Just when we thought our bunnies couldn’t surprise us…

[Dreya T]

They work out how to get over the NIC grid barriers.

We’ve only had them stacked one high thus far, and that seemed to keep them out of places, but this week both bunnies have simultaneously worked out in separate rooms how to get into the areas we want them out of. Frankie chewed through the phone cable and through my husband’s speaker and heaphone cables, and Major had a good go at the fridge and freezer cables in the kitchen. My husband in a fit of exhaustion and despair last night half-jokingly suggested we get rid of them. I’d like to NOT go that far.

The problem with stacking the NIC grids two high is they’re way too high to step over. Any suggestions/advice on what we can replace them with? We’re going to have a look at a baby gate for the kitchen – I presume we’ll need to put mesh over the gaps to stop them squeezing through – but I have no idea what to put in the computer room, which is currently just three grids across the gap between Frankie’s cage and our computers – with some added cardboard behind which deterred Frankie for a while…. until he managed to chew a gap big enough to squeeze through again.

This feels like a major setback. Our bunny proofing has worked so well til now, and we’re both exasperated at what our bunnies are now getting up to. It seems a lot of effort to have to change everything again now and I’m almost resigned to the fact that whatever we try isn’t going to work. (Despite this almost certainly not being true!)

 

[Deleted User]

two grids is never sufficient IMO but I hear you on the height problem for humans to step over. I would keep the NIC setup, but go 3 grids high and make a gate. This will require more grids but it is wort it.
The other option would be to make a pen for them and only allow them supervised roamings.

[SmokeyBunnyRobinson]

 You could make it 3 high and make them attach  with hinged locks. Smokey’s condo as them and even her little houndini self can’t unlock the hinged hooks

[jerseygirl]

Might be an idea to cover the cords even if you do modify the barriers, just in case. 

This thread might be useful.  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/ta…fault.aspx

 If you do buy a baby gate, you could use the grids on it to make the spaces smaller.

 

[LucyTwoBunz]

All I know is “bunny proofing” is a constant with us!  They always find new ways to get into places I would never dream of…especially with our new baby, Zhowee.  Good luck & keep up the patience…

[Beka27]

Have you thought about limiting their space until after they are bonded? Proofing one space very, very well, and then alternating their time in that area. Having each other to interact with should calm them down a good deal (hopefully). And then you can bunnyproof again and reintroduce them to other areas. Are they younger than a year? Up to a year old is when the teenager stage lasts, even after neutering, there is still an adventurous period where they want to get into everything.

[Dreya T]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Major has an extended house at the moment because he was digging up carpet and peeing the sofa before we got him neutered, so he’s shut up for now unless he is supervised. This is working thus far.

I’m glad having a friend should calm them down – I’ve been having visions of two bunnies being even more of a handful than one. :S

I realise to a large extent I am being lazy – so much effort went into initial bunny proofing and actually having two rabbits is so much bother sometimes that I don’t want to think about yet more bunny proofing. But I hear you that it’s a constant thing. We are being much more vigilant now.

[Lintini]

I’ve had a pair running in my room and living room for a year and a half now….they never do stop finding something to bunstruct and get into!
The gate suggestion is what I would do too.

[Balefulregards]

It IS a constant battle. Mine are pretty good ( for the moment) but I can never take it for granted. I find that the two of them ( bonded) will have bursts of creativity where they will figure out how to get somewhere I have restricted. Nearly all cords in all rooms are rabbitproofed, even if they don’t go in there.

I had a 100 dollars in cables chewed in about 5 minutes because I didn’t think the Non-chewer- Jackson- who had never ever chewed anything in well over a year as well as never ever gone into that room would chew. After I had to replace and rehook up all our phone and internet, I rabbit proofed the cords. To my knowledge he hasn’t gone back into the room.

Also remember that they do need problems to “solve” constructively. That means giving dig boxes and willow balls etc – or finding a solution to their play style. Coco ( who is my ringleader) needs good stimulation or she just gets INTO it. When she is amused, Jackson is much less likely to have a naughty leader to follow

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