Bunny nibbling other

[sarahthegemini]

Hi guys, another behavioural question! As you probably know, Peanut has this annoying habit of digging at Buttercup. I’m trying to train him out of this by shaking a jar of coins when he is in the act. It stops him but he hasn’t associated the noise with his digging yet but hopefully in a week or so, he will. Anyway, he’s also started nibbling a little at Buttercup’s fur. He schmooshes his nose and seems to be trying to get stuff out of her fur? Note, he does not pull any fur out nor does he bite. The reason I’m a little confused is because normally he would do this when cleaning her ears and whatnot but now he does it prior to digging. So he’ll sniff intently, nibble and then dig at her lol. She just hops out of the way as she doesn’t like it. He’ll usually do this a few times in a row and then move on, then they’ll lay together or something. I know it annoys Buttercup! But she puts up with it bless her. 

Can anyone offer some insight? 

[sarahthegemini]

He also just did this to the hay bag when I was refilling – he licked it a bit, nibbled and then dug at it. I wonder if that is relevant?!

[vanessa]

I can’t remember from your previous posts if he has a towel to dig at. Does he? I’d try adding toys/towels/ knitted baby blankets, etc, for him to dig at. Guin does a similar thing. She digs her nose into Lancelot’s thigh/butt area, and nibbles on him. He doesn’t like it. They are cuddly, but she has a lot of energy. I’ve tried to enourage her to come out of the room and run around – but she won’t leave the bunny room if Lancelot is not with her. So I take her nibbling him to be excess energy that I need to help her burn off…

[vanessa]

I just saw your reply about the hay – it really sounds to me like excess energy.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By vanessa on 3/10/2017 11:43 AM

I can’t remember from your previous posts if he has a towel to dig at. Does he? I’d try adding toys/towels/ knitted baby blankets, etc, for him to dig at. Guin does a similar thing. She digs her nose into Lancelot’s thigh/butt area, and nibbles on him. He doesn’t like it. They are cuddly, but she has a lot of energy. I’ve tried to enourage her to come out of the room and run around – but she won’t leave the bunny room if Lancelot is not with her. So I take her nibbling him to be excess energy that I need to help her burn off…

He’s got a couple of fleece blankets that he likes to dig at but he seems to prefer Buttercup! I wonder if a dig box will help. I’ve been meaning to make one for ages. My two are very cuddly and I feel like this behaviour is the one thing that’s holding them back. 

That’s an interesting point about burning off energy – do you think having more space to burn off energy would help then? Currently they’ve got free roam of the downstairs and we’ve been waiting to allow them upstairs because we were waiting for Peanut to stop annoying Buttercup lol.

[vanessa]

I don’t always think it is about more space. Sometimes it could just be about different, or “treat” space. My bedroom was always a treat fo rGuin, but it’s not necessarily big, and the bed and furniture take up a lot of space. But she use to do a lot of 3am binkies and bunny-500’s in there…

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By vanessa on 3/10/2017 1:02 PM

I don’t always think it is about more space. Sometimes it could just be about different, or “treat” space. My bedroom was always a treat fo rGuin, but it’s not necessarily big, and the bed and furniture take up a lot of space. But she use to do a lot of 3am binkies and bunny-500’s in there…

Hmm maybe he’s a bit bored of the same old then. Our house is pretty small. I could always try letting them upstairs for a few hours a day to start with. Maybe first thing in the morning when they’re most active. Then it might seem like a luxury 

[vanessa]

I think that is a good idea. Timing is important too, so first thing in the morning like you said would help.

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