play: stimulating your rabbit's body and mind

A rabbit confined to a hutch quickly becomes bored, depressed, overweight and more prone to health problems.

To keep your rabbit happy and healthy you must allow them regular exercise, with a minimum of 3 hours recommended.

There will be circumstances, be they work, personal, or even the great British weather, when this is impossible. Having a large run attached to the hutch, will allow your rabbit to stretch their legs during these times.

If your bunny's exercise is to be limited to a large run, pen, or one room of the house, they can quickly become bored.

Adding tunnels for them to crawl through, or a wooden platform to jump on or hide under, can help to keep them stimulated.

Providing your rabbit with toys also helps prevent boredom. Untreated straw and willow items, apple branches, toilet roll tubes, cardboard boxes with holes cut out are a few ideas.

We have some great rabbit activity toys in our store.

You can't beat full access of the house or garden, in which your rabbit can play, allowing them to run, jump and let off steam. First, you must ensure your house, or garden, is rabbit proofed.

to rabbit proof the home

You need to keep all cables out of reach, or cover them with plastic tubing.
You must make sure house plants are out of their reach (most evergreens are poisonous to rabbits).
Keep the doors, to all rooms that haven't been rabbit proofed, closed.
Open and close doors slowly, and check your bunny is not nearby when opening the front door (they're quick).
Do not leave things lying about within reach of your rabbit. That book on the floor, or that jacket hanging on the back of a chair are so tempting.
Provide toys and nibbles to keep them entertained when your not home and as a preferable alternative to household items!
Watch where you put your feet.

to rabbit proof the garden

The garden must be fenced all around. At least 3.5 feet high, to keep your bunny in - ideally as high as possible to keep predators out.
You must check for any gaps and cover them up.
If your bunny is a ferocious digger and you are worried they may escape, you can attach wire mesh to the bottom of the fence so it goes about a foot underground.
You should supervise your rabbit while in the garden. It is not just foxes that can attack them, dogs, cats, squirrels and large birds are also a danger.
If your garden is too large for you to watch them you should fence an area off, or use a large pen/run.
Do not leave rabbits in the garden in bad weather, after dark or when you go out.
You must not use weedkillers, insecticides or slug pellets on your garden, as these are harmful to rabbits.

Many plants, shrubs and twigs are poisonous for rabbits. You should try to identify all plants in your garden and find out if they will cause your bunny harm, and then either remove them or keep your rabbit away from them.

Click here for a list of some to watch out for.