Enrichment - Let's Play!

DIYBEHAVIOURCARE
Written By Jen Herd

Visit the Enrichment section of Westley’s World’s Shop for fun, safe enrichment for your rabbit(s)!

How to make Willow (...or Birch, Rose, Raspberry cane, Grape vine) Chew/Chuck Around Balls
Step 1
Cut 4-foot lengths of willow twigs with floral shears. It is best to cut them just after winter before they get their first spring growth. If you cut them during the fall, spring or summer, soak them in water to make them more flexible. Willow cut in the winter should be left in a warm place to thaw before soaking in water.

Step 2
Remove all leaves and branches from your willow twigs with the floral shears so that you have long, straight lengths.
Step 3

Take two lengths of willow and bend them into a circle. Twist the ends around each other so that the twigs keep their circular shape. Repeat to make a second circle.

Step 4
Squeeze one circle into the other so that they form an "X" shape, forming the frame for your willow twig ball.

Step 5
Take one length of willow at a time and stick the end into the twists on the circles, then wrap the willow twig around the ball, securing the other end by sticking into one of the twists. Continue to wrap willow twigs all around the willow twig ball until it is as densely covered as you want the ball to be.

You can use a Wiffle Ball as a base for a Willow Ball as well.

  • Lots of ideas for using Seagrass Rope can be found in here

  • Check out Pinterest for heaps of DIY enrichment ideas for your pet rabbit

  • What is a Binky and what do they mean?
    Binkies & Flops: Proof That You Have A Happy Bunny - Special Bunny

  • "Your bunny will probably enjoy playing with the cardboard box, paper bag, or paper box-filler at least as much (if not more) than the expensive toy inside." (Make sure to cut the handles on paper bags to avoid bun’s head getting stuck)
    Playing & Toys - Special Bunny

  • "By definition, a game should be something that is fun. But there can be some serious purposes for playing a game. When we play with our rabbits, we are increasing their bond to us, stimulating them mentally and encouraging stretching and exercising of muscles."
    Games To Play - Georgia House Rabbit Society

  • Regular exercise is very important for rabbits with a minimum of 4 hours free run a day recommended. You can encourage exercise and prevent boredom by playing games with your rabbit..."
    Exercise and playtime for rabbits - Bunny Hugga

  • "Rabbits need toys too! Thankfully, they're easy and fun to make, and you'll get lots of ideas here."
    Make Your Own Homemade Rabbit Toys - PetHelpful

  • Visit the Westley's World Shop to find a range of bun safe seeds to grow for fantastic enrichment for you buns.

  • "Boxes are one of the best toys for bunnies because they are so versatile. I decided to see how many toys I could get out of just one box."
    DIY Bunny Toys – Slotted Cardboard Balls - The Rabbit House

  • "In the wild, rabbits would spend their time digging, running, jumping, rearing up, hiding, eating, socialising with other rabbits (and being alone some times too). To allow your pet rabbits to carry out their natural behaviours they need to be given plenty to do. We call this enrichment."
    Rabbit Housing Enrichment - Rabbit Welfare Assoc and Fund

DIG BOXES


Options for filling Dig Boxes - Opinions vary on what is safe and ok to use so here are some suggestions -
* Soil - The very best and safest option is to dig up some soil from your garden. You can replace it with potting mix or a bagged ‘soil’ mix.
* Bagged Topsoil - The next best option is screened, bagged topsoil from a Landscape supplier.
* Sterilised sand pit sand - This can be used BUT must be kept damp at all times to stop sand building up and getting stuck in the nose, eyes and genitals. Best avoided if at all possible.
* Shredded paper - Just watch your bun does not eat too much of it and may make the dig-box seem like a litter/toilet-box to the bun.
* Balls - bags of balls for ‘ball pits’ can be bought from K-Mart etc and can be great fun. Make sure they don't eat the balls though ... because ya know... BUNNEH!
* Scrunched/Screwed up paper ‘balls’.
What NOT to use -
* Potting mixes - These should not be used as they carry the risk of Legionnaires disease, mould and fungal spores. They also contain fertiliser pellets etc which pose a risk if ingested.

Bunnings have these 54L Storage Crates which make really good small dig boxes.

CLICKER TRAINING
"Clicker training is a very effective method used to train many different kinds of animals, including rabbits. It uses a small device, called a clicker, which makes a consistent sound. At first we teach our bunny to want to hear the click. How? We bribe him with his favourite thing, food. Once he learns to want the click, we can use it to teach him a behaviour or skill."
Clicker Training for Rabbits - Triangle Rabbits

"Bunnies are amazingly smart, and you can train them" -
Training Your Bunny to do Tricks - Special Bunny

  • Toilet rolls stuffed with hay and herbs

  • A simple cardboard box with 2-3 entry/exit holes with some old blankets or towels inside for digging fun

  • A Scrunched up pile of newspaper

  • A coffee table covered with a towel to make a fort

  • An old dog kennel, painted and repurposed as a cubby house

  • Treat balls you can put pellets in

  • Balls they can push around

  • Hanging hay holders

  • A 'hay/ball pit'

  • Use a peg to put hay in different places

  • Keys on a ring

  • Cups with tiny bits of herbs under them for them to knock over

  • Baby’s Stacka cups with pellets/treats under each one in a tower.

Tunnels - All sorts of things can be used for tunnels - cardboard boxes joined together, concrete pipes, cat tunnels etc.

Wiffle Balls

These have lots of holes in them. You can buy them from WW’s Shop and use them to make toys to toss around, weave & poke twigs and weave and twist Seagrass rope through etc

WW also sell a Seagrass Rope & Wiffle Ball Toy Kit

  • Dog/Cat puzzle feeders and treat balls - Kmart often has these

  • Platforms and levels to jump up on and cubbies to hide in

  • OpShop finds and children’s furniture can be really handy.

  • Step Stools for gaining access to higher tables etc and for sleeping under.

Seagrass Mat Squares

Get these from Westley's World. They are terrific for sitting on, digging, chewing and General Bunstruction

A Word about Pine Cones ...
Yes, many internet sites and Rabbit groups say they are ok, instructing you to take extraordinary measures soaking, scrubbing and cooking to make them 'safe' but personally I really can't see the point. It's a lot of hassle to go to when it's so easy to make toys etc yourself. As to their safety, I have reservations.
In regard to 'toxicity' it is hard to know but all Conifers - as Pinaceae/Pines are (and are indeed listed as one of the more toxic members of the conifer family) contain a variety of tannins, resins, oils and acrid irritant substances to which their toxic properties are attributed however often little is known about their mode of action and precise action, so it’s just best to avoid them. Pine Cones in my opinion are best are included in this caution - after all, the reason they burn so well is because they are very high in resins and oils etc.
The other high risk factor is that they can also potentially cause choking and/or blockages in the gut if chunks are bitten off, not chewed properly (which is a risk due to their flakey and extremely tough nature) and are then ingested, so let's play it safe and leave them for the fire place!

Jen Herd
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