Rabbits love to chew and for domesticated rabbits, it’s up to them to find something to fill that urge—and find it they will! It is my suggestion that you would provide healthy rabbit toys as safe alternatives for your bunny to chew. Her teeth are always growing and chewing helps to keep them trimmed. If she does not meet this necessary need, it can cause her teeth to grow too long, which can interfere with grooming and eating habits.
Chewing for your furry friend is so enjoyable for them as well, so here are a few really simple ideas for fun toys for rabbits. These can help your bunny to enjoy herself, as well as meet her chewing needs and prevent future health problems.
DIY Healthy Rabbit Toys
Apple Wood Bundles
Apple wood is a safe, non-toxic wood for rabbits to chew on. A few branches tied together with short pieces of cotton yarn (clip off loose ends after tying) makes a fun treat for rabbits, as well as a great way to allow them to satisfy their urge to chew.
Cardboard Box Fun
Fill a small cardboard box with timothy hay and set it in your bunny’s hutch or cage for her to play with. It will exercise her and keep her busy seeking the delicious hay that is inside, and if the box is large enough, she can get some digging action out of it, which is another thing they love to do.
Willow Basket Treat
Fill a willow basket with timothy hay and safe herbs such as rosemary, which has a woody stem, or something tasty like basil or parsley. If your rabbit is particularly stressed or high strung, you could add any of these herbs to help her relax along with the hay and you will be practicing natural herbal and preventive care with the same toy.
Its easy to make safe, healthy rabbit toys that will keep your rabbit occupied, and improve her health.
Sources and Further Reading:
Chewing FAQ – House Rabbit Society
Feeding the House Rabbit – MediRabbit.com
Kristi has been writing on homesteading topics for years here and at her previous blog, The Mind to Homestead. She has also guest posted at ThePrepperProject.com, From Scratch Magazine, and other sites around the web. Her family lives in Sunny Southern California on a one acre hobby farm where they work diligently to feed themselves by producing their own dairy, eggs, and produce. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and here, at Stone Family Farmstead.
Thanks for the suggestions. Our older house bunny still likes to play so I will be getting some of these toys/chewies together for her. – Janet
Awesome Janet! I just did the cardboard box with hay in it for our big bunny. 🙂
Thank you for the tips on chew toys for my rabbits. I invested in a large Oxbow cage for my purebred Black silver maned Doe, as i plan to breed her to my Purebred Ruby Eyed White show quality buck. He also is housed in an Oxbow cage, just the 3 ft version. Toys are important to play time and the cages come with attachable play pens. Thanks for the tips on chew items, which i try to keep a supply of. Pet smart has many options.
Congratulations on your new breeding program, Marcellus! How exciting! You are right, toys are so important to these guys for keeping their teeth under control and their boredom at bay!