Welcoming Bunny Home

When you bring your bunny home for the first time, introduce them to the pen and close the door for a few hours. Let them get used to the sounds and smells of your family while feeling safe and secure. If they nibble on food or stretch out, they are relaxing.

Where to Set Up Bunny's Pen

Rabbits usually prefer to have a safe area they can call their own, where they can always go and not feel exposed or vulnerable. SDHRS recommends x-pen housing, set up in a temperature-controlled area where you spend a lot of time, such as the living room or family room. Do not place your rabbit’s housing area near a heater or a loud TV or sound device. Always provide shade from a sunny window.

When secluded in one room, such as a bedroom, your rabbit may be cut off from the family and unsure of the area outside. We recommend that you house your rabbit in an area where the family spends most of their time, and where they can easily access a bunny-proofed play area to enjoy daily run time.

Making Space for Play Time

Rabbits are crepuscular, which means that they generally sleep midday and during the night, but are active at dawn and dusk. So, if you’re at work during the day, they won’t mind so much being enclosed. They should be able to have run time whenever you can supervise them, so make it easy on yourself. Put one or more litter boxes in the run area and increase her freedom as they prove their consistency with the litterbox. Be sure to include hay in the litter box to encourage use. Learn more about litter box training and setup starting on Page 17.

Free run of the house is what we strive for and what many are able to achieve, but that’s not compatible with everyone’s home or lifestyle. It definitely requires more work, like inspecting and bunny-proofing every room of your house where your bunny could access. Allow a small run area for the first few days, and close off bedrooms or areas where bunny can get lost. This will help your bunny build litter box skills, and you’ll be able to identify areas that need additional bunny proofing.