Playtime and Enrichment
Playtime
Why is playtime so important?
Playtime is very important to a rabbit's mental, physical, and emotional health. If rabbits don't get enough playtime outside the cage, they can develop sore hocks, a painful condition when a rabbit's foot begins to swell or obtain big, ulcerous sores. Playtime also helps you create a good bond with your rabbit. Even spending 30 minutes every day with your rabbit (which you should spend more) will help your bond with your rabbit become much stronger. Rabbits are also much happier when they are given 2-6 hours of free time each day (and this is time they also love to spend with thier owners!)
Where is a good place to have playtime?
There could be lots of places that are good settings for playtime. Here are some of the things a good play area should be:
- Gated: The play area should be somehow gated or fenced in (or it should be in a small room). At first, playtime should be in a smaller area. Giving your rabbit too much space to run around in if he's not used to it can overwhelm him and he may get stressed out.
- Safe: The play area should be "bunny-proofed", meaning there should be no exposed cords, outlets, or unsafe items that your rabbit may chew on or get in to.
- Full of fun things to do: You could use playtime to train your rabbit to do agility by setting up fun jumps, tunnels, and courses or you could just set out lots of tunnels, toys, and jumps for your rabbit to play on for fun.
- Away from loud noises or other pets: Your rabbit should be comfortable during playtime. He should not be near other pets that might make him nervous and he should also be in a quiet part of the house so that he will not be nervous.
Enrichment
What exactly is enrichment and why is it important?
Enrichment is basically toys that your rabbit plays with, throws, or chews (not necessarily used during playtime). Enrichment could be things other than toys, as well, that make your rabbit use that beautiful little bunny brian to figure out how to do things. This could include treat balls (a ball that you can put a treat inside of and the rabbit has to figure out how to get the treat out) or even something as simple as a hay ball. (See picture below)
Items like these are both challenging and fun for your rabbit. Enrichment is important for two reasons: dental health and mental health. Chew toys are essantial for a rabbit's dental health as rabbits' teeth never stop growing. They need tough things to wear down those teeth and keep them at an appropriate length. Neglecting your rabbits dental needs can lead to serious and sometimes life-threatening problems that cost lots of money to fix. (See "Teeth" for more info.) That's why it's important to always have some bunny-safe chew toys laying around.
As for enrichment items, such as hay balls, toys with mirrors, bells, treat balls, tunnels, and mazes; these sorts of toys aren't technically essential, but they help greatly increase your rabbit's brain activity and are really fun boredom busters for your rabbit, too. (This means it will keep your bun out of trouble!!)
As for enrichment items, such as hay balls, toys with mirrors, bells, treat balls, tunnels, and mazes; these sorts of toys aren't technically essential, but they help greatly increase your rabbit's brain activity and are really fun boredom busters for your rabbit, too. (This means it will keep your bun out of trouble!!)
So what kind of toys do rabbits like?
Loofah Chews: Rabbits love loofah chews! They're awesome for dental health as they are scented and flavored (naturally) and help wear down those ever-growing bunny teeth! They come in lots of colors, shapes, and designs
Apple Chews: Apple chews are a great, tasty way for your rabbit to keep his teeth down to a healthy length and sharpness. They're also really fun for your rabbit to throw around and chew on.
Edible Hidey Houses: This is the Oxbow timothy hideout. Rabbits love to chew on and hide away in edible hidey-houses like these.
Hanging Wood Toys: Hanging toys provide awesome enrichment for rabbits. Rabbits love to chew, pull, and yank on these flavored wood hanging toys.
Willow toys: Rabbits love Willow toys. They come in all sorts of shapes, types, and sizes.