Seeking enclosure advice, cntd…

[ErinF]

Note – this is an enclosure question I tried to add to my “new owner seeking enclosure advice” thread, but it is signing me out any time I click on Habitats and Toys –

Anyways, hello! Please bear with me as I’m still trying to figure this out and have now likely made some mistakes 🙁 My now-five month old bun is fully potty trained and neutered. I am trying to transition him from his cage to an XL dog crate (and continue free roaming a good portion of the day). However, it’s been a disaster. He’s just so-so with the litter box, which is fine, but he is obsessed with chewing every inch of the crate. The base is wood and plastic, which I realize look pretty attractive to a bunny, but he rarely chews what he shouldn’t and has almost never chewed the bars to his cage. I set up the crate exactly as his cage, and he has plenty of hay and other things to chew. Even with constant redirection he is not getting it, and I’m weary of him messing up his teeth, destroying it, or making himself sick. I then tried to give him access to both his old cage and the new crate, thinking it would help to make the transition on his own terms, and that REALLY derailed used of the litter boxes and I’m sure confused and stressed him further. He’s now back in his cage/free roaming until I figure out what I’m doing. It may just be a matter of covering the crate walls? Advice on fixing this mess I’ve made?

[DanaNM]

Hmmm, I wonder if you could just keep using the cage and keep it open all the time, connected to an exercise pen to give more 24/7 space? Many people do this with the x-pen as a sort of ‘front yard” for the bun. You could also build a custom sized pen out of storage cube grids.

A lot of this could just be teenage bunny destructo-phase. If he was neutered within the last few weeks, his hormones might also still be settling.

If you really want to make the dog crate work, I think covering the walls with a sheet or cardboard could help. Sometimes it also helps to completely remove the litter box and see which area he picks for his toilet, then put the box in that spot. Covering any wooden areas with wood or cardboard that is safe to chew can also help because it provides a safe alternative. One of my buns went through a phase of being obsessed with chewing on his litter box and I used some heavy clamps to cover the areas with cardboard. He would still chew the cardboard but I would just swap it out with new pieces and it kept him from chewing the plastic!

 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[ErinF]

My sweet gentle boy has since turned into a crazed mastermind of bunstruction literally overnight! I’ve expanded his cage and have some of his free roam space now covered in cardboard. We’ll reevaluate the crate after we ride this out and his little hormones settle. Thank you!

[DanaNM]

Oooh my thoughts are with you during the teenage bun phase! LOL hang in there! Sounds like a good strategy!

Favorite toys for my teenage boys were phone books to shred and cardboard box hides they could redecorate!

 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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