TOYS - Lets Have Some Fun!
Bunny parents need to have fun and so do bunnies. It's important that your bunny has plenty of things to keep him or her occupied and out of trouble. If a rabbit is bored or mentally unchallenged, that is when they can get into trouble for nipping or biting items they shouldn't be. It's up to you to provide them with safe interactive items that can entertain them. Toys don't have to be expensive but if you can afford to buy them some then that is good too. Here is a list of some of our favorites.
Toliet paper rolls - empty
Paper towel rolls - empty
Wrapping paper rolls - empty
Cardboard boxes - cut holes in the side to serve as a door. Rabbits love to hide inside. Rabbits can digest paper and cardboard.
Larger cardboard box where you can cut 2 openings in to make a little house for the bun.
Get a small brown paper bag, fill it with a treat or a little hay,crumble it up and let you bun dig, nip and fight his way through it. It will make a mess but just sweep up the debris with a broom and dust pan.
Some bunnies like to push things around with their nose, try a clean golf ball - pretty indestructible I'd say for them.
I've read that some buns will play with infant plastic keys on a ring and some rattles. I've never tried them.
You can fill a cardboard box with shredded paper - just make sure the bun does not eat the paper where thd dye might not be safe for them.
I've heard that some buns will play with a plastic slinky but I've never tried it yet either.
Dried out pine cones - natural for outside, so that is has not been treated for bugs with insect killer.
NOTE: many baskets you can find almost anywhere have been treated with insect killer and should NOT be given to your rabbit. They may also be painted with harmful varnish or lacquer. Only give your bun guaranteed untreated baskets and toys from a reputable place like Binky Bunny or from a pet store.
Concrete forms used in construction projects as a run through.
Old rugs (no rubber backing) don't let them eat it however
Old towels - don't let them eat it however
Old bed sheets that they can dig and rip at.
See through plastic balls with bells inside for a cat might work.
Old telephone books, they will nip at the pages and then tear and shred the pages.
Old blankets where they can dig, tug and burrow inside of.
Here are some pics of just SOME of the toys we have in the house for my 3 bunnies.
Our rabbits especially like most items from Binky Bunny. They do a great job of selling only rabbit safe items.They tend to like any item that is willow or consist of branches or sticks.
Give your rabbit a special space out in the open where he or she can have extra hay. We have a glass baking dish filled with hay and all the buns just love to sit there, munch on the hay and watch us walk by all day and all night. Here is a pic of Gracie at the hay manger.
You can look at other pet toys to see if you can find a suitable toy for your bun. I like to buy the wooden chew blocks for rabbits and then soak them over night in pure 100% Apple Juice. The wood will loose it's color but the juice soaks in the wood giving the bunny a very nice treat that actually tastes good.
We have bought cat tents, put an old bed pillow inside and let the rabbits go in there and dig and scratch at the pillow for hours and hours. You have to keep a watch on them tho,once they ripped the pillow case open the stuffing was coming loose so we just replaced the pillow. Eventually they began to mark the tent by urinating on it and then it had to be trashed. But they sure had a good time with it for about 2 years. Just keep an open mind on what could become a good toy for your rabbit. Pet shops usually have a few toys or check online retailers for a bigger selection. But please get your bun some toys to have some fun and keep him or her out of trouble.
Some toys don't have to cost much. See Baby with a shipping carton below:
And Gracie is really working an old rug (with foam back removed):
For more information on how important toys are to your rabbits well being, check out these articles:
More Than Just a Chew Stick by Margo DeMello, PhD with the House Rabbit Soceity
Rebel With Paws by Amy Shapiro with House Rabbit Journal.
Bunny Basics - Playing Around by Marcia Coburn linked to Red Door Shelter website.
Here are some websites that sell great bun toys:
http://www.binkybunny.com
http://www.busybunny.com
http://www.bunnyluv.com