Hidey boxes/ habitats

[Deleted User]

So I am constantly seeing people on here saying that bunnies should have hidey boxes and their own area to retreat to if they want. Ophelia does not have a cage- the bottom was turned into a sandbox, which she certainly prefers I don’t really have hidey boxes either because 1) I never saw her use them, 2) they kind of just cluttered up my small apartment, and 3) she absolutely HATES being in a cramped space.

I have a 5-seat couch that is curved and she likes to sleep in the small triangular area between the couch and the corner of the wall. She also sleeps under the dining table and under the coffee table, as well as under the bed sometimes. It got me thinking though, if I’m being a bad mom because she’s sleeping under there wanting somewhere secluded? I’ve just been thinking. But she also sleeps on top of my bed a lot too, and lounges around in the open, even by the door or on top of a chair sometimes. So I guess I just can’t tell if the space behind the couch and under the bed and tables is sufficient, or if she wants hidey boxes too? I don’t think there’s anywhere in my apartment that she doesn’t consider a spot for her to lounge lol

[Deleted User]

We tried a hidey box a month or two ago, and it didn’t go over really well. I felt bad cause the hubs wanted to make one for them, and they never used it. They slept all around the sides of it, but not in it. They prefer being in the open, especially Bombur. Bombur lays on the bed with us whenever he’s out, and Asriel can usually be found with his head in the hay bag. If they want privacy they usually hide between the two cages with their feet showing so we know where they are. I think it probably depends on the bun.

[sarahthegemini]

My bunnies don’t have hidey boxes as such, but they do have a couple of tunnels. Buttercup lays under tunnels 50% of the time, the other 50% she’s out in the open. Peanut rarely lays under tunnels, he loafs and flops out in the open (and he’s the timid one!)

[Sirius&Luna]

I think it depends on the bunny. Atlas always likes to lie on top of any boxes I give them, and Luna likes to lie in them. Nimbus runs into his if a sudden noise startles him. I just use regular cardboard boxes that the corner shop gives me though. I cut two doors in them and replace them when they get too nibbled/saggy.

Maybe you could try getting her a couple of cardboard boxes, then if she likes them you could invest in wooden or fancier one. But mine are always perfectly content with cardboard!

[sarahthegemini]

I wanted to get a nice wooden one from thehayexperts.co.uk but I don’t know if they’d he interested. Previously they’ve ignored hidey houses but I’m wondering if that’s because they only had one entrance. Hmm.

[Sirius&Luna]

If they like tunnels, then I would’ve thought they would like hidey boxes with two entrances… Might as well try the free cardboard option and see whether its used

Personally, I like those crisp boxes that already come with one perfectly round hole cut out haha

[joea64]

I generally get cardboard boxes to make hidey boxes out of from Costco or, more usually, the local Total Wine (a chain of wine-and-beer stores here in Northern Virginia which always has stacks of empty boxes at the front). Currently, I have two hidey boxes on the upper level of Panda and Fernando’s condo, and put a large one (from Costco, with three openings already in the sides so I don’t have to cut them) in the X-pen enclosure in the evenings. I’ve been noticing that Fernando, of late, tends to be a lot more interested in knocking about the boxes in the condo and chewing on them than actually sheltering in them, while Panda has her favorite hidey box (which was formerly used to store Coronita beer), and Fernando will often jump up on that box at treat time – providing he hasn’t previously knocked it over – for better access. That being said, Panda has lately taken up sheltering under the ramp between the habitat’s levels which seems to suit her just fine. They love the hidey box in the enclosure, which has ample space for both of them. They also have a long cardboard tunnel (from Lowe’s hardware stores) which both like, and Fernando likes to chew on occasionally. I may look at one of those plastic shelters, if I can find one with two openings that are big enough for buns their size to go through reasonably easily.

[Deleted User]

I used to have a bunch of cardboard hidey boxes for her but she was never very interested, and never chewed them either! Guess it can’t hurt to try and see if it’s something that she wants now. I am actually almost tempted to buy one of these kids cardboard castles that I saw at the craft store…. but I can’t justify the space that it would take up! I really need a bigger apartment….

[Scarlet]

Mine love cardboard boxes with holes on either end or tunnels. I’ve not seen them like anything else. Mine also hate stuff put in the boxes or any kind of grass/hay put in there. They get mad and lose interest fast.

[Millie]

Hello BunNoob, a fellow Floridian

I believe it depends on the bunny. You said you lived in an apartment, is there a ton of noise? Do you often have visitors? Even if you have a super strong bond with your bunny, they may not always run to you for comfort. Rabbits in cages normally use their cage as their safe spot, but if free roam, they will always need a “home base”, which may happen to be a hidey box. I recommend using a cardboard box and just cutting a hole that your bunny can enter/exit through. That is a good “test” to see if your bun would like a hidey house/box.

Have a great day -L

[Millie]

Hello BunNoob, a fellow Floridian

I believe it depends on the bunny. You said you lived in an apartment, is there a ton of noise? Do you often have visitors? Even if you have a super strong bond with your bunny, they may not always run to you for comfort. Rabbits in cages normally use their cage as their safe spot, but if free roam, they will always need a “home base”, which may happen to be a hidey box. I recommend using a cardboard box and just cutting a hole that your bunny can enter/exit through. That is a good “test” to see if your bun would like a hidey house/box.

Have a great day -L

[Deleted User]

I did put down two hidey boxes but she showed no interest in them, again. I threw them out because she just didn’t want to use them after 2 weeks and they were honestly just cluttering up my crammed apartment. She really likes to lay in her pop up play pen that we use to bring her outside, maybe I’ll just find her a space for that inside and put a blanket in there to make a little sleeping nest!

As a fellow Floridian….goodness me I can’t deal with this weather! I’m in North Central FL and it is in the 20s here! Brrr!

[Author]

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