Biting and Shaking Playpen

[Marshmallow]

Hi, our Marshmallow is vigorously biting and shaking his pen that is his play area. We think its mostly for attention, but he is sometimes excessively doing it almost as if it is for pure sport. We let him out to explore and get exercise in a cordoned off area for more free run time as we though this was asking for MORE space to play and run, but he continues to shake on the pen. We are worried one why he is doing this, and two we don’t want him to hurt his teeth or jaw doing this. Anyone have any info on this?! 

[Wick & Fable]

Thinking from his perspective, he doesn’t understand why he can have access to a large space only some of the time, especially because he can see the larger space, yet there are bars keeping him from it. Yes, he wants more time out. Rabbits don’t think of time outside their pens/cages based on quotas. Even if you think he’s had plenty— they want to be out all the time, because they are rabbits. They don’t like to be confined and not have freedom to choose where to go. It can be frustrating.

People have had different methods of dealing with it. One is making the “pen time” align with when the rabbit usually sleeps, so they aren’t as bothered being confined, another is coordinating feeding time (pellets/veggies; depending on your rabbit’s age) with confined time, so he is occupied and busy.

My solution, which is a common one that requires some work, was simply letting the rabbit be free-roam all the time. I tried having Wick in his confined space over night, but he would constantly tug, so I finally just let him be free-roam 24/7, and if I need to sleep, I’ll shut the bedroom door.

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.

[CinnamonPearl]

Had this same problem with Clover? The solution? Don’t fight him, just compromise! I took his pen down and gave him access to his whole territory during the day, there was no point in keeping him confined anyway since my room is bunny-proofed. At night when I’m asleep, I just close the door and limit his access to just my bedroom. Easy squeezy!

[Bunny House]

I just wanted to add in, that Penelope will bite her pen when she is mad for whatever reason, and she actually gave herself a decent malocclusion on her bottom incisors so just make sure to check his teeth if he continues to bite the pen if you keep it

[Marshmallow]

We are having a series problem with him, anytime he is out of the cage he is biting the cage! Usuallly he would jump around all happy and maybe chew on a toy, but now its ALL about chewing on the cage. He is fixed and is showing some aggressive behavior. Bunny proofing the whole apartment is tough.

[Wick & Fable]

To clarify, he’s biting the cage even when he’s let out? Does he know the door is open before he does this? Is the cage in an incovenient location where he probably is trying to move it so he can run around better? Rabbits really prefer the most straight path to everything, so if they need to loop around into a cage door in order to get in, that can sometimes annoy them.

When was he neutered? Chewing on things that are not usually chewed on are a sign of frustration, whether from pain, depression, or another negative source.

There is a post neuter craze shortly following a neuter, which may explain it. Another explanation is he’s frustrated with something. Any signs of ill health?

Rabbit proofing can be a big commitment, but it is required for rabbit owners who need to allow their rabbits to free roam.

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.

[Marshmallow]

We have his cage within his pen, so when we are home we open his door to the cage so he can free roam his area within the pen, he doesnt bit on his cage at all, but when he gets out of the cage he goes right to the pen to bite on the pen fencing. He moves the whole pen and bites on it, so we are worried about him hurting his teeth or something. Sometimes he lays and behaves but, others he is a menace and going to hurt himself! We were thinking about getting a small wooden fence to set in the interior of the pen so he can chew on that which is much better than the metal but why is he doing this in the first place? 

[Bunny House]

I would say it seems that the pen is in his way of where he wants to go or he wants to move it so he has more space to run around, he might also be telling you he needs more space to run around and exercise, maybe getting another xpen and connecting it so he has more room. Bunnies have funny personalities and I know when something is in my buns way, instead of going around it, they will pick it up and chuck it far away and that is what he might just be doing. If you can let him free-roam the whole house, I would suggest buying a plastic play pen instead so if he does bite it, he won’t hurt himself as bad. Also, you can clap or make a noise whenever he bites his pen so it makes him want to stop and eventually he should learn not to bite it.

[Wick & Fable]

Thanks for the additional information. It sounds like he wants more room beyond just his pen. Although his pen is bigger than his cage, in his pen, he can see a lot more area. He’s doing it because he wants to be outside the pen. Is it possible to expand the pen?

Also remember that a rabbit is going by his or her own judgements. He doesn’t understand that you are giving him more room than a cage by also getting him a pen. To him, the pen is still something keeping him in, and that’s making him frustrated. Is it possible to let him free roam while you’re home and supervising more often?

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.

[ziggy2018]

My bunny does this too. The vet said it might just be an anxious behavior but he tends to quit it after a few minutes!

[Author]

Messages