A happy rabbit? This is how you can prevent boredom in your rabbits!
Written by Edith |
Rabbits are social animals that naturally spend a lot of time together. They build their nests and burrows, maintain their territory, and spend a large part of the day foraging for food. Our rabbits, kept as pets, often no longer need to make an effort to find food. As a result, they can quickly become bored, which may lead to problems. But how can you prevent this?
Behaviours that are perfectly normal for rabbits can be perceived as annoying by us. Think of chewing on our belongings, wanting to dig everywhere, as well as food aggression or aggression towards people or their fellow rabbits. In addition, this can also lead to health problems.
Don’t worry, you can help your rabbits meet their natural needs as much as possible. But how?
Nutrition
Research has shown that rabbits prefer to search for their food rather than receive it for “free.” We can easily help them by offering their food in a more challenging way.
- Hang hay at different heights. This way, they have to stand on their hind legs, crawl underneath something, or climb. Always consider the physical abilities of your rabbit when doing this.
- Try varying the types of hay or add a flavour to their daily portion that they don’t get very often.
- No longer offer their pellets in a standard food bowl, but scatter them throughout their enclosure. You can also use different heights and various spots in their space. An added benefit is that all rabbits in the group will always have access to food.
- For variety, you can offer the pellets in a snack ball, refillable toys, or a puzzle.
- By occasionally using branches from a safe type of tree (willow, birch, apple tree), you can make your rabbits’ enclosure even more fun!
*NOTE: If your rabbits are encountering branches or puzzles for the first time, introduce them gradually. A rabbit’s digestive system is sensitive and will need time to adjust to new food, so only offer small pieces of branches at first. When using puzzles, it’s important to guide your rabbits initially so they can learn what to do.
Play
There are plenty of fun rabbit toys available, but what should you choose? That depends on your rabbits’ personal preferences and the space you have for them. It’s important to know that rabbits get bored quickly. That’s why it’s a good idea to regularly switch out the toys in their enclosure with other stimulating items they can play with. Enrich their environment, for example, with tunnels, bridges, willow balls, and hideouts to provide enough variety.
Digging
Rabbits are natural diggers and have a strong need to dig. Since you probably don’t want them doing this in your freshly planted garden, you can meet this need by placing a sandpit in their enclosure. Fill it with special sand, and they will be very grateful!
DIY
Are you creative and want to surprise your rabbits? Why not make a hay parcel yourself? With some small pieces of vegetables, hay, and natural raffia, you can create something really fun! Or fill an empty toilet roll with hay and vegetables. Just make sure your rabbits don’t start chewing on the cardboard.
Another fun idea is to create a vegetable clothesline. Hang vegetables on the line using clothespins or natural raffia. Be sure to consider what your rabbits can handle and don’t make it too difficult at first.
