You mean deter her?

Is it just one panel of an xpen, or many? You could attach something to the panel so she cannot get her teeth around the bars. Like a board or some piece of coroplast/fluteboard. If she likes to chew, she may like chew toys that are stable and not move around too much. You could attach them to a heavy board and she could even chew on the board itself if it is safe wood.

It’s just in a rabbits nature to try “work” on barricades. Being a prey species, they are looking to make certain there are escape routes if a predator entered the space. We may know that won’t happen, but they don’t. They are hard-wired to think that way. I do think they may start chewing at boundaries for that reason, but then it becomes they fixate on also?? Especially when you tell them “No!” and they binky away, but then are back at it asap.
So what I think can help is provide things that satisfy that need to chew and keep occupied – like a project. And provide places they can hide if they perceive danger, so they feel less entrapped.

Oh, another thing is, if your there spending time with her when she is doing this, try lure her away with positive activities. You could slowly hand feed her pellets or even do some clicker training with her, perhaps.

Fernando has been chewing at the door to the X-pen lately. He’s seen me open and close the door every day, so he knows that’s a way out (in fact, I have to watch carefully if he’s near the door when I open it because he WILL try to sneak out past me if he sees a chance) and he’s trying to figure out how he can do it then. He generally nibbles at the metal bars for about two or three minutes, then gives up and goes to do something else. I think that’s why he’s also been chewing on the corner of the sisal play rug (aside from generally having a chewable); that particular corner is next to the side of the X-pen fence that Fernando managed to get out through a couple of times recently because it wasn’t properly latched to the condo, and he’s pretty much trying to dig his way out now, only to find he can’t do it because he encounters a solid floor underneath. I shall have to go out and get some toys for him, I think.

My bunny has the same problem! is is safe to lightly mist him with a misting bottle when she’s chewing? Will that help him realize that chewing on the x-pen is a no no, or will it just freak him out? please answer! Thank you

Posted By bob on 4/06/2018 7:16 PM

My bunny has the same problem! is is safe to lightly mist him with a misting bottle when she’s chewing? Will that help him realize that chewing on the x-pen is a no no, or will it just freak him out? please answer! Thank you

I have heard of many rabbits being scared by being misted with water – they then relate YOU to the mister and become fearful of you!
I know some people had success if they timed it exactly right, but I’ve read more bad stories from it than good.  

Okay, i will stop. she hasn’t been coming out of her cage recently, would that have anything to do with the misting?
Thanks

Okay, i will stop. she hasn’t been coming out of her cage recently, would that have anything to do with the misting?
Thanks

It does sound possible. My rabbit once hid in his cage for 2 days and refused to come out because I tried to pick him up a few times the day before. So yes, it is possible that she is scared.

Thank you. is there any way to get her to trust me again?

I would just give her some time to forget about it and leave the cage door open so if she feels comfortable to come out again, she can.

Meanwhile you can try luring her out of her cage with her favourite treats. I’m not sure if it’s the best thing to do, but sometimes I would close the cage door once Kurotta is out, so that he can’t get back in and eventually gets distracted from the feeling of being scared and goes on to explore the surroundings again. I’d put some cardboard boxes down so at least there are some places to hide as well. That said, every bun is different and yours may not react the same way, but it’s worth a try.

If your rabbit is food driven, then hand feeding her treats will be quite effective to regain her trust too.

Of course you can get him to trust you again Bob! If you had swatted at him or hit him or something that would be one thing. But right now he’s more scared that you are going to spray him again.
So as Kurottabottom said above, if he’s food driven than hand feeding him will go a long way to have him realize that YOU equals good things!
Just let him come around in his own time. Open his cage door and then sit on the ground out where he would come out too and than completely IGNORE him once he’s out.
Good Luck!

This is irrelevant but @Nutmeg you just cracked me up when you said “Kurottabottom” LOL! It’s actually “Kurottabun” as in bunny, but bottom sounds pretty cute too

Posted By kurottabun on 4/12/2018 9:16 PM

This is irrelevant but @Nutmeg you just cracked me up when you said “Kurottabottom” LOL! It’s actually “Kurottabun” as in bunny, but bottom sounds pretty cute too

HAHHAHA I thought it said KurottabuM with an M and I always remember my mother HATING the word Bum and saying Bottom instead – so I typed it on auto pilot hahah. 
Hope your bunny is doing better today and warming back up to you! 

Thanks guys! she is now back to normal and hopping around again!!!!!!

YAY so glad to hear it!