The Free Roaming Rabbit
Free-roaming rabbits refers to allowing pet rabbits to move around and explore their environment outside of a cage or hutch, typically in a designated, safe area within the home or in a secure outdoor enclosure.
Allowing a rabbit to free roam, within a safe and supervised environment, can offer several benefits.
Physical Health
Cardiovascular Health: Free-roaming rabbits have the opportunity to engage in natural activities like hopping, running, and exploring, promoting a healthy heart and good circulation.
Muscle Development: Regular exercise contributes to the development of strong muscles and bones, leading to a healthier, more agile rabbit.
Healthy Weight: Exercise helps in maintaining a healthy weight, preventing obesity-related health issues.
Preventing Stasis: Regular movement aids in preventing gastrointestinal stasis, a condition where the digestive system slows down, which is common in sedentary rabbits.
Natural Foraging: Free-roaming allows rabbits to forage for hay and fresh greens, promoting a natural and healthy diet.
Psychological Health
Exploration: Rabbits are naturally curious. Free-roaming allows them to explore new environments, stimulating their minds and alleviating boredom.
Problem-Solving: Access to different spaces challenges their problem-solving skills, keeping their minds active and engaged.
Bonding: Free-roaming rabbits can interact more freely with humans and other pets, strengthening their social bonds. Spending time in a shared space, especially indoors, can help build trust between the rabbit and its human caregivers. If you have other pets, supervised interactions can help in socializing and understanding each other better.
Reduced Aggression: Exercise and mental stimulation can reduce aggressive behaviors in rabbits, promoting a more peaceful temperament.
Reduced Destructive Behavior: With ample space and stimulation, rabbits are less likely to engage in destructive behaviors like digging or chewing furniture.
Improved Quality of Life:
Happiness: All these factors contribute to a happier, healthier rabbit, leading to an improved overall quality of life.
Longevity: A healthy lifestyle and mental stimulation can potentially lead to a longer lifespan for the rabbit.
Bunny Proofing Your Home
Remember, every rabbit is different, so it’s important to observe your pet and adjust their environment and interactions based on their comfort level and behavior. Be aware of your rabbit’s temperament. Some rabbits might enjoy free-roaming, while others might feel stressed and prefer a smaller, secure space. With proper precautions and attention to your rabbit’s needs, free-roaming can provide a stimulating and enriching experience for your pet. Here are some tips on how to rabbit proof your home:
Binky Mats: Protect the little thumpers with cotton padded running space to prevent sore hocks and accidents. You may catch a few zoomies and binkies on camera! Video
Protecting The Spicy Hay: Rabbits love to chew, so it’s essential to protect electrical wires and cables to prevent electrical accidents and loss of internet. Cover wires and cables with plastic tubing to prevent chewing. Elevate wires off the ground or use cord organizers to keep them out of reach.
Safeguarding Houseplants: Remove toxic plants from your home. Rabbits may chew on plants, and many common houseplants are toxic to them. Elevate non-toxic plants out of reach or in areas the rabbit cannot access.
Rug Grippers: Use rug grippers or tug rugs snugly under furniture to prevent your rabbit from digging them up. Be cautious with synthetic material rugs, as rabbits may chew and dig them. Consider removing rugs in areas where the rabbit roams so they do not ingest unsafe fibers from the rugs.
Corner Guards: Use plastic or metal corner guards on wooden furniture and baseboards.
Block Access: Block off areas with furniture or use pet gates to limit access to certain parts of the house. Ensure that spaces where the rabbit will roam are escape-proof. Close off any areas where the rabbit might get stuck or hurt.
Food, Water and LitterBox: Place a litterbox, hay and water source in their roaming area to minimise mess. Have cleaning tools on hand so you can clean up mess readily. We love our mini squeegee mop that soaks up pee.
Outdoor Runs: If you have a private garden and plan to let your rabbit roam in it, provide a secure outdoor run that is protected from predators and provides shade. We do not recommend letting our bunnies roam on public grasses patches as they are treated with pesticides and may be contaminated with faeces of other animals.
Toilet Lid Locks: Consider using toilet lid locks to prevent rabbits from jumping into the toilet. Or simply keep the toilet doors closed during roaming time.
Keep Away Small Items: Rabbits might chew on small items like tissue paper, jewelry, food packaging etc. Keep these out of reach.
Supervision: Always supervise your rabbit while they are roaming.
Positive Reinforcement: Practise positive reinforcement techniques to encourage good behavior and discourage unwanted behaviors.
Consistency: Be consistent with rules and boundaries to help your rabbit understand what is allowed and what is not.
