Calling All Rabbit Nutters

[BelovedBirds]

Got a question for you all.

I’m going to be getting a rabbit again, and I’m trying to figure out what to put in the run to enrich its life and entertain it. I have a run design already, I’m just trying to figure out what else to put in there besides a house.

Any ideas?

My bun has a bunch of toys, I choose more natural toys, no dyes, no glues. Just natural materials, safe wooden toys. She nibbles them and picks them up and runs around with them
She also loves tunnels, but I tend to get the ones made with wooden sticks held together with wire, as she chews plastic ones. If they like digging, which mine does, I reccomend a dig box. Full of dirt if outside, or something like carefresh if inside. I have mine inside so I use a deep tray of carefresh and toss in dried dandelion and herbs, mix it up. Keeps her entertained for ages. I wouldn't mix treats into the dirt option, but it can be enjoyed equally. She had a dirt box before she lived inside, and she liked digging about in it. (Necessary as the ground wasn't deep enough to dig due to wiring the underside of the pen)
I reccomend enrichment like that

We also swap her toys around every once in a while to make sure she's got a variety.

There are also edible toys/treats made from hay or other similar materials. Every once in a while we give her sticks from out apple tree and she enjoys the bark as a treat.

Things like this I find matter for enrichment and preventing boredom, which can become destructive.

 

[Finchbreeder]

Long time since we had a bun.
He was a meat rabbit, lop cross.
Spoilt boy - but had to have him and the Jack Russell fenced apart.
He was as big as her so she could not kill him - but wanted to.
Used to dig huge tunnels round the avairies, as he lived semi wild there - if you call having a corner of the yard fenced for your use, but being picked up and cuddled like a baby, semi wild.

 

[Kiki]

@Jenbirdee

 

[Kiki]

Trebbie is still living him best life with his new family.

 

[jnicholes]

I have a follow up question. What is your guys opinion on a grazing run?

What I mean by this is basically a rabbit run and hutch, but they’re connected together. When it comes time to move it to a spot where there is more grass for grazing, you can easily move it.

Think this might be a good idea?

 

[Kiki]

I have a follow up question. What is your guys opinion on a grazing run?

What I mean by this is basically a rabbit run and hutch, but they’re connected together. When it comes time to move it to a spot where there is more grass for grazing, you can easily move it.

Think this might be a good idea?

I'd guess you'd have to move it daily if you wanted to keep grass in it.

 

[jnicholes]

I'd guess you'd have to move it daily if you wanted to keep grass in it.

Yeah, I see your point. Maybe it’s better if I just have something permanent then.

On the other hand, I want the rabbit to be able to graze. If it’s in a permanent spot, it’ll run out of grass quickly.

I’ll have to weigh the pros or cons of each.

 

[jnicholes]

I apologize, I used the wrong term earlier. The correct term for my idea is called a “rabbit tractor.”

 

[Happy Novogens]

Yeah, I see your point. Maybe it’s better if I just have something permanent then.

On the other hand, I want the rabbit to be able to graze. If it’s in a permanent spot, it’ll run out of grass quickly.

I’ll have to weigh the pros or cons of each.

By putting a mesh about an inch or so above the soil in a pot, you can have grass (or whatever) grow and the rabbit won't be able to nibble it down to the roots. It will just keep growing.

Attached are two examples. The one in the pot is self-explanatory.

For the other example, you would place hardware mesh over the newly growing grass (image "just growing"). The grass will grow through it. When the rabbits eat it down, they won't be able to get past the mesh, so the grass will re-grow.

 

[Jenbirdee]

@Jenbirdee

Thanks for tagging me here. I’m looking forward to reading all the posts and learning more about bunnies and perhaps asking questions and sharing pictures of my bunnies they’re so adorable