Bunny sleep-wake schedule

[lopsoflove]

I’m thinking about getting a rabbit next academic year, and I’m trying to figure out the best class schedule to fit with my potential bunny’s activity schedule. I know rabbits are generally most active at dusk and dawn, but I’d like to hear from bunny owners specifically what times your bunny is usually sleeping and what times you’re bunny is usually awake and active. It may be necessary for me to take an evening class or two, requiring me to be away from home until 8 or 9 pm, but I don’t want to leave my potential bunny all alone for the entirety of its evening wakefulness. So what times do you notice your bunny awake and active, and what times is your bunny usually sleeping?

[Wick & Fable]

Welcome to BB! It’s great that you are interested in getting a rabbit. There’s a lot of responsibility and time that goes into taking a pet rabbit. I think the large majority, if not all rabbit owners will agree that it takes more time and effort than owning a dog. Rabbit ownership will literally change your home and lifestyle. If you think you’re able to take on this continuous, large responsibility, then that’s wonderful. A rabbit may find a loving home and owner next year!

When you first get a rabbit, regardless of age, it may take some time for him/her to actually settle into a sleep schedule. The new environment, bonding with you, and you getting your routine with rabbit maintenance and care will all add variables which may continuously shift a rabbit’s sleep schedule.

Generally speaking, a rabbit will follow the parameters you mention (dusk & dawn), and each rabbit typically centers their schedule around food. At least Wick does.

It took about 6-7months for Wick to become really consistent. He sleeps 8/9AM to 3PM, then eats, then naps anywhere between 5-7PM (nap for digestion after eating afternoon pellets), then hunkers down for another sleep from 10PM-6AM. For a student, having your classes be between 9AM to 3PM would be great.

Wick’s schedule is contingent on food. He learns to wake up at 6AM because that’s when I wake up to give him veggies. He wakes up at 3-4PM because that’s when I give him pellets. He naps in the late afternoon because he needs to digest the pellets. He sleeps at 10PM because that’s when I sleep.. and the cycle begins all over again.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[ThorBunny]

Thor’s a bit different – I find she is active from about 7am until 11am most mornings and then sleeps straight from 11am-6pm. Then she’s up and active from 6pm until we go to bed at 10 or 11. I do think it depends a lot on the individual rabbit and your own schedule! Most rabbits are active at dawn and dusk, but their schedule can move around a bit depending on when you are around/feeding/playing with them.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Nice to see that you’re preparing before you choose a rabbit Rabbits are often bought on the whim by people who don’t realise that they may cost more time and money than caring for a cat or dog. They expect an overgrown hamster, but end up with an animal with a personality akin to a spirited dog. Vet work is also expensive: rabbits need to be seen at least once a year by an experienced rabbit vet. Rabbits are considered exotic pets and the vet needs special training. If your rabbit has a health issue the bills can stack up really quickly. Good prep prevents a lot of nasty surprises and unintentional rabbit abuse.

I always advise people to get two rabbits if they have obligations like study or work, because rabbits are social animals who need a lot of companionship. I’m home all day because of a disability, so I get to spend all day with Breintje. However, when I have a busy day with hospital appointments he gets lonely very quickly. Rabbits are animals who need a lot of stimulation and companionship to stay mentally healthy. If we leave Breintje alone in his hutch all day he’ll get so down that he refuses to eat by nightfall. I shudder at the thought that there are so many rabbits out alone in the garden, in a small cage staring at the wall all day. Loneliness and depression literally takes half off their lifespan

Solo or bonded, rabbits need at least 3 hours a day of playtime outside their hutch. Rabbits are inquisitive, active and intelligent. They’ll love to play with toys and you can also train with them. My rabbit knows 6 voice commands for several things like “go into your hutch!”. A lot of people on the forum have a room or a part of the house rabbit-proofed so the rabbits can seek them out to relax and play. Breintje can free-roam in the sitting area of my living room. He often joins me on the couch for cuddles ^_^

Rabbits can make great pets for people who work during the day, because they’re active in the morning and the evening. It’s true that they adapt to the schedule of the household, but they really need their afternoon sleep. Rabbits will get snuggly in the evenings after they’ve played and vented their energy. I’m a nightowl, so I have no problems with him cuddling up to me well into the wee hours.

This is what Breintjes schedule looks like approximately:
10:00 Breakfast (pellets served in a digging box with shreds of paper so he can dig and vent some energy)
11:00-13:00 Digesting breakfast, investigating the room a bit, loafing contentedly
13:00-18:00 Deep sleep in his hiding box underneath the coffee table. Angry when disturbed.
18:00 Walking around, greeting me and my boyfriend when he comes home. Already eager for dinner.
19:00 Dinner: a large plate of mixed veggies. He can’t finish it all in one sitting, so he takes his time to digest it before going for seconds…or thirds
21:00-23:00 Hyperactive bunny and binky-mania! This is the time where he’s most playful, and most eager to learn tricks. He does binkies every day where he runs like he’s posessed and does all kinds of crazy jumps in the air. Hold on to the table!
23:00-Whenever I go to bed: Massive cuddlefest. He’ll hop onto the couch next to me, and will lay against my leg clicking contentedly until it’s time for me to go to bed. Surprisingly he noticed my routine so he’ll jump into his hutch on his own. Clever clever ^_^

[Deleted User]

My boys are similar to Thor. They’re pretty active between 5am-noon and 6pm-2am.

[Author]

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