My rabbit eats (not just chews) everything

[1960speak]

I have a rabbit who runs freely in my bedroom.  I’ve done my best to bunny proof it so that she can’t get to any electrical wires, and she uses a litter box relatively well.  As a lot of rabbits, she tends to be a little destructive and want to chew on things she isn’t supposed to – particularly wallpaper and furniture.  Honestly, if she scratches up my stuff a bit I’m not bothered because none of the furniture in my room is of any great importance to me.

What troubles me is that she doesn’t just chew on these things, she completely eats them!  I don’t know if this is normal rabbit behavior, as I haven’t read anything else about it anywhere.  She’ll bite off chunks of the wallpaper and eat it, unless I take it out of her mouth before she can.  I’ve covered up the areas that of the wall where she was chewing so she can no longer get to them, and I’ve given her many toys to distract her/keep her happy, but I want to know if this is normal rabbit behavior.  Does rabbit chewing usually include eating?  And if not, should I be worried about her eating something she isn’t supposed to and getting sick?  Thanks in advance for any help.  

[Sarita]

Well, some rabbits are like this, so yes, it can be normal.

How old is she?

[RabbitPam]

It is normal, but you also should be worried about what she ingests. You’ve done well by already covering the wallpaper, since to a bunny paper is tasty and fun to shred. You can add to that by making a spray of 50/50% white vinegar and water and spraying it on the wall, carpet and anything she tends to chew. It won’t hurt your furniture and walls, but is a repulsive enough smell to her to help repel her. You won’t smell it in a few seconds.

Get her some willow chew toys, and give her a yellow pages. Phone books are made with soy based ink, and are safe to ingest. She may love shredding it. Also, shred one yourself and put it in a cardboard box for a Diggy Box for her to play in.

[Elrohwen]

Yep, it’s normal. There’s not much you can do besides more bunny proofing and being around when she’s out so you can supervise her and keep her from eating it.

Is she young? I found that my bunnies chewed things much more when they were young. The older they get, the more they have learned what things they’re allowed to chew and what things I get upset about. Of course, anything new introduced to their rooms gets a nibble, but they leave the standard things alone (like furniture) now because they’ve learned. Not all bunnies are like this and some always love to chew, but you may be able to retrain this over time.

[1960speak]

I feel so relieved! Thanks for all the information. I think she’s still pretty young. I’ve had her for roughly four months, and she was small (what I’d call a baby) when I got her. I will try the vinegar/water spray. She does seem to really enjoy paper, and for some reason I never made the connection between her eating the wallpaper (and always trying to eat any other kind of paper I have around). I’ve obviously overlooked a major need of hers. I have tried to give her a phone book in the past, and she’d chew on it a little and then move on. I think the problem was it was too big for her, so I’ll shred one up tonight and see if she enjoys that. I think if I can get her distracted with the phone book paper I can save my walls, lol.

[bunnyfriend]

Is she spayed? Spaying may help calm her down, but there’s no guarantee. I’ve also found that my rabbits love to eat phonebooks and cardboard. Have you tried laying the phonebook on the ground with the pages open? If I don’t do that my rabbits completely ignore the phonebook usually.

Welcome to BB btw

[Author]

Messages