Bunnies at play
Rabbits are very curious and intelligent animals, Many
people mistakenly assume that rabbits are boring pets,
but this myth comes from the fact that a lot of
rabbits are simply put in a hutch or cage and left
there with little interaction. Any species that is
left in a cage with nothing to do will be boring, as
well as bored.
Rabbits thoroughly enjoy toys. Anything they can toss
around, make noise with, dig at, or chew on will
generally be a great hit. Be sure that if the toy can
be chewed on, it is safe for the rabbit to consume the
materials it is made of.
Untreated wood toys are good. They can be coloured
with food colouring. Parrot toys, so long as they are
made with hard plastic, wood, and/or chain (never rope
as it can block a rabbit's digestive system if it is
ingested) are great to use, as they are made with
non-toxic materials. Hard plastic toys that cannot
easily be chewed apart are also good. These can
include hard plastic cat toys (the jingle balls are
popular with my rabbits, though you may want to remove
them at night if the rabbit is near your sleeping
area). Many pet stores offer wooden small
animal/rodent chewing toys. These work well for
letting the rabbit wear its teeth down. Rabbits
naturally like to chew, and if they are not given
something appropriate to chew on, they may choose your
furnature instead! Rabbits also love to dig. A sandbox
or a box filled with hay or shredded newspaper can
fulfull this need. Some websites say to give a blanket
for rabbits to dig on, but I advise against this
because the threads can cause impaction if they are
consumed. Since many rabbits will chew on the blanket,
it can be a serious health issue. Toys that are hung
from the top of the cage or hutch make for even more
fun, as the rabbit has to reach up to get to it. A
very clever toy I found in a pet shop is a little
while basket with an opening at the top for things
like apple and carrot pieces. It hangs from the top of
the cage, and it has a little bell at the bottom. The
rabbit has to work to get the treats out of the
basket. Between that and the bell, it can provide
hours of entertainment.
There are some very cheap (or free!) toys that rabbits
just love, as well. Toiletpaper or paper towel rolls
provide the rabbit with something to toss around and
chew on. Empty wooden thread spools make great chew
toys, and they can also be nosed around. A pine cone
with sharp ends clipped off is a good toy. One of the
favourites among my rabbits is a paper bag filled with
hay and taped shut. The rabbit will chew and dig at
the bag, and once it is opened up, it can dig and
burrow in the hay as well as eat it.
Thanks to Argent Nox Rabbitry for these comments:
See the link below for further information.
Outdoor Toys
For rabbits being outside is just as important as being inside. Toys are a great source of entertainment for your rabbit but outdoor toys can be even better! Rabbits are very playful and you can see this as they binky (frokic and bound) in the garden. They love to explore so give them something interesting to nosy at! You can buy an all manor of things from the pet shop, tunnels are always a huge favourite with my rabbits and most will fold up and store easily. however if your budget is tighter then you needent splash out to make thinks interesting. If your rabbit is in an enclosed garden or a large run there is lots you can offer your bun. A bucket for example inside you can hide treats for him to find. Large fruit tree branches are great to crawl under and explore and offer a great chew block aswell. Even some ramps and a bench can offer lots of entertainment for this mom and litter of babies.
It really doesnt need to be amazing and as long as you give them different things ever few days they'll never get bored!
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