breaking bad habits

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

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

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- 01/20/2018 at 8:58 PM
  laurenk
  Participant
  3 posts
  hi all! for christmas i got my bunny a new (and expensive) two story hutch… he deserved the upgrade! after about a week of being in the hutch he began chewing through the sides… yes he has almost chewed them completely through. he is not eating the wood, idf he is only VERY little amounts. i know this because i vacuum out the shredded wood about every other day when i clean his litterbox. i recently bought a spray bottle and when he chews, i give him a firm “NO!” so he has the opportunity to stop before i spray him. unfortunately he isnt picking up on the command and i do have to spray him often which i hate! i feel bad because i know he is just a bunny and its in his nature. ive weighed some of the possibilities and ive ruled out a few.
  
  he gets out of his hutch very often so i do not believe this is destructive behavior from a lack of exercise.
  i also have plenty of chew toys for him that i rotate in and out of his hutch so it is not because he is bored. maybe he doesnt like the toys he has… any chew toy recommendations?
  also, i am wondering if i need to trim his teeth. they have not seemed to get any bigger since i got my bunny at 2 months, but maybe?
  
  basically, im looking for training tips, chew toy recommendations, or any theorys you guys have! ive had my bunny for about 6 months but i still feel new and am learning every step of the way! i love him and want him to enjoy his new home without ruining it!
- 01/20/2018 at 9:56 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  Its great that you’re asking questions and getting some opinions. It’s also great he has time outside his hutch, but that reinforces the dislike of being in it. It could be synonymous with cage bar biting. Potentially get an xpen to surround the hutch, so it can be open, making it seem less like he’s being kept from a large part of his territory? Right now, the hutch is something barring him from going around if he wanted to.
  
  It will be difficult to curb this behavior, so I suggest making it difficult to do, rather than trying to get your rabbit to learn not to do it. Can you get cardboard pieces and layer and cover up the walls? Or maybe line them with fleece if he doesn’t like chewing on it?
  
  Do not trim your rabbit’s teeth. Have a vet do it. Doing it without proper tools and experience can cause fractures in the teeth that go down to the gum, exposing the gum to air and bacteria, becoming a breeding ground for infections. A vet will make the decision if your rabbit’s teeth, front and/or back, are at a point where your rabbit needs them trimmed so he can eat and not be in discomfort.
  
  How is his eating and how are his poops?
  
  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.
- 01/21/2018 at 3:05 PM
  laurenk
  Participant
  3 posts
  thank you! he eats mostly timothy hay and some young rabbit food (hes 8 months) and poops very often. i do think he loves his hutch, because he runs right back into it after his play time- i think ill have to try using cardboard as a barrier.
- 01/22/2018 at 9:23 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5834 posts
  Since he’s 8mo, you can start transitioning to the adult rabbit pellets (timothy based instead of alfalfa) and start slowing introducing veggies. Hay should still dominate his diet, with 80-90% of his stomach being hay, but the other 10% can be pellets a veggies.
  
  Keep us updated on how it goes!
  
  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.
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