Raystede Small Animals

The small animal section at Raystede is responsible for the care and re-homing of approximately 130 animals.

We do not rehome any animals from this section to households where there are children under 7 years old.

Each type of animal has different care and housing requirements and below you can find both a brief outline of some of the facts which you will need to consider, as well as individual care sheets devoted to each animal. It is advisable to obtain further information, please talk with a member of our staff if you are inexperienced with the animal or have any questions about it's needs.

FLY STRIKE (Myiasis) in rabbits.

Fly strike causes the death of many domestic rabbits in this country, many of which can be prevented by simply checking you rabbit daily. Flies are attracted to faeces around the rear end and rabbits that are overweight often have the problem of keeping themselves clean. Warm sweaty areas on a rabbit such as under the dewlap or creases in the armpit or groin areas will also encourage flies to lay eggs, as will wounds, even the smallest of scratches can become fatal to a rabbit.

Health check your rabbit daily and keep the hutch as clean as possible, you can also buy different fly repellents and insecticides from your local vets which can be applied to the fur of your rabbit and to the hutch to help keep flies away. Remember if you own an old ailing rabbit he/she will also be a target. Fly strike can happen to the most caring of owners because it is quick and not always visible in the first stages, BUT trying to be vigilant and applying a few simple rules to your husbandry will give you peace of mind and may save your rabbit from a very unpleasant end.

Click here to view a short video piece on a rabbit brought into Raystede suffering from this condition.
Warning; this video is very graphic in detail.

Small Animal Caresheets

The following care sheets are all available in .pdf format

Why not visit our Rabbitry section now to see some of the rabbits currently available for rehoming. Simply click on the rabbit image to the right, or here to visit.

We have many rabbits seeking new homes and our site is updated often with new faces!

To discuss rehoming an animal from us please come along between the following times:
7 days a week: 10.00am - 4.00pm

Guinea pigs: We have many Guinea pigs available for rehoming. They are only re-homed in pairs, unless the animal is to become part of an existing family unit. These animals need a hutch of at least 120cm x 45cm x 45cm (4 foot x 18" x 18") and an exercise run of at least 6 foot x 3 foot (18 square foot). It is important that raw fruit and vegetables are given daily to enable them to obtain a regular vitamin C intake. Grass and good quality meadow hay should form the main part of their diet. You can also provide a small bowl of "Gerty Guinea Pig" or similar food.
Guinea Pig Care Sheet

      
We have many sows and pairs of boars looking for loving and experienced homes. For more information please contact the centre.

Rabbits: Our rabbitry houses over 30 rabbits. Each pair has access to 18 square metres of space including a grassed area and a spacious hutch. They are always re-homed in pairs. Rabbits need their own kind for company. Single rabbits are only re-homed when they are going to be a companion. Before we re-home any rabbit, all rabbits are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against myxomatosis & viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD), and each home is visited and checked for suitability.
Rabbit Care Sheet

Chinchillas originate from South America and are related to Guinea pigs. They have sensitive digestive systems and should not be given too much fresh food, their diet should mainly consist of Chinchilla pellets. If you are considering a chinchilla as a pet, bear in mind they are mainly nocturnal, therefore they sleep during the day and are active at night. They can live much longer than most smaller pets and can reach their late teens or early twenties. We always rehome chinchillas in pairs. They need cages of no less than 90cm x 90cm x 90cm (3 foot x 3 foot x 3 foot) with things to climb on, a box to sleep in, a dust bath and also gnawing blocks or cuttlefish bone to help keep their teeth down.
Chinchilla Care Sheet

Degus originate from the Andes mountains of Chile, South America. They live in social groups therefore it is unkind to keep one living on its own. Because of this, and the fact they are very active, they need a large cage with plenty of things to climb on. They need a box for sleeping in and a dust bath should be provided to ensure the coat stays clean and free from dust. The main diet of the degu should consist of a mix of guinea pig food and chinchilla pellets. Foods containing sugar should not be given as they cannot digest it. Sunflower seeds and corn contain too much fat and oil, peanuts are also bad for them. They need cages of no less than 90cm x 90cm x 90cm (3 foot x 3 foot x 3 foot).
Degu Care Sheet

Gerbils are social creatures and should ideally live as a pair or same sex group in captivity. They are burrowing animals that prefer to live underground. They should not live in a cage. Their accommodation should ideally be a large deep glass tank (typically at least a standard 4 foot long fish tank) with a well ventilated lid (such as wire mesh) deeply filled with peat mixed with hay and shredded paper. Hay and bedding should also be provided as they like to make an underground nest to sleep in, they also need a dust bath. Fresh water should be given daily in a drinking bottle, do not use a bowl, as it will be filled up quickly with peat when they dig.
Gerbil Care Sheet

Hamsters are nocturnal creatures, sleeping during the day and active at night. If frequently disturbed from their sleep they can become very agitated and possibly aggressive to their owner. They are therefore not necessarily the perfect pet for younger children. Syrian hamsters are by nature solitary creatures and should live separately from each other. Chinese and Russian hamsters are more sociable and can live together. The bulk of a hamster's diet should consist of a specially formulated mix containing mixed seeds, grains and nuts. Other foods can be given in moderation as "treats" such as fresh fruit, carrots, cheese, hard boiled egg and cooked fish or meat.
A hamster can live in either a large cage (52cm x 52cm x 81cm / 20.5" x 20.5" x 32") or large glass tank (at least 4 foot long typical fish tank) with a well ventilated lid. It is important to provide them with as much stimulation as possible, for example tubes to climb through and an exercise wheel. We do not recommend the use of hamster balls as this can cause stress to the hamster.
Hamster Care Sheet

Jirds: We occasionally have jirds brought into Raystede for rehoming. A jird is a similar size to a rat and is related to the gerbil. They originate from the desert areas of Asia. Jirds are not as sociable as gerbils, females can be aggressive to other jirds, male or female. They need the same kind of accommodation as listed earlier for gerbils.

Mice: With regular handling, mice can become very tame. They live for around one and a half to two years and do well in small single sex groups. Mice are best housed in a large tank (4 foot long if a typical fish tank) with good ventilation, or a cage (of 52cm x 52cm x 81cm / 20.5" x 20.5" x 32" or more). Always provide plenty of toys, branches and an exercise wheel as they like to keep busy. A paper pellet litter (non-scented and dust- free) should be laid on the base of the tank, do not use wood shavings as they can damage the respiratory system of a mouse.
Mice Care Sheet

Rats are highly intelligent and need lots of stimulation, i.e. a large cage (dimensions 80cm x 50cm x 79cm / 2.5' x 1.5' x 2.5' or larger per pair; A Jenny Cage is recommended) with toys and activities, they should always be kept in single sex pairs never on their own. Rats are very loyal, they will give you a lot of companionship and fun but you must be dedicated. If you cannot give a rat at least 2 hours play time and interaction with you a day maybe it is not the companion animal for you.
Rat Care Sheet

Spiny Mice inhabit deserts and dry areas from the mediterranean to the Cape. Best kept in a large glass aquarium with a well-fitting but well-ventilated lid, and plenty of cage furnishings to keep them occupied in the form of branches from fruit trees, rocks, plastic pipes, cardboard tubes, and earthenware flowerpots to simulate burrows, and plastic or wooden houses. In captivity they feed on a standard rodent mixture of seeds, nuts and cereals, while water should be available at all times, either in a shallow open dish or in a bottle. Spiny Mice are fast and prone to jumping erratically if panicked, so special care should be exercised when trapping individuals or during routine cage-cleaning.

Chipmunks live primarily in woodland and scrub areas of North America, spending most of their time on the ground although they can climb very well. Chipmunks live mostly on seeds, nuts and fruit. The chipmunk is a very active creature and needs plenty of space to exercise in. A nestbox is essential for any adult, ideally situated off the ground with plenty of bedding material. Fresh water should be provided in a regular small animal drinking bottle and food containers should be fairly sturdy - stainless steel or pottery - so the chipmunks can sit on the side to eat without tipping it over. Toys such as branches in the enclosure and pipes to simulate burrows will help keep the chipmunk active and stimulated.

All the small animals receive the very best of care while here at Raystede, including vaccinations, any needed medication, health checks, micro-chipping, and neuter/spay operations.

To cover some of our costs, we ask for an adoption fee of;

• Guinea Pigs £10
• Rabbits £20
• Chinchillas £25
• Degus/rats/mice/hamsters/gerbils £5