The best environment for every rabbit has access to free roaming in the house. But, sometimes, you need to enclose your rabbit, especially if you have other pets in your home, such as dogs or cats, and an exercise pen is always preferable over a cage.
You may have seen some rabbits enjoy being inside their playpen, whereas others try to escape from it frequently. So, how to stop the rabbit from jumping out of the pen? Why do rabbits escape from their pen? How to keep them inside its pen? Let’s find it all in this article.
Cover the pen’s top with a sheet or blanket by securing it with tape, zip ties, or a solid wooden board. However, providing vital items inside the pen, like enough toys, hay, and water supply, is essential. Consider buying a large and 5 feet high pen, allowing them to run and jump freely inside it.
This article will briefly discuss why rabbits jump out of their pen, how to stop your rabbi from escaping the pen, and the best pens for your rabbit. So let’s find it out.
Contents
How to stop my rabbit from escaping the playpen?
Cover the fences and the pen to stop your rabbit from escaping the playpen.
A free-roaming adult rabbit can jump at least 4-5 feet, whereas small rabbits can jump only 2 feet.
In addition, place the “L” within the run with the horizontal piece lying on the ground like a shade and the vertical piece against the wall to prevent your rabbits from jumping out.
Similarly, you can tighten an old sheet across the top and tie it to the pen walls with binder clips or clothespins.
Your rabbits can recognize if there is a weak area in the barriers and will still manage to get over the top of the pen, which means you may need to use a lot of pins or clips.
Rabbits use hops in a variety of ways to communicate. For example, the hop could represent happiness, fright, or aggression.
If your rabbit is escaping from the pen, it is essential to ensure that the pen’s height is high enough.
Rabbits are capable of surprising high jumps. In addition, your pen must be at least 5 feet tall because an adult free-roaming rabbit could jump 4-5 feet.
However, if you have a small rabbit under 2-3 months, you can provide a pen that is 2 feet tall.
You can assist your rabbit in maintaining its interest in the pen by providing them with various activities.
In addition, give your rabbit lots of toys and other distractions to keep them occupied, as a bored rabbit is more inclined to jump out of its pen and roam.
Why is my rabbit jumping out of its pen?
Rabbits usually jump out of their pen or cage when happy, bored, or afraid of something within the playpen.
Also, there could be other reasons, as every rabbit has a different personality.
Some rabbits are more energetic and active than others, and they might see the playpen as a chance to explore and get some exercise.
However, other rabbits may attempt to jump out of their playpen because of another rabbit or animal inside the pen.
In addition, a rabbit can also try to escape from its pen because of the smell if the playpen is not cleaned perfectly.
Similarly, rabbits may escape from the pen if they are scared or attempting to reach an object outside the pen.
How to keep my rabbit in a playpen?
To keep your rabbit inside the playpen, you should provide toys, enough water, a hay supply, and other things to avoid boredom.
There are various indications that your rabbit is preparing to escape its pen because of its natural desire to jump and run.
In addition, it is a sign that your rabbit is probably trying to jump out of its pen if it is climbing its edges or digging inside the bottom of the enclosure.
So, here are some ways and tips to keep your rabbit in a playpen and avoid escaping:
1) Plenty of toys:
Rabbits can get quickly bored if they stay in the small playpen area for an extended period.
Providing your rabbit with enough toys like tunnels, balls, or chewable items keeps them occupied and engaged.
In addition, rabbits are intelligent animals that require constant stimulus to prevent boredom.
Also, as prey animals, rabbits have an innate desire to relax in protected areas, so if your rabbit’s playpen has no tunnels or hiding spots, it can feel uneasy.
In addition, a rabbit can feel secure even with something as basic as a cardboard box with a few holes.
Similarly, after filling it with bunched straws, paper, and other attractive objects, you can sprinkle treats in small amounts inside a little box to encourage them to stay inside its pen.
Also, it is a fantastic approach to encourage your rabbit’s instinctive desire to dig and provide it with something to do rather than think of new ways to get away.
2) Enough space:
Providing a large playpen to your rabbit is essential so they can jump, run, or exercise freely.
Always pick an enclosure and run (or pen) that will work for your rabbit after they are grown up.
One to two medium-sized rabbits require a run (pen) of at least 2.5 square meters and an enclosure space of at least 1 square meter (approximately 12 square feet).
If you choose that option, the rabbit pen should have a minimum area of 2.75 square meters, which includes a hutch, container, or other cozy areas.
In addition, more rabbit area is always preferable; for instance, two runs and a playpen can be merged.
A food bowl, a litter box, enough fresh water supply like a water bowl or bottle, and toys should all have enough space in a rabbit’s pen.
3) Let them come outside daily:
Let your rabbit play and explore outside of its pen each day.
Even a separate space or room where your rabbit can run around or explore is preferable to a tiny playpen.
However, it would help if you made everything rabbit-proof before letting your rabbit roam freely.
Baseboards can be shielded with wood or tape, and keep all the indoor plants out of your rabbit’s reach as it can be toxic for them.
Also, to prevent your rabbit from biting through the cords, it should be hidden away or covered with PVC.
Similarly, keep carpet restricted to areas with tile or hardwood floors to protect your home from rabbits’ propensity to dig and chew.
In addition, baby gates can be used to keep your bunny out of off-limits rooms.
Not everyone can keep free-roaming rabbits, especially if they have cats, dogs, or other pets.
But in the long run, you and your rabbit could be happier if you put effort and time into rabbit-proofing your house.
4) Enough food, hay, and water:
To maintain its interest, give your rabbit a wide range of food and hay.
Your pet won’t want to roam far enough or jump out of its pen when you give them all the food and water they require inside its pen.
Around 85% of the rabbit diet should consist of hay and grass.
They’ll want a steady supply of two or more different types of hay, fresh greens in small amounts, and pellets as additional supplements.
Hay and grass can be picked up off the ground, but other foods must be placed in a bowl or container.
In addition, for pellets or nuggets, you can use dispense or bowl.
Rabbits must always have access to fresh, clean water to survive. So you may need a water bowl with heavy bottom or bottle attached to the side of the pen.
However, continuously checking your rabbit’s water twice a day is vital, as it shouldn’t be too cold or hot, especially on hot days.
5) Interaction with your rabbit:
It is vital to interact with your rabbit, especially if you have a single one, and spend enough time with them while playing, grooming, or petting.
Due to their curiosity and as social animals, rabbits require social engagement with their family.
A busy or lively place in your house, such as the living room or kitchen, will enable them to engage with you and truly feel like a family member.
6) Use roof or cover:
Most pens are a few feet tall, but an adult rabbit could jump at least 5 feet, so they could easily escape the pen.
In addition, you need to cover the top of the pen if your rabbit is constantly escaping its playpen.
There are covers available from several playpen manufacturers that will nicely fit your playpen.
But if your playpen doesn’t already have a unique cover, you can build one independently with minimal effort.
Use zip ties, tape, or safety pins to secure a blanket or sheet to the top of your rabbit’s playpen.
In addition, you can also use a substantial board made of wood or another strong, heavy material.
However, it would be best if you fixed it properly to avoid toppling or slipping down on your rabbit.
7) Choose a strong playpen:
You should get a more sturdy playpen if your rabbit frequently escapes from your current pen.
In addition, if your playpen is light enough, a persistent rabbit may be able to jump out from it.
Wide bar spacing is more affordable playpens, which allow some rabbits to escape readily.
Instead, you could buy a sizable dog pen for intelligent or clever rabbits.
Best playpen to provide your rabbit
A rabbit playpen will allow your rabbit to experience the fun of exercise wherever they wish.
In addition, it’s great for indoor training and essential for outdoor safety.
So, here is a list of some best playpens that you can provide to your rabbit:
1 Basics Foldable Metal Exercise Pet Play Pen
This playpen is the best for indoor and outdoor purposes for your rabbit, as easily available on amazon.
The high of this pen is 20 inches tall, which is suitable for small animals, like rabbits, as they won’t be able to escape from it.
This portable pet pen has a door that provides a 16-square-foot area for your rabbit to play and exercise.
This playpen is also perfect for your rabbit as it protects your flooring from spills with a protective plastic mat measuring 47 by 55 inches.
Also, each connectable wire panel measures 18″ in width and 29″ in height and has a 1″ wire spacing.
A 9-square-foot playing space may be created using the attachable panels of the Pet-N-Playpen in a number of different ways.
4 LANGXUN DIY Small Animal Playpen
This playpen, easily available on amazon, is designed for small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, etc., and provides high-quality coated steel, making it stronger and more sturdy.
In addition, the iron mesh is 0.8″ apart, so little animals won’t get caught in it.
Animals are shielded from harm by rounded edges, and the cage is reinforced with nylon ties for enhanced safety.
5 Marshall FC-224 Small Animal Play Pen
Conclusion:
- Cover the fences and the pen to stop your rabbit from escaping the playpen.
- If your rabbit is jumping out from the pen, it is essential to ensure that the pen’s height is high enough.
- Providing a large playpen to your rabbit is essential so they can jump, run, or exercise freely.
- Providing your rabbit with enough toys like tunnels, balls, or chewable items keeps them occupied and engaged.
- You should get a more sturdy playpen if your rabbit frequently escapes from your current pen.
Reference: NCBI