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MATERIALS
Rabbit-Safe Materials
Making rabbit toys may not be for everyone, but for those of us who enjoy crafting it can be very rewarding to make something that makes our furry friends happy. I started making dog toys with ropes and realized I could do it for the bunnies too. I started researching and found what types of twine are safe so I could make rope style toys for the rabbits too and I got addicted and starting getting more and more things for these projects. I made this page to share what I have learned and what I feel make the best material for DIY toys.
TWINE – Sisal and Jute are widely considered to be safe for rabbits because the fibers break easily are very unlikely to create an impaction if ingested. Sisal is the more rough material that feels like hay twisted into a rope. It isn't bad to work with, but pieces break off as you go and make a mess so don't work with it in bed (ask me how I know lol). Jute is a much softer material and easier to work with in some ways, but in my opinion, if working with wooden beads, Sisal is the way to go. Either way, just make sure you are buying untreated materials. Hobby Lobby sells natural Sisal and Jute but there are many other places that do as well.
STICKS – Apple wood and pear wood seem to be the best received sticks by my herd and are widely considered safe. My rabbits tend to just enjoy chewing on them but if you are feeling crafty they work well with the twines mentioned above. If you are a cult classic movie fan, they work well to make the stick figure from the Blair Witch Project.
WOODEN BEADS – Pine is dangerous for rabbits because of the phenols (which FYI is key in making pinesol and lysol disinfectants) that can cause liver issues, so why are so many rabbit toys made out of pine? Pine is commonly kiln dried which greatly reduces the amount of phenols in the wood, but depending on who you talk to, this may or may not be enough for it to be safe. In general the rabbit toys available to purchase from the store are made of kiln dried pine, so it is widely considered to be safe. If you choose to use pine it is imperative that you use only kiln-dried, untreated pine. Large beads are readily available at any craft store and online, but I recommend buying in-person so you can see the color of the wood. Pine is a yellow wood, but when kiln-dried it is lighter, almost white. Also, the distinct smell of pine goes away when kiln dried, so when shopping online does not allow you to check these things before purchasing.
PINE CONES – Pine cone rabbit toys are common, but this is another of those things that is widely debated as to whether it is safe or not. The big concern that I have found is making sure you get your pine cones from a source free from pesticides. There is a process to cleaning them which includes distilled white vinegar and soaking in water before air drying for several days and then baking at low temp for several hours. I have not yet done this for my rabbits, but if/when I do, I will definitely share my experience.
THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Check back for updates!
