Rabbits need lots of exercise, so whether your bunny lives indoors or outdoors, they’ll need an outdoor run to burn off their energy! You may also need to create an indoor rabbit run if your indoor bunny doesn’t have access to the whole house. You can easily buy ready-made rabbit runs, but they can be quite expensive and might not fit in with your needs.

So, why not make one yourself, there are lots of things you can easily put together without having to spend a lot of money. Creating the right type of housing and run for your rabbit will keep them happy and healthy. Check out the following suggestions to give you some DIY rabbit run ideas for your furry friend.

Housing Your Rabbit

The type of housing you have for your rabbit will depend on lots of factors. Do they live indoors or outdoors? How many rabbits do you have? How big are your rabbits?

The rabbit hutch and run size depends on rabbit breed. Larger rabbits need more space, but the most important thing to remember is that no enclosure or run can be too big… in fact, the bigger the better! Keeping rabbits in small hutches is no longer thought to be acceptable.

So, if you do keep your bunnies in an outdoor rabbit hutch or enclosure it should be at least 150 x 60 x 60 cm for two small rabbits. If you have two large rabbits, this should be increased to at least 180 x 90 x 90 cm. Ideally your rabbits should be able to have enough room to stand up on their hindlegs and lay flat out lengthways with plenty of room to spare!

As an add on to any enclosure, either indoors or outdoors, a large rabbit run should be accessible so they can enjoy some exercise and play time with their bunny buddies.

Both enclosures and runs must be very secure so your precious furry friends can’t escape, and other pets or predators can’t get in. Your bunnies should ideally get at least a couple of hours of exercise in their run every day, unless the weather is really bad!

Indoor Rabbit Run Ideas

If your rabbit is confined to part of a room in the house for example, you could simply use baby gates or chicken wire to section off parts of the room to enable them more space to run around in. If your rabbit has access to an entire room, you simply need a baby gate to put across the door.

This way they get to run free and be part of the family, without having access to the rest of the house. Don’t forget they need a place to sleep, places to hide and an area to run around in!

Outdoor Rabbit Run Ideas

Outdoor runs are great for allowing your rabbit to get plenty of exercise and nibble on some grass. If your rabbit can’t safely have access to the whole garden, then a run is a must. Ideally, they need to be made so they can be regularly moved around the garden to fresh areas of grass.

If you’re not buying a ready-made rabbit run, it’s easy to put a DIY run together using a wooden frame and galvanised wire – don’t use chicken wire, it’s not strong enough! Make sure the run is heavy and secure enough so predators or your pet dog can’t nudge it over or get in.

To make it harder for your rabbit to dig its way out, wire on the base of the run is a handy tip too. But if you do this, make sure it doesn’t make your rabbit’s feet sore. If the run is separate from their main enclosure, make sure there’s a sheltered area in the run so your rabbit can shelter from the sun or rain.

A plastic box filled with straw would be perfect. And always make sure they have access to fresh water.

Toys for Your Rabbit Run

Rabbits can get bored easily, so when your rabbits are in their run give them some toys to keep them amused. Something as simple as a large cardboard tube will provide them with hours of fun.

You could make some ramps, slides and seesaws out of wood and have plenty of balls, another bunny favourite. Or create some rabbit games that involve their favourite food to keep them entertained. Something as simple as toilet paper tubes or cereal boxes stuffed with hay can be very entertaining for your bunnies! But if you really want to go to town, you could create a rabbit maze.

How to Make a Rabbit Maze

All you’ll need is some cardboard boxes and some tape. Cut strips of cardboard to create walls on a cardboard base. Make the maze as easy or as complicated as you like. Pop your bunnies’ favourite treats at the end of the maze so they can sniff their way to the end goal. Make sure the maze is big enough for your rabbits to comfortably move around, and there are no sharp edges.

Just remember to make sure that whatever you give them must be rabbit friendly. Natural materials are the best choice for making rabbit toys. Paper, carboard, straw, wicker and seagrass are all great options. Plastic toys are also fine for your rabbits to play with as long as they don’t start to chew and eat them. This could cause dangerous obstructions in your rabbit’s tummy.

Rabbits need plenty of room to roam around in to stay fit and healthy. That goes for both indoor and outdoor rabbits. Housing your rabbit can be pricey, especially if you have a few bunnies that need lots of space. DIY enclosures and runs are a cheaper option, but there are things to bear in mind to ensure your rabbits’ safety. Let your imagination go wild, the options are endless.

Everypaw Rabbit Insurance

Here at Everypaw, we want to help you keep your bunny healthy and in tip top shape. So, when it comes to your young rabbit’s care, Everypaw’s Rabbit Insurance could be just the cover to look after your little thumper.

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