Playing under the recliner?

[Dymii]

 When we moved last month, we were gifted a recliner from someone who no longer needed it. At first we were afraid that Sprinkles might go under it and get hurt so we blocked it off in the corner of the room. However, his curiousity had him digging, pulling, climbing, and deconstructing our barriers to get under there. Finally we gave up and moved the recliner closer to the middle of the room so we can at least get to it, and left it unblocked. He regularly climbs under there to chew on the wooden frame and.. whatever else he does under there. If it is dangerous I would be willing to move it to the guest bedroom which is kept closed, but it’s nice for people to have an extra place to sit out in the living room.

We make sure no one touches the chair when he is under it, but should I be worried about him getting stuck or injured, or trust that he can take care of himself? Does anyone else have something like this that their bunnies like to play in? 

[tanlover14]

My buns were OBSESSED with our recliner also. We blocked them off from it though because we realized he was yanking on some of the other things like cloth while under there, not just the wood. So I would definitely pay close attention. I would also be worried that the wood is treated but I can’t honestly say how much would be toxic and how much chewing on it would be okay.

[Dymii]

Since it is a second-hand chair, I have no idea about the wood. I didn’t even think about the fact that it could be treated.. he nibbles a lot of the other wooden furniture too though, and there are certain ones he avoids. I suppose they taste differently. From the look of the wood in the chair, it looks pretty plain, light color.
For right now (unless anyone else has a better idea) I think we will let him in there.. unless something happens. If he starts to get at the fabric or we think he has injured himself or gotten caught, we will probably buy another playpen and put it around the chair to keep him out!

[jerseygirl]

Jersey used to be big on hanging out under a recliner too. Very attractive space for a rabbit!
I lived here with my sister at the time so we both had to be diligent in checking if she was under there. Most the time we got in and out if the chair in its reclined position.

I was always scared though if either of us forgot or a guest used the chair, that she’d get caught in the mechanism. Eventually I rigged up something across the front so the chair could still work but she couldn’t get in.

If you do want to allow Sprinkles to go there, maybe you can make the area safer? Fit some boards each side to block the mechanism?
Even devise an exit point at the back.

(Lol. I’m big on not fighting my rabbits when they are determined. I just try find a solution that’s going to make both us happy. )

[Dymii]

Jerseygirl, that’s a good idea. I’ll mention it to my fiance` he loves building things and figuring stuff out! If we figure out a way I’ll post pictures here, it could be useful for others with the same problem =)

(Off topic, but my fiance` is from Melbourne! It’s nice to see another Aussie around, he doesn’t get to interact with them much anymore. He’s been in the states for almost 5 years now but every now and then we hear the accent in a public place and he gets a little excited. Hehe! )

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