Once you have the right size accommodation its time to start thinking of things to put in it that will allow your rabbits to exhibit their natural behavior of running, jumping, digging, chewing and of course sleeping!
Rabbits are intelligent creatures and are most active at dawn and dusk. They can become bored easily if they do not have adequate stimulation. Here are some suggestions to keep then entertained:
Give them a digging box- rabbits love digging in fresh dirt so get a large underbed storage box or even the bottom of an indoor cage and fill it with soil. Messy but they like it!
Cardboard boxes make interesting hide outs that are cheap and easy to get hold of. They are great for climbing and running through if you put a number of them together and create tunnels or mazes.
Cardboard loo rolls filled with hay with healthy treats hidden inside them can encourage them to forage for food and keep them amused.
Chews- you can buy wooden rabbit toys for them but you can also find your own. Some use rabbit friendly tree sticks or logs in runs for their buns to chew and nibble at. Apple sticks are great!
Try adding some plant pots every now and again with bunny friendly plants/herbs
Tables - rabbits love to jump on things and to be off the ground, low tables or stools are great for this.
Tunnels - what is more natural to a rabbits that running through tunnels?! There are many types available to buy in pet stores but you can try asking a local carpet company for the inner tubes from teh carpet rolls - they re usually quite large and made of cardboard - perfect for running throughand chewing!
On a slightly more expensive side you can also get tunnels to extend runs, join runs together etc… they will have hours of fun speeding through them, and we promise that you will have fun watching!
So whatever your budget you can provide stimulation for your rabbit. Hard plastic baby toys are excellent and rabbits love to throw these around, particularly the rattles! For a bit of fun add some drawings to your cardboard boxes, or add some windows and a door. Some rabbits will enjoy a game of fetch with you!
One thing to remember - DON’T FORGET THE HAY!! As well as being 80% of your rabbits diet it also fulfils their need to chew and grind down their teeth. It is one of the most natural past times of all - a bit like bunny meditation… a happy bunny is a hay chewing bunny!