In what way do you fulfill a rabbits digging instinct? What do they like to dig in? Sand? paper shreds? How deep?

[BeckyFord]

First time bunny owner in 2 months, looking to be extra prepared. (Holland Lop)

 

[JBun]

I always used a cardboard box, lined with layers of newspaper on the bottom, and wads of crumpled newspaper to dig around and shred.

I used the cardboard box so I could toss it when it became too soiled, which it was prone to from my rabbits deciding it made a good litter box. The newspaper liner was to toss out when it became soiled. And using newspaper for my rabbits wasn't a problem because they didn't really try and eat it (more than little nibbles), and were mostly interested in shredding. My current rabbit likes chewing and destroying grass mats.

Not many other good options for indoors. Maybe kiln dried pine/aspen shavings or horse quality grass hay. But those too run the risk of becoming a litter box. Soil or peat moss are options too, though better for outdoors. A fleece blanket on the floor can sometimes be fun for them to dig on and rearrange, though you have to watch for the peeing element, any loose strings or pieces getting consumed (gut blockage risk), and holes getting chewed into it (tangle risk for their feet). Don't use sand (why not, covered in the link below).

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Toys_and_games

Anything you use, you have to run through the filter of 'will it be safe if my rabbit chews or eats it'. So chemical free and doesn't pose a risk if consumed. Paper could even be an issue, as excessive amounts consumed can sometimes pose some risk of a gut blockage. So in this case, natural substances would be a better choice, like soil (free of contaminants), peat moss, hay, etc.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We use and extra large cat pan and fill it with shredded newspaper. Our love it and one of our smaller ones would get under the paper and move around underneath and pop up every now and then--she really loved playing in there.

 

[overhear]

First time bunny owner in 2 months, looking to be extra prepared. (Holland Lop)

I keep a very densely woven towel folded up on the end of my couch. My bunny seems to know that the towel is for digging, so when she starts to dig in the upholstery, I just throw it open and draw her attention to it.

VIDEO: bunny digging.mp4

 

[Preitler]

Well, I reckon this isn't going to be helpful , but it's such a rabbit specific thing and kind of fun, so here we go anyway

I let them dig, and stuff rocks and wood into holes when they are where I can't tolerate them. Otherwise, girls, go ahaed. Bucks rarely dig, well, one way to sex rabbits is to watch them when I let them out of the hutch - when boys hit puberty they storm out, dig a fist sized hole somewhere, and are off to the next spot. That's male marking behaviour.Does do not do that.

When does dig, they do it in earnest. One meter of tunnel in one day isn't unusual. It's about building a warren, or nest tunnels. In all those years I had it only happen once that a buck joined in on that enterprise.

My problem with does digging is that they mostly start where I don't want it. They like to start at an obstacle, in nature that would be a tree where they create a stable warren between its roots, in my situation it's under their hutches or along walls, when they undermine the legs of hutches they sag, everything warps and the doors jam. Why I don't wont them to undermine retaining walls is self-explanatory. Or they start digging under my grapevine, uprooting it. I do not mind when they dig and munch through the topinabmbur plot, it's bigg enough, there'S enough left fo rall of us in winter.

Nesting tunnels are a seperate story.

I think digging is great exercise, and a bonding to the location (I let mine out, out of any fence on meadow and forest - not a single rabbit in 10 years ran away)

Well, there are downsides, apart from my hutches sinking into the ground it did happen that my leg dissapeared into the ground to the knee without warning, and let'S not talk about digging up and relocating nests.

 

[Diane R]

I bought a big digging box like the one below (but without the ramps, no need). I put a bag of topsoil in it which gets replaced every few months. (Luckily they don't use it as a litter tray.) The box has two exits which most rabbits prefer. It does create a mess sometimes but I'm happy to do some cleaning if it keeps the bunnies happy.

 

[Cinna_Bunny]

I was thinking about making a dig box from a bin like these pics.
Dante loves to dig blankets and his snuffle mat. The snuffle mat does wonders for feeding time, he gets to forage and dig for food and it keeps him occupied.

Here are some box examples (found on Pinterest).

This is the adorable snuffle mat I got from amazon, I give his pellets and top it off with dried leaf/flower forage all on the mat.

 

[jaydick484]

Well, I reckon this isn't going to be helpful , but it's such a rabbit specific thing and kind of fun, so here we go anyway

I let them dig, and stuff rocks and wood into holes when they are where I can't tolerate them. Otherwise, girls, go ahaed. Bucks rarely dig, well, one way to sex rabbits is to watch them when I let them out of the hutch - when boys hit puberty they storm out, dig a fist sized hole somewhere, and are off to the next spot. That's male marking behaviour.Does do not do that.

When does dig, they do it in earnest. One meter of tunnel in one day isn't unusual. It's about building a warren, or nest tunnels. In all those years I had it only happen once that a buck joined in on that enterprise.

My problem with does digging is that they mostly start where I don't want it. They like to start at an obstacle, in nature that would be a tree where they create a stable warren between its roots, in my situation it's under their hutches or along walls, when they undermine the legs of hutches they sag, everything warps and the doors jam. Why I don't wont them to undermine retaining walls is self-explanatory. Or they start digging under my grapevine, uprooting it. I do not mind when they dig and munch through the topinabmbur plot, it's bigg enough, there'S enough left fo rall of us in winter.

Nesting tunnels are a seperate story.

I think digging is great exercise, and a bonding to the location (I let mine out, out of any fence on meadow and forest - not a single rabbit in 10 years ran away)

Well, there are downsides, apart from my hutches sinking into the ground it did happen that my leg dissapeared into the ground to the knee without warning, and let'S not talk about digging up and relocating nests.

Wow! Do they ever get lost down there, or come out the other side really far away where you can't find them?

 

[DelawareRunner]

My Florida white loves to dig on blankets. I have a few old, thick ones I let her go at every night on the recliner.