This is a specific conversation about Rabbit Enrichment — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Willow refusers are more common than you'd think — some rabbits just won't go near it no matter what. Your Blanc de Hotot is four years old, so dental enrichment really does matter at this stage. Before I suggest something, is he indoor or outdoor, and is he getting any other chewing opportunities at the moment, or has the willow ball been the main thing you've been offering?
He's indoor, free-roaming most of the day. We've tried the willow ball twice from different brands and he just ignores it completely. He does chew the skirting board occasionally which is why I want to get him something proper.
inparticular.ai
The skirting board chewing tells you he absolutely wants to chew — he's just not interested in willow as a texture or scent. Blanc de Hotots tend to be quite particular, and willow has a bitter note that puts some rabbits off entirely. What he probably wants is something with a bit more give and a neutral or grassy smell. Does he eat hay well, or is that also something he's selective about?
He eats hay fine, actually pretty enthusiastically. He just doesn't seem to go for the hard wooden toys.
inparticular.ai
That's really useful — and it points you in a clear direction. He's not anti-chewing, he's anti-hard-wood. What you want is something closer in texture to hay but structured enough to satisfy gnawing. I'd get him Supreme Petfoods Science Selective Timothy Hay Sticks. They're compressed timothy hay formed into a stick shape, so they have real chew resistance without the hardness of willow. They smell and taste like something he already loves, which is why rabbits who reject wooden toys often take to these immediately. Because he's free-roaming, you can just leave a couple out and let him find them on his own terms — no need to attach them anywhere.
That sounds much more promising. Are they safe if he eats the whole thing rather than just chewing?
inparticular.ai
Yes, completely — they're essentially just compressed hay, so if he eats them entirely that's fine. The chewing action is the point, but consuming them does no harm at all. One thing to watch: because they're palatable, some rabbits fill up on them and eat less of their loose hay. Just keep an eye that his main hay pile is still disappearing normally. Given he's a good hay eater, it probably won't be an issue, but worth knowing.
Really helpful, thank you. I'll try those first and see if it saves the skirting boards.
inparticular.ai
Good luck — I'd be surprised if he ignores these given how well he takes to hay. If he does get through them very fast and you want something that lasts a bit longer alongside, apple wood sticks are the next thing to try. They're softer than willow with a sweeter scent, and many willow-rejecters accept apple wood happily. But start with the timothy sticks — they're the most likely win for a hay-motivated rabbit.
