Is my rabbit stressed?
Rabbit needs:
Get everything you need (such as space, food, water, safe hideouts, companion rabbits, bathrooms and toys).
Safe toys and regular opportunities to play/chew with other friendly rabbits and/or people.
- Rabbits are highly social, playful and curious and need to interact and play with other friendly rabbits.
Always enter safe hiding places so that they can escape when they are scared. Rabbits must be able to avoid things that scare them.
-Because they are arrested, they need to be able to hide in a safe place away from the predator's sight and smell (eg fox/cat/dog/snow/raptor).
Exercise every day to keep your body healthy.
- Rabbits are active animals that require regular, frequent exercise. Ideally, they prefer to graze, forage and socialize during their most active periods (early morning, evening and night).
Good quality hay is often obtained; this is important for emotional health and the health of the teeth and digestive system.
Suitable materials that allow excavation (such as sandboxing), as well as marking areas with chin secretions, urine, and feces.
- The smell is an important way of communicating with rabbits.
You must be good at observation. If your rabbit's behavior changes or shows signs of stress/fear, consult a veterinarian or a qualified animal behavioralist - they may feel pain, boredom, illness or injury.
- The behavior of the rabbit depends on age/personality/past experience.
Kindness! Don't yell at the rabbits or punish them because they are less likely to understand and become more nervous/fear. If your rabbit's behavior becomes an ongoing problem, seek expert advice.