Indoor bunnies digging – help!

[Lawz85]

I have 2 indoor bunnies, both dwarf (sisters). They have just turned 4 years old, I have had them since they were approx 3/4 months old. They have both been spayed and have been indoor rabbits since we got them. They have a large room to run about in, they are not closed up at all and have basically taken over our spare room. One of them constantly chases the other for no reason; if she’s eating, drinking, just sitting there, the other one will chase her or lunge at her and then take her spot. The one that is being chased is constantly digging and is causing major problems. She is doing this continuously throughout the day and night. Her nails are not long but she is digging at: the carpet, the blanket I put down to cover the carpet, the lino I put under the blanket to stop her digging through to the carpet again, the newspaper in their poop tray, and finally today a new one of standing up and trying to claw at the wallpaper higher up (they have already eaten all the easy to reach stuff). I believe the problem is the 1 doing the chasing is also the one “having fun” with the other one – no idea why but understand this can happen with 2 girl bunnies. I think this is then causing the 1 on the receiving end to think she’s pregnant and needs to make a nest. 

Basically we’re at the end of our tether – I am at work all day but my bf is at home trying to work but is constantly having to get up and stop her digging. I fully understand this is what rabbits do. I have tried introducing new toys, keeping them entertained, digging boxes, moving things about, spraying/rubbing stuff, shouting, clapping, saying no, everything I can think of or that any forums suggest. I have had rabbits before but these 2 seem to be in a league of their own. This has been going on for almost as long as I’ve had them – spaying them has made no difference to their behaviour. 

I absolutely adore them but at this point I cannot think of any alternatives other than having them put up for adoption with a rescue center. This idea absolutely break my heart and I’m welling up even thinking about it. I have considered caging them, but the main reason why they aren’t is because one chased the other so much for the first few days we had them I really thought that she would injure or even kill the other. The other alternative is to put them outside – but again this would be in a small cage (even a 2 tiered one), which I don’t think is particularly suitable anyway and again, I would be worrying all day and night that 1 is chasing and biting the other. 

Has anyone got any other suggestions, ideas or options? I really cannot see any other options other than adoption. 

[Sirius&Luna]

It sounds like they aren’t bonded. Did you actually bond them or have they just always been together? Bonded rabbits might occassionally chase or scuffle, but it shouldn’t be a constant thing. It sounds like one is constantly humping the other too? Again, that should not happen regularly in a happy pair. Since you’re worried about chasing, biting and them hurting each other, separating should really be your first step. 

I would suggest separating them for two months, where they can’t see or smell each other. After that you can start prebonding for a month, getting them used to each others smells. Once you’ve done that you can start proper bonding in completely neutral territory. 

I can’t really see why putting healthy rabbits down would ever be an option.

Edited to add: They might not ever bond since they’ve been living unhappily together for so long. There might be grudges that just can’t be forgotten. 

[Fluffykins]

I absolutely don’t get how a LIFE can be so complacently considered to be ended or not. Absolutely don’t.

They do sound like they havnt been bonded so they should be separated. Once that issue has been sorted out, seeing as you’ve dedicated a whole room to them why not go just one step further and actually make it a bunny room. Maybe put down wood and concrete places covering large portions of the floor so they can do what rabbits do – dig, and they won’t need to be stopped.

[Lawz85]

Ok, saying I was considering that was a lie, I most definitely am not considering that and I am not complacent about the fact thank you. I am just after any advice or tips. I have amended and removed this.

They were born together and have lived together all their lives. Possibly they are not “bonded” as they should be as when I got them they didn’t have a cage, so I there was a bit of a dominance from one establishing her place in the new cage/area? 1 does not chase the other all the time; their usual routine is out and about in the room until about 9/9:30am, they then retreat into their hidey box and cuddle up together until about 6pm when they know it’s nearly more food time. They are then out until the next morning and it’s during this time that the chasing occasionally occurs and the constant digging. I will see if we can move the room about and try a trial separation.

Is it usual for rabbits that have been spayed to demonstrate such hormonal behaviors after all this time?

[LBJ10]

Have there been any changes in their environment or in the household? Sometimes the strangest things will make a rabbit feel he/she needs to defend their territory.

For the digging, I assume this is a particular spot on the carpet? If so, there is a simple trick. Get some large, heavy floor tiles and cover up the dig spot. This has worked well with Leopold. After awhile, he seems to “forget” about the dig spot and I’m able to remove the tile.

[Sirius&Luna]

It doesn’t necessarily sound hormonal to me, more like they have a dominance issue that hasn’t been sorted. They definitely shouldn’t be hormonal so long after their neuters, but some people report their bunnies behaving hormonally in spring etc. Do you have other pets?

If chasing isn’t happening all the time, perhaps you don’t need to go as far as separating them. Sorry, from your initial post it sounded like they were always chasing and humping. Perhaps you need to just work on solidifying their bond a bit. What happens if you enclose them in a smaller space?

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