Recommendations

🔬 Syrian Hamsters
Scientific research has shown that as floor space increases, bar biting decreases—a clear indicator of reduced stress. Because of this, it is now recommended that Syrian hamsters are housed in enclosures no smaller than 100cm (L) x 50cm (W) x 50cm (H). This guideline has also been extended to mice and gerbils, who have similar size and activity levels.

🐰 Rabbits
Studies have determined that rabbits need a minimum floor space of 2m x 3m with a height of at least 1m. This allows them to hop, run, jump, and binky—all essential natural behaviours that contribute to their physical and mental well-being.
But welfare-driven housing isn’t just better for the animals—it can also be beautiful for us too! 🌿🏡 Thoughtfully designed enclosures not only create an enriching environment for your small pet, but they can also be a lovely feature in your home, giving you an enjoyable and engaging way to observe their natural behaviours.

🚨 Remember: Minimum means minimum.
A minimum size is simply the bare minimum needed to prevent suffering. Bigger is always better, and where possible, we should aim to exceed these recommendations to further enhance our pets’ welfare. If an animal is still showing signs of stress, even at the minimum size, they need more space.

🐾 Follow us to learn more about providing the best care for rabbits & rodents.
📢 Share this post to help promote better welfare—together, we can make a difference for these forgotten animals.

20/02/2025

🚨 Are Pet Treats Really Safe? 🚨

We all love to give our pets a little treat, but have you ever stopped to check what’s actually in them? Many treats on pet shop shelves look fun and are marketed as ‘healthy’ and ‘suitable,’ yet some can do more harm than good—and a few are even dangerous.

🐾 Treats to watch out for:
❌ Dried carrot, fruit & veg in chinchilla & degu treats – Too high in sugar, increasing the risk of diabetes.
❌ Dried maize sticks for rabbits – No nutritional value and can lead to painful intestinal blockages.
❌ Artificial, sugary snacks – Full of ingredients small pets would never eat naturally, leading to obesity and digestive problems.

The good news? There are better options out there! Some fantastic natural treat brands are becoming more widely available, but unfortunately, many unsuitable products remain on the shelves—making it difficult for owners to make informed, healthy choices.

🔎 It’s time for change! The pet trade must do better by ensuring treats are safe, nutritious, and species-appropriate—not just profitable. Until then, awareness is key!

🐹🐰 Tag a fellow pet owner and help spread the word!

19/02/2025

Elliott has been waiting long enough. 🏡💛

Abandoned near woodland after the pandemic, Elliott was left to fend for himself. But being the friendly, confident bun he is, he didn’t run—he hopped straight over to the kind lady who witnessed it all happen. 💔

With nowhere else to go, he faced a very uncertain future. Thankfully, we were able to offer him safety at Nibbles, where he’s been since September 2022. He’s been neutered, vaccinated, and ready for a home for so long.

We all know the saying, ‘The best things come to those who wait’—but Elliott has waited long enough. He deserves a loving home where he can truly belong.
Could that be with you? If not, please share his story—you never know who might be looking for a wonderful bun like Elliott. 💕

Find out more about Elliott and our other rabbits looking for homes at www.nibbles.org.uk/adoption