Baby buns.. toys, bedding, litter.. help please!

Question
I have been chatting on rabbitcentral.org & reading up on rabbit.org &
magazines & books.. all on bunnies. Every article & book has said how much
bunnies love to chew, play, climb, etc.. I have 3 very fun baby buns (not sure
how old.. rescued them) that didn't have any toys or a cage when they got
here. I had them in a cat carrier with a towel, a bowl of water, hay, & veggies.
When I finally got out to get all the supplies (toys, chew thing on a kabob, hay
rack, litter boxes, a bed, treats, cardboard) YOU NAME IT.. I have it.

They could care less about the bark, stick, mineral, & wood chews... The little
boxes with a honey/nut/etc treat inside.. haven't even touched it. The hay in
the hay rack just sits there.. but they can get the hay out just fine. I'm pretty
sure they are using their litter boxes (I put 2 in the cage to see which corner
they use)... They don't like the bed they sleep under the litter box (it attaches
to the wire part of the cage) & the toys? Never looked at them.

The more I read the more I see how much bunnies like to play and chew and
all that.. & these guys LOVE to come out and run around & explore & be pet &
all that... & I would accept how they are if it wasn't so weird.. Baby buns that
don't chew.. anything? I'm talking not one thing in the cage is chewed on.. not
even the grass mat I put down (which they don't sleep or sit on!).

It's just strange. Hoping for some feedback, please!
Thanks so much

Answer
Hi Kelsey

Well indeed it does seem a bit strange but they are still young.  I will tell you what I know from my own personal experience.  First you need to open their mouths and check their teeth.  Make sure they look like normal teeth and aren't overgrown or have an underbite.  Also check for sores in their mouths.  Since you rescued them if you haven't done it already I would have them examined by an exotic pet veterinarian.  He/She will check all of that for you.

Not a single one of my rabbits will chew on those plain boring wood chews.  I did buy some round ones and shoved timothy hay in them and they will eat the hay but not the chews.  I have found that the toys they sell at pet stores my rabbits hate so I got creative.  I made them houses out of cardboard boxes.  I cut doors and windows in them and put smaller boxes inside the bigger boxes so they can jump up and look out the windows.  

I live on a farm and have 100's of apple trees in my back yard.  I take branches off of the apple trees and let them dry completely out for about a month.  Then I have my dad or my boyfriend drill holes in them.  I take seagrass rope (which I had to import from the Philippines)  and I tie the branches on the rope, leaving knots in them and making all sorts of designs.  Then I hang it from the top of their cage and the babies just love it.  They will bat at it and chew on it a bit.  I also found that they absolutely love those big plastic gerbil balls with the smaller ball inside that makes noise.

Each rabbit is different and possible they are still to young to be interested.  I try to buy actual seagrass balls for every baby I have.  That is about the only thing that I have found that every single rabbit I have likes.  It is also 100% safe for rabbits.  I get them on ebay and buy them in huge quantities.  If you are familiar with ebay you can just do a search for seagrass ball and I believe the sellers name is lovemydogs40?  or something like that.  She sells bird toys but many of the bird toys she has are safe for rabbits also because they are hard plastic.  She also combines shipping which is why I buy so much from her.  It wouldn't hurt to try one of the seagrass balls and if your rabbits like them you would know before you went out and bought tons of them.

Keep trying cardboard.  They may move it around or just lay in it but eventually they will chew it.  Also I wanted to tell you that the honey/nut treats aren't really good for rabbits.  They aren't supposed to eat nuts or seeds.  Just give them time they are still young and you are clearly doing everything you can for them.  Some rabbits will never play no matter what but you are indeed right, it is rare to have 3 that won't play at all.

The best bet is to take them in for a check-up.  

Good luck and if you need anything else let me know

Pam