A rabbit called "Steirerin"
Welcome to Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf!
Rabbits were originally native to the whole of Europe. Today, they can be found on almost every continent. Only Antarctica might be too cold for them, but that’s where the snow-white Arctic hare lives. Rabbits are, of course, children’s favourites: they can be stroked, children learn to take responsibility by feeding the animals, mucking out the hutch and so on. Over the years, many rabbits have also found a new home at Gut Aiderbichl. There are currently 30 rabbits living in the rabbit house. Very often these are animals that were given as Easter or birthday presents and unfortunately could not be kept in the flat or needed a new home for some other reason.
The Styrian
The rabbit comes from a family in Styria who had rabbits as pets for many years. When a rabbit died, a new rabbit was brought in straight away so that the animals didn’t get bored. Rabbits want to live in a group. At some point, the family decided to stop keeping rabbits – but what to do with the Styrian?
The Styrian has now found four new friends
We were asked to take in the rabbit. At first she was a little nervous and incompatible, but gradually she integrated into the existing rabbit group.
Interestingly, male rabbits are called bucks in hunting parlance and breeders call them rabbit bucks. Over time, the Styrian has four rabbit bucks or rams wrapped around her rabbit paws. The names of the Aiderbichler bucks who take great care of the Styrian are Klopfer, Hopsi, Moritz and Polly. They play and cuddle together and share grasses, herbs and wildflowers. The animals on the Aiderbichler farms are neutered so that we don’t get too many kittens. Breeding animals is not one of Gut Aiderbichl’s goals. Rather, it is about showing respect for our fellow creatures, offering them a species-appropriate life and letting them feel as much love as possible.
Soon it’s off to the rabbit warren
The days are getting warmer, spring is on its way and the animals want to spend more and more time outdoors. Our rabbit enclosure is lovingly designed. There are plenty of opportunities for them to hide. They can dig, race with the other rabbits or simply sleep in the sun. In the late afternoon, however, they return to the rabbit house. And there the Styrian, Klopfer, Hopsi, Moritz and Polly snuggle down to sleep together every evening. Let’s wish our rabbits a wonderful spring.
