Bored Bunny?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 2 months ago by JessKez.

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- 01/17/2018 at 9:44 AM
  JessKez
  Participant
  22 posts
  I have 2 young bunnies who have recently been neutured. They are not yet bonded together as they are still healing. We have them in cages side by side with a pen attached so they have space to run and the plan is they will gradually have more space once they are together.
  
  My problem is that they are both very destructive and I don’t know if it’s boredom or just their nature. I’ve read all the advice about toys to give them but nothing is stopping them from chewing up the carpet or biting the cage. Any advice?
- 01/17/2018 at 10:06 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  If they’ve recently been neutered, it could be a post-neuter craze. Often in the month after a neuter, bunnies are more destructive than ever!
  
  Do they get time out of their pens to run around, and interaction with you?
  
  It’s important to not let them actually consume carpet, as it could cause a blockage, so perhaps you could try putting tiles down on portions that they’re digging at? You can also try giving a digging box, with sand, soil or (least messy) shredded paper in it.
- 01/17/2018 at 10:07 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  Biting the cage may be a natural reaction to being in a cage. In a cage, rabbits are tantalized by seeing where they COULD go, but can’t because of the cage bars, so biting and pulling is expected.
  
  Chewing up carpet can be a frustration behavior from being caged too.
  
  Currently, they’re going through a hormonal spike, so behaviors like this can ramp up for a bit until it settles in a month or so. I think continuing to give them turns free-roam so they have more space and feel less restricted would help. You can try and prevent carpet destruction entirely by putting cardboard over it. For cage biting, I suggest a hiss sound to try and stop them. Some people use a light spray bottle with water too.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/17/2018 at 10:53 AM
  JessKez
  Participant
  22 posts
  Thankfully, they don’t seem to be consuming the carpet, just biting pieces so when we wake up in the morning there is a pile next to a hole! We put a rug down which is plastic/linen blend so they can still run on it but it’s not possible to pull apart
  
  I’ve tried the wooden gnawing sticks, seagrass balls, cardboard tubes, shredded paper etc. and they
  do like them but go back to the carpet/pen edge.
  
  We fuss over them in the morning and after work, and I sit with them as much as I can. They are also in the main room with us so we are always interacting with them.
  
  Hopefully it is as suggested, that they are just ready to explore the apartment further. I feel like such a bad bunny mummy!
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