sudden destructive habits

[Tay]

Charlie is driving me crazy and I don’t know how to stop her new habit.

She’s started digging and biting at my sheets and pillows. I move her away and she just keeps coming back and doing it again. I know this is more or less an instinct and it’s just what they do, so I’m pretty aware that there’s probably not much I can do aside from taking her off the bed – which I would rather not do as that’s good bonding time for us. 

I guess my question is could she be doing this because she’s a ‘teen’ now? She’s never done this before and just in the past few weeks has started being a destructive bunny – shredding newspaper in her litterbox and now all the digging. Could it be because she’s not fixed yet or just her personality? 

She’s also started digging ON me which just hurts but doesn’t do that quite as often so that’s not my main concern right now. 

She’s a little over 6 months now

thanks!!

[Cici]

Hi

My pet bunny Momo is 4 months. She is a mini lop. My bunny use to dig out her litter box whenever we use to change it. Digging is normal behavior (even though it can be quite annoying >.< ) The urge to dig is natural and it also aids in wearing down their claws. Sort of like what cats do when they claw at furniture and what not. However, I heard once you get a bunny neutered they become calmer and more chill. But I wouldn't know since Momo is too young to be neutered yet.

Best thing to do is to find something else she can dig. For example, a grass mat, a box full of newspapers, and things like that. If Momo starts to dig in her litter box I spray her with water and yell “No No!” If she continues to dig I further my disciplinary actions. For example, I put her in her cage and lock her up for awhile. Now, I give Momo old magazines to dig up and tear. Its all about experimenting and seeing what is best for you and your bunny.

Links you might find helpful.

http://bunnyproof.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-digging-box-for-your-rabbit

http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-behavior/how-to-deal-with-chewing-digging/

Best of Luck

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Cici on 3/14/2017 11:39 PM

Hi

My pet bunny Momo is 4 months. She is a mini lop. My bunny use to dig out her litter box whenever we use to change it. Digging is normal behavior (even though it can be quite annoying >.< ) The urge to dig is natural and it also aids in wearing down their claws. Sort of like what cats do when they claw at furniture and what not. However, I heard once you get a bunny neutered they become calmer and more chill. But I wouldn't know since Momo is too young to be neutered yet.

Best thing to do is to find something else she can dig. For example, a grass mat, a box full of newspapers, and things like that. If Momo starts to dig in her litter box I spray her with water and yell “No No!” If she continues to dig I further my disciplinary actions. For example, I put her in her cage and lock her up for awhile. Now, I give Momo old magazines to dig up and tear. Its all about experimenting and seeing what is best for you and your bunny.

Links you might find helpful.

http://bunnyproof.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-digging-box-for-your-rabbit

http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-behavior/how-to-deal-with-chewing-digging/

Best of Luck

Sorry but that’s just cruel. Locking a bunny up for anything as punishment is horrible because they don’t understand, but locking them up for what is natural bunny behaviour is even worse! 

[tobyluv]

It’s very likely that a lot of her new behavior is hormone driven, and that these behaviors will stop once she is spayed, and a few weeks have passed.

In the meantime, you may have to keep her off the bed, either by blocking it or putting her off the bed whenever she gets up there.  Some people place a shower curtain on their bed.  The rabbit doesn’t like the slippery surface, and if they happen to pee there, the linens are protected.  For bonding, try to spend more time on the floor with her.  Hopefully she will be content with that and not miss being on the bed so much.

As was already mentioned, you can set up a digging box for her.

[Cici]

Let me explain further since “curel and inhumane” is being thrown around.

Momo regularly goes in her cage it is very large and has her water bowl in it and hay. She is free range for the most part but she stayed in her in the cage mostly the first 2 weeks when we got.

Momo use to dig in her litter box around 6am or 7am in the morning. She resides in my room right next to my bed. If saying “No” repeatedly and one spray of water didn’t work I would put her in her cage with toys and a magazine for a 5-10 minutes then let her out and by that time she would be pre-occupied with doing something else. I believe it is not cruel. Momo loves her cage she has a hutch where she like to sleep in there. If I am sweeping the floor in order for her to not get in the way I put her in he cage until i’m done. Using a cage is not bad nor should it be labeled that way. Throwing around cruel and inhumane is unnecessary. Asking for a further explanation would be better.

Also on a side note. Bunnies love plush blankets and Momo sometimes dig in the blanket. That can be another alternative is to lay a blanket down with various toys.

Best of Luck

[Cici]

Maybe punishment is not the right word. I use the cage to redirect Momo to do something else instead of digging. Since her cage has other toys and things in there then once she is out she not thinking about digging anymore.

[Mikey]

There is a chance she is doing it for attention. Two of three of my buns get “in trouble” if they want attention.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Yes, it could very well be hormonal behaviour. She’ll be a lot more relaxed after a spay. Also, teen bunnies have more energy and need to vent it in some way.

If she hurts you while digging at you, try to give a high pitched shriek every time she does this. This may seem like overreacting, but it sounds exactly like a bun in pain. This will signal to her: youch, this hurts! She may be a bit startled, but it does get the message across. We found that this often stops digging and biting behaviour.

There are several ways to let a hyperactive bun vent its energy. A digging box is indeed a great idea. We also feed our bun from the digging box so that he has to dig for his pellets every morning and evening. Keeps him busy for at least half an hour.

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