Where Do Rabbits Sleep? – Everything you need to know

If you’re a new rabbit owner, you may be wondering where your rabbit sleeps. Do they sleep in a cage? In a bed with you? Somewhere else entirely?

As it turns out, there’s no one right answer to this question – rabbits can sleep pretty much anywhere! Read on for more information about where rabbits sleep and some tips for helping them get the most restful slumber possible.

Where do rabbits sleep?

Rabbits sleep in their homes which are called warrens. Sometimes rabbits make these homes themselves, but most of the time, rabbits will take over another animals’ home for themselves.

Bunny Warren – What is it?

A Bunny Warren is a type of home that wild rabbits live in. It is either underground or above ground and consists of many different tunnels and entrances/exits to confuse predators (animals that hunt them).

The tunnels allow them to escape predators because the predators cannot find them easily if they can’t go straight into one hole. The holes also allow them to pop out quickly needed if it’s an emergency.

No. Rabbits like the ones who live in places like New Zealand, don’t need to because there aren’t many predators and they can make their own homes in burrows (small holes in the ground) or sometimes in trees. They will however still use tunnels that were made by other animals such as rabbits before them.

The Bunny Warren is shaped like a big U with several tunnels leading away from it and many entrances/exits for the rabbit(s). There is another kind which is just one long tunnel and has no branches instead of the “U” shape. The main part of the warren where all the rabbits live is called the “court”.

Rabbits will make nests in their warren to sleep in. They are usually lined with fur (They often steal hair from other animals such as horses, cows made of straw.) and they can be very deep. The deeper they are, the safer it is because predators cannot easily get to them.

Usually, between 10-20 rabbits stay in each warren but sometimes there can be as many as 80! However this is rare and most warrens have one male, a few females, and all their babies less than 1-month-old at the bottom of the warren.

Rabbits live in warrens so that they can protect their babies by keeping them close together and easily escaping if a predator comes. They also use them as homes to avoid the harsh weather on the ground. If it was just one rabbit, it would die easily but because there are many rabbits together, they stay warmer and more comfortable.

Fun Fact: different kinds of rabbits sleep differently

There are three kinds of rabbits that sleep very differently than others: Hares, Jackrabbits, and Cottontails.  

Hares don’t make nests like most other bunnies- instead, hares burrow into piles of leaves, grasses, etc. It is usually several feet long but only one bunny sleeps in it at a time.

Jackrabbits will build nests that are small with just enough room for one or two bunnies to fit inside and sleep together.  

Cottontails will find little holes in trees, rocks, logs, etc. to sleep in so predators cannot easily get them.

What do rabbits like to sleep on?

Rabbits like to sleep in nests that are made with fur or hay.

Bunnies use nesting materials such as leaves, straw, and hay to make a warm and comfortable nest in which they can sleep and rest. Although they will use the materials around them (grass, twigs) it is more common for rabbits to find something similar to their natural habitat (straw or hay).

It usually takes them only a few minutes before building a nest depending on how warm it is outside. The nests need to be at least 18 inches deep so that they can fit comfortably inside without catching cold from drafts of air blowing through holes in the warren. The deeper into the warren the bunny sleeps, the safer it is, especially if there are predators around. It also keeps them warm during the wintertime or other times that it’s cold outside.

What about domesticated rabbits?

Domestic rabbits are very similar to their wild counterparts. They have almost the same habits in terms of nesting and sleeping in nests that they build- making them great pets for people who enjoy watching animals make themselves at home!

Some domesticated rabbits will sit on top of your bed or couch when you aren’t looking but show you where they are once you’ve started petting them.

There are some things you can do to give your rabbit a comfortable space to sleep in at night:

You can provide straw/hay/fur/ grass etc. for your bun(s) to form a nest with if it is their preference (They most likely prefer this over other materials.) Remember not to use hay that has been treated- ask a nursery or pet store for hay that is safe to use.

You can also get your rabbit a “cave” from the pet store if you feel like they would prefer something more solid than their own nests.

However, since rabbits are so good at making nests, it may be cheaper to just let them do what they know how to do best!

How do rabbits sleep?

Rabbits like to sleep the same way that we do: every few hours, you wake up for a short period of time and then go back to sleep.

While they are sleeping, their brains and bodies are working very hard so that they can grow and develop stronger bones/muscles, etc. Just like us, rabbits need enough rest or else their bodies cannot work right and they will be weaker than usual.

If a rabbit has been deprived of adequate sleep (for example: due to lack of food) its body’s organs will begin shutting down because the rabbit needs all the energy it can get just to stay alive! This means ultimately that your rabbit could die without proper rest- something that is extremely important for both humans and bunnies.

If you do not let your rabbit sleep enough, this will lead to illness and eventually death.

##The two common rabbit sleeping positions are:

• One is curled up on its side with its nose tucked into the fur of their abdomen.
• The other is stretched out fully on its stomach, legs straight behind it and ears pulled back to rest against the head.

Domesticated rabbits will usually sleep in their nests if they are given one, or build a nest if they do not like sleeping in human beds (although many humans allow this).

To see this for yourself, watch your bunny when you wake up in the morning; he/she might be dreaming! When rabbits dream, they twitch around very slightly because muscles all over their body tighten briefly. Since bunnies also make chewing motions while asleep (just like rats) this may look like your bunny is chewing something to you.

How do you help your bunny get a goodnight of sleep?  

Give them their own bed to rest in! It can be a rabbit-size version of a human mattress or just some hay/fur/grass etc. lined up next to yours. This way, your bun(s) have their own space where they can build nests if it is what they prefer, or have a nice “cave” to sleep in during the night.

If you do not let your rabbit sleep enough, this will lead to illness and eventually death.

Why do they sleep with their eyes open?

Rabbits often look like they are sleeping when in fact, they may be awake- this is called “staring.” Or, if a rabbit’s eyes are slowly closing and opening (not rapidly like when we blink), it means that the bunny is very tired and about to fall asleep soon. You can tell that a rabbit is really close to falling asleep when its eyelids start drooping and its breathing slows down into calm little puffs or snores.

Rabbits sleep with their eyes open so that they can watch for danger and move around without waking up- if their eyes are closed, they cannot see anything around them! Bunnies also twitch during their dreams because this tells predators to stay away while the bunny is vulnerable. Rabbits who get enough quality rest/sleep will have more energy than bunnies who do not.

Do bunnies sleep in the dark?

Yes, bunnies will sleep in the dark if they are given a cozy place to rest. This can be inside or outside (just not near any predators). For example, you should provide your bunny with an indoor/outdoor enclosure so he/she has somewhere safe to go when sleeping.

When do rabbits sleep? (Best Hours)

Rabbits are most likely to sleep about 6 hours after their last meal of the day. This is usually in the afternoon.

Rabbits can be woken up during their sleep but this is not very common. If your bunny sleeps through an entire day, you may want to wake him/her up for some playtime!

House rabbits are active during the day and sleep in the evening. If you keep your pet rabbits in a cage for most of the day, they may just sleep when you go to sleep at night.

While wild rabbits are active at dawn and dusk, it is quite the opposite for domesticated rabbits- they are most active during the day.

How long do rabbits sleep?

Wild rabbits spend about 16 hours a day either resting or active. House rabbits usually get 18-20 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period!

Since rabbits get plenty of exercise throughout the day (running, playing, etc.), this is why they need lots of sleep to help their bodies work like normal again. This may make you think that rabbits are lazy but it’s actually quite the opposite: They want to be able to play and do all the things they love. If you think about it, rabbits are some of the most active animals on Earth- their bodies were designed for constant movement!

They get the majority of their sleep after they go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning, otherwise known as their crepuscular state (when they are active). The rest of the time, your house bunny will probably play with you/chew his toys/eat hay if he is not sleeping. Hibernation is when rabbits sleep for 16-18 hours straight and it usually lasts for about a week in the wild. This allows them to conserve energy and survive tough winters!

What should rabbits sleep on?

Rabbits should sleep on something soft so that they don’t get uncomfortable or sore when they wake up.

As a good rule of thumb, make sure your rabbit has a place to rest in their cage/pen or in an area he likes. Bunnies love to have “caves” to hide in and feel safe in this can be made with a cardboard box turned upside down underneath the hay/fleece, etc. that is lined with the rabbit’s favorite pet bedding. You can add some towels onto these surfaces for extra softness! Rabbits also like napping under blankets and fleece because it makes them feel warm and secure. It’s not recommended to let rabbits sleep on top of items that you keep in your house since they may chew them and make a mess. If you want to provide something safe for your rabbit to sleep on, make sure it’s always clean and not exposed to any chemicals or hair sprays!

Do bunnies sleep in beds?

The answer is no, your rabbit will probably not sleep in a bed. If you’re wondering why this is the case, consider the following:

Your bunny would need to be able to jump onto and off of your bed with ease. A house or apartment rabbit may not have enough room or time to do this if he/she sleeps on top of furniture all day! Beds are also high up which can be dangerous for rabbits because they could fall and break their backs/spines.

If there is anything bumpy, hard, or pointy on most bedding (for example plastic that comes with fitted sheets), your bunny most likely won’t want to lay down on it.

Also, consider that you probably don’t want too much rabbit fur on your bedding! If your bunny likes to snuggle, it’s best to have a separate spot for him/her to sleep instead.

You should never allow your house rabbit onto the bed at night because there are many dangers associated with this. A sign of trust between you and your pet is when they can explore certain areas of the home but there are some places (like the bedroom) where this is not safe or recommended.

Can you sleep with your pet bunny?

The answer is no. You are putting yourself at risk if you allow your house rabbit to sleep with you because there are many dangers associated with this.

When rabbits sleep, they usually do so during the night when most people are sleeping too! That means that if they were allowed in the bed, they would have easy access to chew on things they shouldn’t be chewing on including wires or shoes/clothes. Rabbits may also startle their owners by jumping onto them after an episode of rapid breathing which can cause injury to both parties.

Bonding is not always a good thing for bunnies even though it’s nice for their human companions! If you let your house rabbit into your bedroom at night, he may not want to leave once the lights are turned back on. This can be dangerous because you may have a hard time getting your bunny out of your room, especially if you need to close the door to go back to sleep.

Conclusion:

To conclude, rabbits sleep between 16 and 18 hours per day so they can rest and regenerate their energy for the next day. They will usually sleep at night and become active during the afternoon. Rabbits should always have a safe place to sleep that is soft and comfortable! However, wild rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk while house rabbits are more likely to be active throughout the entire day.