Chewing everything!!!

[Katscarpena]

Oh my! While I am very happy to report that Chipper is coming out of his cage and being much more social – he chews everything. And I mean EVERYTHING!

Destroyed a bath mat, ripped apart school papers, chewing holes in bags, chewing at clothing, chewed a basket the kids keep some random toys in, tried to eat the Wii cord – today I drew the line and had to put him back when I caught him gnawing up my built-in entryway bench. Seriously bunny? The rest can be replaced.

I absolutely cannot let him out if he’s going to destroy things that are part of the house though – especially not my woodwork. We live in a gorgeous old home that’s fully restored. Beautiful gumwood woodwork all throughout. So Chipper cannot be permitted to be destructive. I feel sad at the thought of only letting him in an x-pen though.

How can I redirect him? Will he maybe just need constant supervision?

Note: Chipper has an array of items to to chew at – and he uses them all. (A hut he’s chewing/destroying, wood sticks, toys, etc.) Licorice seriously chews at nothing except his cage bars (even when he is out side the cage – sometimes he gnaws at them.) So I’m new to this level of chewing!

Also – PS:  I do “shoo” away. Say ” oh – no, no, Mr. Mr.” in a sweet voice and scoot the offender.  Even when naughty they are cute!!!

 

 

[Kbana]

Have you thought about a bunny room? This way you can block certain areas including woodwork in just one room instead of the whole house, which would be a monster project. Some members use nic grids or even pieces of plexiglass to block off woodwork/moldings and such. Short of blocking areas off, there isn’t a ton you can do to deter. Some members have found luck with spraying perfume, vinegar or ivory soap on woodwork but it didn’t work for me.

[Katscarpena]

For Chipper to have his own bunny room – He would have to be in the basement for that. I’d rather not have him down there – but if it comes to that – it is what it is. As my poor cat aged, he was not hygienic. We made a very nice kitty “suite” down there for him. He was only in there at night and when we left the house. I never loved the arrangement, but it was better than having cat excrement or vomit all around!

I think maybe I could try plexiglass to cover the stuff in his immediate area though… seriously – he is such a sweet animal. We’ve only had him about 3 weeks and I’m in bunny love. Of all the bizarre things – he really enjoys being on people’s laps. A real cuddle bunny. Get him on your lap with a blanket – he burrows in and flops. Sacks right out like a light! Can’t beat that.

And our other one – Licorice, loves to be picked up (if you are sitting on the floor) and kissed of all things. He goes crazy licking you then and hunkers right in. He only stays for a minute – but it’s also sweet as can be.

[justwildbeat]

Some rabbits just can’t be allowed to have total free roam. Dedicating a separate room or limiting their exercise time in an xpen are other solutions. An xpens can be moved to any area of the house that you and your family are in. It’ll keep your rabbit away from moldings and other items. Plus your rabbit can see and hear you. Just don’t think of it as a prison lol.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Just curious, how old is your bun?

[LBJ10]

You can be more stern when saying no. Wooly definitely responds to a sharp NO. It is good to follow with a redirection as well.

[Katscarpena]

I have no idea how old Chipper is – I don’t think the SPCA really had any clue. They “guessed” 1 year. He seems older to me some how… but that might not mean anything!

I suppose I could also get a little more stern with him – but… he’s a bunny. Not sure how that works with these guys. The cat – I just had to look at him wrong and the poor man would slink off. lol But he wasn’t a mischief maker/ destroyer – and neither is Licorice.

[LBJ10]

I didn’t mean to yell at him or anything. But you want to have a stern enough voice so they know to associate that will undesired behaviors. If you speak too softly then they might not recognize the difference. Usually it is more tone than the actual words.

[Megabunny]

I feel for you.My Gus likes to taste everything, though he may be finally calming down now that it’s getting to be old hat. What school papers did he chew? Gus chewed on some test papers I was correcting for a teacher and the kids who had partly-eaten papers thought they were pretty special!! The teacher loves animals, thank goodness! It wasn’t that bad, but still funny and the kids remembered it the next year.
Gus likes molding, too, but it’s old stuff that needs replacing. Sounds like he will need to be corralled more, though in time, I think somehow certain areas just manage to work out, but it takes a long time. Good luck with him!!

[Ellekke]

Interesting tips I get from this!

Arya seems to be interested in plastic! The garbage bag I use to clean the cage, the soles of my slippers and she especially seems to love chewing the soles of my all stars. I guess I won’t giggle anymore and think it’s cute but I’ll firmly say NO from now on.

How does one redirect a bunny?

Hope you get things sorted out with Chipper!

I’m planning to only let my bunnies out at supervised moments in their designated bunny area. Then perhaps I’m allowing them in the kitchen area when I’m in there. And after I get an X-pen I’m going to cut off part of my living room for them to roam in also. I take it one step at a time.

[LBJ10]

Depending on how much your bun will allow you to physically manipulate them, redirecting simply means to remove them from the situation and redirect their attention to something else. So let’s say your rabbit is chewing on the baseboard. You get their attention by saying NO. Then you can shoo them away, but sometimes you have to physically turn them around and give them a little nudge. Then direct them to a toy. Normally what happens is the rabbit begins to associate the tone of your voice and the word NO with your desire for them to stop doing what they are doing. For Wooly, I really just have to tell him NO and he immediately stops and looks for something else to do.

[Katscarpena]

Chipper- if you approach him too quickly he thumps and runs off anyways. I try to avoid startling him too much – but he’s pretty easy to redirect. It’s just that he goes right back. lol He’s so stinkin cute. (Right now he’s completely sacked out sleeping in his litter pan.) It’s impossible to stay mad – but I can’t let him destroy the house itself.

Also – Ellekke both mine chew at plastic. Licorice chewed up a baby teether and will get at Legos (likes breaking them apart and nibbles at them) and transformers. I have to warn the boys to keep their toys up and keep bedroom doors shut.

Oh and – the school papers he chewed/ripped, they were HW pages. He riped the HW folder too. I taped them back together. *sigh*

[LBJ10]

If he keeps returning to the same spot, sometimes it helps to block it off for awhile. They tend to “forget” about it at some point and the barricade can be taken down.

[Megabunny]

I’ve heard spraying perfume or vin. and water, too. I think the perfume worked well for my guy…unless he got tired of it at the same time. Who knows with these guys??

[Katscarpena]

I covered the entryway bench with an old dropcloth. He digs at the cloth, and nibbles it here and there – but is leaving the wood alone. I also took his little tunnel and put it outside the cage – he LOVES that! He flung it all around, and then arranged it in the corner. Now he seems to be chewing on that and hunkering down in there rather than trying to dig in other stuff and chew my woodwork.

I let him keep the bath mat too. He seems to love that thing. I mean really, who doesn’t love stepping out on to a nice soft Pottery Barn rug? I don’t chew up mine – but I won’t judge I suppose. lol =) The bath mat is replaceable and for whatever reason he seems to like it that much.

[Megabunny]

That’s hysterical!! What a spoiled bun bun!!! But that’s what we get them for, huh?

[Katscarpena]

He is completely spoiled! So crazy, but he likes that mat, it seems to provide some sense of comfort and security – fine. It’s yours bunny!

[Author]

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