Is it bad if my bunnies don't get daily exercise outside their hutch?

Not many rabbits play with toys, the best thing you can do to help keeping them entertained is to let them outside the cage for at least 2-4 hours a day, they will roam around and keep themselves busy.

Max sounds like he is trying to get your attention :) Rabbits are highly social creatures and when kept in small cages with little stimulation often get very bored and destructive. Is it possible for you to have "play time" with Max where he is allowed to run around loose in a playpen area inside the house, or in a fenced, safe backyard? Also, consider rabbit-safe toys like cardboard boxes and plenty of sticks and hay to chew on, for all your rabbits. Hope that helps!

Your rabbit may be bored. Rabbits are playful, energectic animals that require a sizable enclosure that contains a nest box, toys, a toileting area, feeding area, and room to play. Toys can include cardboard boxes, cardboard toilet paper/towel rolls (basically any cardboard shape), wooden chew toys, hard plastic baby toys, cat toys, and dog toys, metal measuring spoons, bowls, and small cups (as well as many other options). Many toys designed for parrots are also suitable for rabbits. Recommendations for appropriately sized enclosures range from 8-12 square feet (or 4-6X the size of your rabbit), with a larger exercise area. Your rabbit should also have unlimited access to Timothy or mixed grass hay. Hay stuffed into boxes, bags, or other types of toys makes for an enjoyable treat. Fresh vegetables and the occasional fruit should be a regular part of your rabbit's diet. Rabbit pellets/chow should be limited. For additional information on toys you can give your rabbit, see: http://rabbit.org/faq-toys/

Hi, it is best to keep rabbits inside at night in very hot or very cold weather. They can go outside in nice weather and back inside at night. Predators love rabbits, since they have no way to fight back if another animal wants to eat them. Also, outside they are prone to get fleas, ticks, and other external parasites on their bodies. They can also get internal parasites from eating brush and dirt. If you live where dogs and cats go, I would only allow your rabbit outside in a very secure cage. Make sure it is large enough for the rabbit to get exercise, has shelter, and food and water available. It also should go underground a half a foot so predators cannot dig under the fencing. So in light of the set up it takes to safely keep a rabbit outside, it is better to keep them indoor where they are safe. Rabbits can be leash walked with a small harness for outdoor activity. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Thanks for reaching out about Bun Bun. Not sure if this is a behavioral condition or an illness. Not sure on the age of your rabbits, but they have a high incidence of uterine cancer by the age of three, therefore need to be spayed. Is she is just resting outside, that might not be a problem, she could just be scared. If you noticed continued problems, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.

Hello, Good question! Yes, it would be good for her to get either direct sunlight OR you can use a UVB light bulb over her cage. If you take her outside for sunlight I would do it in small increments at the coolest part of the day - example, 15 minutes 2 to 3 times per day. That should be sufficient.

This sounds potentially quite dangerous as Bun Bun could suffer trauma or predation while out on her adventures. I would recommend keeping her in a rabbit enclosure or a closed room inside your house, especially when you’re leaving the house and not supervising her. She can free roam when you’re there to keep an eye on her, but if you’re opening the door to leave or having people over, she should be confined. This will prevent her running out the door again. As for not remembering your sister, she probably does but may still be on high alert from her outside events and may need some time to calm down and respond more normally to people. As a prey species, rabbits are always on high alert for dangers, and the chemicals in her body need some time to adjust to the change in scenario.