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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

FORUM BEHAVIOR My Apt is a Chew Toy!!!!

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    • skunklionshow
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        We renamed our new rabbit Chewbacca due to the excessive chewing she exhibits.  The beast has bit through so many cords.  I got the plastic covers for the exposed cords, but did not put them on every cord in the house.  We only covered the preferred cords or ones that she had access to.  I also put up barriers to other cords.  Today, in the few hours that she was allowed out of her cage, she chewed through our vacuum cord (didn’t cover, stupidly thought it was out of harm’s way) and chewed up our leather ottoman.  I will now need to do some additional coverage.  I think I’ve given her plenty of chew toys (willow sticks, safe wood chews, veggies, wood bunny rattle.  I get that she does it b/c her innate desire to chew through roots, etc.  I don’t know what else to give her to chew on.  She’s a super destucto chewie bunny.  She was spayed about a week ago and has recovered…well VERY WELL!

         


      • jerseygirl
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          She may still calm down in time if it’s only one week post neuter. It does sound like very determined chewing! I find cardboard boxes with heavy things in them, and fixing safe chewing items down helps. That way they can really rip into it and feel like they are working at clearing. I find toys just move about and they lose interest fast. LIke dogs can hold a bone down with their paws and hoe into it but rabbits don’t do this.  Maybe try fixing seagrass mats or some other chewables down to a sheet of wood and placing it on the floor some place.
          Is that Chewbacca in your avatar or one of the other 2?


        • Kokaneeandkahlua
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            This is a must read : https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/BunnyProofingYourHome/tabid/61/Default.aspx

            We only covered the preferred cords or ones that she had access to. I also put up barriers to other cords.

            It’s very very important to go through your house and reevaluate your wire bunny proofing. We’ve all had them chewed and it’s often OK but it takes one little hot wire to hurt your bunny. So please double/triple check your bunny proofing.

            As Jersey said-it will take time (often as much as four weeks) to calm down.

            MAke sure she has lots of toys while she is OUT and if you can supervise her. If not-hallway or bathroom (CLOSE the toilet lid!!) so she can’t get hurt but can bounce off the walls if she wants.

            I’d give an old towel to chew, more cardboard boxes (make one she can hang out in and eat while in there-with two exits and windows!), give phonebooks and grass matts too Willow is super for chewers. Rotate toys so she doesn’t get bored


          • Karla
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              Has the chewing gone worse? Karl chewed quite a lot before he was fixed, but after the op…hell broke loose! He would chew ANYTHING. Wallpaper, cords, cables, shoes, clothes. It lasted for 2 weeks, and the little fella has not chewed anything inappropriate since. I think I could put him in a box with cords and he would just look at them. It’s the hormones that went crazy.

              Do you have a cardboard box? I find that these are the only items that Karl and Molly really like to chew for hours. It really keeps them occupied.


            • jerseygirl
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                This is interesting because a few people have posted reporting this – chewing or other behaviours worsening for a while post-speuter. I had read with bucks, that sometimes they can get a surge of testosterone into the system during the procedure because of the manipulation of the testes. I would imagine in generally the bodies hormonal adjustments after these types of ops would create some havoc for a while.


              • MarkBun
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                  If you cut off my happy bits, I’d be chewing mad too! Seriously though, it can be simply her trying to readjust to the difference in hormones.


                • skunklionshow
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                    Jersey:  That’s Leo (the licker) in my avatar.  I haven’t downloaded any pics of Chewbacca yet. 

                    Chewbacca is a girl bunn.  The initial chewing was just to speaker wires (i.e. the very thin wires) and nothing else.  She especially never went after the thick cords.  However, it has gotten worse since the spay.  I’ve seen her try to flatten her bunny butt to get underneath the counter to access cords behind/within the counter cabinets. 

                    I’m sure she’s super crazy bored b/c she is still confind to her little cage.  My goal is to try to bond her to Leo & Jessica, so they can all reside in the happy big condo…..but it appears that that will be a major process.  I’m going to put up the bunny maze and see if that’s helpful.  I’ll probably have to put it in the middle of the room, b/c last time it was next to the bunny condo they peed all in the doorways.

                    Stinkin’ rabbits…..it’s just never easy….just when you think you have it figured out they switch up their game.  So how long for the hormones to die down?


                  • RabbitPam
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                      Posted By MarkBun on 11/11/2009 11:20 AM
                      If you cut off my happy bits, I’d be chewing mad too!

                      LOL Markus!!!

                      Usually it’s one month after the surgery that the hormones begin to calm down, though I had the impression with Sammy that she took a little longer.

                      I would definitely get more cord covers. If you can keep things put away in closets, or just surround certain areas (I did this with my computer space) with NIC cubes that will block a section of the apt. to chew.

                      Try both peeled and unpeeled willow. Some prefer one more than the other.

                       


                    • skunklionshow
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                        We got her a cardboard construction tunnel this weekend.  It makes for a party in the hallway.  We also bought a roll of sisal to set up some fun in her cage grids.  We also bought her some more baskets to chew.  She’s such a fricken’ beast.  We got all this great stuff & gave her lots of options & she still wants wires.  What a stinker’!  We are talking about eventually setting her up in the upstairs hallway during overnights and then letting her downstiars for social time w/ us.  I just want to make sure she has enough room to roam and party the way she deserves.

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                    FORUM BEHAVIOR My Apt is a Chew Toy!!!!