The first toilet roll rabbit toys went down well i.e. Scamp had fun destroying them. So, I thought we’d have a go at the cardboard balls that Schuette suggested. Scamp loves his treat ball and destroying things so they look like the perfect toy for him.

First thing you do is chop the toilet roll tube (or kitchen roll) into slices about a centimetre (half an inch) across to make hoops.

I found each toilet roll made about 6/7 hoops and that was about right to make one ball.

Once you have your sections you push one over another, then another over those two, overlapping them at different angles to cover the gaps until you have a ball. At some point before the gaps get too small (usually the 2-3 hoop mark) you pop in something tasty. I started with pellets but found they fell out as soon as Scamp made a little hole so moved on to pieces of carrot and cabbage leaf.

Once you’ve got all the hoops added they should look something like this:

Finally you add a rabbit and it ends up looking like confetti!

Here’s a video of him enjoy them too. Thank you very much for the idea! We’ll be trying hay stuffed tubes next .. I think I’ll wait until just before cleaning time because I can see Scamp getting hay everywhere!

I’m experimenting with making rabbit toys from the cardboard tubes in toilet rolls at the moment, and I’ll be posting the instructions and results. If you have any toy suggestions then please post them in the comments for me and Scamp to try out. The first toy I tried is a toilet roll stuffed with more toilet rolls and a tasty treat.

To make this bunny toy you will need: four toilet rolls tubes (or two kitchen roll tubes cut in half) and something tasty. I tried pellets and carrot sticks but any vegetable or treat would work. Something long and thin or that will roll up (like a cabbage leaf) would work best. Intrigued? Read on….

Step 1: Flatten three of the cardboard tubes and fold/roll then length ways.

Step 2: Push the three flattened tubes into the fourth tube.

Step 3: Push treats in the gaps created by the folds. I used rabbit food but carrot sticks would all so work well. Alternately you could add leaf style veggies to the other tubes before you fold them

Step 4: Give to rabbit for shredding.

You need four toilet roll tubes

Fold up the other three cardboard tubes.

Put the flattened tubes into another cardboard tube

Stuff treats into the gaps

Let the shredding commence

I work up this morning to my first Christmas card of the year and snow! With only four weeks or so until Christmas we’re entering the busiest time of the year for the postal system. What does that have to do with rabbits you are probably wondering… well many charities including lots of rabbit rescues collect stamps as part of their fundraising efforts. So, when you are opening your Christmas post set the stamps aside (just cut them off with a 5mm ish border) and when you’ve got an envelope full drop them off or post them to a rescue that collects them. I’m sending mine off to Bobtails Rabbit Rescue. If you know any rescues that collect them, post it in the comments to let others know.

On to the weather, if you have outdoor bunnies then hopefully your winter proofing is already in effect but if not here are some tips on winter care for rabbits. Wild rabbits live outdoors all year around but their warrens are underground which keeps them insulated. A hutch alone is not enough insulation to protect a pet bunny so lots of bedding and a hutch cover is essential.

Rabbit proofing is a continual process with Scamp (and I’m sure he’s not unique). The bin and potatoes are now securely protected by a new cupboard door. But, that meant adding a couple of vents so the potatoes didn’t get too toasty shut in a cupboard near the cooker. We got some round plastic push in ones that look really neat. All great for a week and then yesterday Scamp notices them and proceeds to remove them. Cue me spending half an hour with half my arm wedged into one hole trying to persuade him to come out the other hole whilst he alternates between licking my fingers and trying to dig a back exit.

Of course once he’s done it once, he knows he can do it again. There are no photos of the first portion of the entertainment (me being slightly busy at the time) but here is Scamp attempting a repeat performance. Yes, he can get through the tiny (just 70mm) hole once he’s pulled the vent out. No, I don’t know how he does it either, he sort of drops his shoulders and oozes – it really shouldn’t be physically possible.

So, bunny proofing step nine hundred and ninety-nine (approximately) was fitting bunny proofing to the bunny proofing. My dad had a great idea and we got some fan covers for computer cases, just the perfect size and shape… and made of metal. The worked a treat but wow was Scamp less than impressed. He was sure he got through there earlier and he wanted to go again. Here is a video of what a really cross bunny looks like; you can see how determined he gets and why the bunny proofing needs constantly revising. I hung his stick toy so it dangled over the area and distracted him. It worked a treat and by today he’d forgotten all about.

There is nothing like Scamp’s antics for making you feel better so I thought it was time for something fun. Scamp has been enjoying decimating the willow chew sticks he received with his press release about the RSPCA Survey:

Four Willow Chew Sticks (chewed)

I’ve posted before that his favourite way to chew sticks is whilst you hold them for him. I don’t mind holding his stick for him but I can’t do it all the time – how would I type? Sticks left on the floor seem to get ignored by rabbits – Scamp included. So I thought what I needed was a stand in stick holder.

He already has a vegetable holder. It’s just a a metal skewer with a hook at the top and a screw end that you undo, push skewer through the veg and do up again. It works great for chunky things broccoli stalks and carrot, but would it work for sticks, which, whilst great for chewing, are not as exciting as vegetables.

Small animal vegetable holder (about £2.50 - try in the bird section if you can't find it under rabbits).

First step, the sticks needed some holes. As I haven’t yet got Scamp to chew accurately on command I had to resort to a drill.

Clamp the sticks in a vice to hold them still then drill holes.

If you’re having a go, check the drill bit is slightly bigger than whatever you’re threading them on to it stops you having to drill twice (oops).

Willow chew sticks, now with holes. Don't they look tasty!

Then it’s time to try them out:

I chose to hang them in the corner as he’s had a bit of a go at the skirting there, and hanging something in the way of a favourite chewing spot is a great way to stop rabbits chewing something they shouldn’t. Hopefully he won’t go back to the skirting until he’s got rid of those annoying sticks dangling just in the way, so, as long as I keep replacing the sticks, the skirting should remain intact – that’s the theory anyway!

I might try a few more sticks hung in different locations to see if he has a preference. I only have one vegetable holder but I think string will probably work too.