What should daily exercise be like?

[Ella]

My rabbit is an ex pen and has about 10 sq ft of room at all times. In the mornings and evenings, I do my best to let him out into the big room where his ex pen is. Sometimes, he sprints and hops around.  Other days, he just walks around and explores his tunnels. He has room to run laps around his ex pen if he wants but he doesn’t always do this. 

So as far as exercise for a rabbit, what should this look like? He usually will only spend 5 minutes max running a day (his decision, not mine). Otherwise, the times that he gets to come out he most walks around some and then lays down and the walks around more. 

Should I find a way to encourage him to run more or his regimen good enough if that’s how he wants it to be? If I need to encourage him to move more, how should I do this?

He is 1.5 years. 

Thanks!

[~Bry~]

Generally, I’d like to say that a rabbit needs about 1-3 hours of free time outside of his living space/cage. I don’t think it matters if he’s running or not, but you may want to get some toys that encourage mental stimulation so he doesn’t get bored.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By ~Bry~ on 5/07/2017 1:24 AM

Generally, I’d like to say that a rabbit needs about 1-3 hours of free time outside of his living space/cage. I don’t think it matters if he’s running or not, but you may want to get some toys that encourage mental stimulation so he doesn’t get bored.

They need way more than that.

I think as long as your buns are able to sprint/jump/binky when the mood strikes them, they’re okay

[ThorBunny]

I agree with sarah, the minimum recommended out of pen time I have seen is 4 hrs daily, and more is always better

My bun is free range and also only spends a few minutes running/binkying every day. The rest of the time she walks around, explores and flops. It sounds like you have a happy and appropriately active rabbit! If you are concerned about his diet or weight gain, it is nice to weigh you rabbit every month or so to track their health. I weigh my bun in a bowl on a kitchen scale.

[Gina.Jenny]

If you have stairs, they make a great bun work out – our six buns all love racing up and down. A small kitten tree also gives a nice bunny ‘home-gym’

[Vienna Blue in France]

I weigh my bun in a bowl on a kitchen scale.

My kitchen scales don’t go up that high !! LOL
I carry them and weigh myself if necessary! (if you can’t carry a bun, then weigh them with yourself, in a carrier and deduct the carrier+bun weight..

When mine are let out, it’s more for a change of scenery rather than a work out, because they lay down and sleep.
They are active when there is food around and maybe 5 mins a day morning and evening, Henry chases Zou around.
Other than that, they sleep…

[Ella]

Thanks all for your replies! He gets to come out of his pen probably 2 hours a day but he definitely has room to run about and things to climb in his pen as well. I know this because sometimes the mood to run strikes at 5 am! I can’t complain because at least I know he is happy

 

[Ella]

Posted By ~Bry~ on 5/07/2017 1:24 AM

Generally, I’d like to say that a rabbit needs about 1-3 hours of free time outside of his living space/cage. I don’t think it matters if he’s running or not, but you may want to get some toys that encourage mental stimulation so he doesn’t get bored.

Thanks for your reply! I have mental toys that involve finding his pellets/treats but I only use these with him when I am also there. I have worried about him becoming bored during the day when I am not around because he really only has tunnels, chew toys, and balls to throw. 

Do you have suggestions of any good mental toys?

[Author]

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