Rabbit questions

Threadhead

The bunny body language site is great - I'll keep referring back to that.

Today was more successful - she hopped about a fair bit, but wasnt keen on the chasing game. She liked playing with the plastic washing baskets, so I'm feeling a bit happier (and think bunny is too!!)

V_Chic_Chick

How about getting one of those bunny harnesses, and taking her for a walk around the garden? They can be a bit reluctant to walk at first, but they get the idea after a while.

Threadhead

Just a wee update.

Bunny has been happily playing in the kitchen, apart from one day this week when the grass was dry and she played in the garden. I've bought a couple of rugs which I'm using to mark her space, and give her better grip on the floor. She has been running about like a loon playing with her toys, cardboard tubes, washing baskets, etc, and is generally very happy.

Thanks very much for all your help and suggestions.

MoneySavingStudent_2

Hello! This is urgent because im scared they may hurt themselfs on exposed nails etc!

I have 2 little dwarf bunny rabbits which are very friendly. They have both been 'done' and are quite happy to live together in there cage. Ive had them both from about 3-4 months old and i think (because of breed/colour etc) they are from the same mummy meaning there brother and sister. But at the moment they seem to be partners in crime!!

It started just before we got them done at about 5 months, they began to start chewing the sides of the cage! I did a bit of research and thought it might be because they were board? So i decided to make and buy them some toys. They seem very fond of cardboard tubs and flavoured wood. When i give them a new toy they seem very interested with it and play with it for a couple of days. Then a couple of days later there back to chewing the cage again! The cage was brand new when we got the rabbits and over xmas i even brought their run inside so they had more room (because it was too cold to have them in the run outside because they are in door rabbits).

Giving them more room seemed to work for a while then after about a week they started on the run!!
The cage is looking abit battered and the door in to there little sleeping area is more like an arch! Ive just had another look and im getting worried that they may hurt themselfs on nails that they expose etc, ive already had to bang some nails deeper into the wood because they chewed around them!

Does anyone know what i should do? Is there something safe for the rabbit but what they dont like that i could put on the wood? Or maybe an idea that keeps your rabbit entertained?

thanx plz help!!

tadpoleuk

Rabbits teeth grow constantly so they need to chew, I used to use the pumice stones from pet shops for mine.
Also clean branches from fruit trees, whose fruit has pips and not stones like apple and pear. You can get these for nothing if you know anyone who wants a tree pruned for free.;) You dont need to remove the bark as long as its not green from mould which it might be this time of year. Just remove any thin twigs that could cause eye injurys, and leaves as you probably already know that to much green stuff can make bunnies very sick. Make sure the tree hasnt been sprayed with any pesticides etc.

Commercial rabbit cages have a kind of chicken wire mesh over the wood. You could try to line the worst chewed areas of the cage with this. Perhaps with heavy deep staples. I wouldnt use it on the floor as it will be to hard to clean and not comfy to stand on.

Giving them toys is the best way to stop boredom, there are some great rabbit forums out there who could suggest other ideas for you. Good luck

MoneySavingStudent_2

the fruit tree branch is a good idea. They dont chew the floor its more the doors and the little door that goes into there sleeping bit. Im just worried they might hurt themselfs on the nails or they might damage the cage so much that ill have to buy a new one wen its less then 12months old!

They seem to like cardboard but they seem to get board of it after a few days so i replace it with a fresh piece and then there happy for a nother couple of days etc. But the wooden things they love for afew days then they just ignore them. I even got ones that hang from the roof etc.

I know they have to chew and stuff and i do give them stuff but they seem to love the cage more!

My other rabbit bebe who is a rather large albino rabbit doesnt seem to like chewing the cage, she seems more interested in newspaper etc.

Just cant get my head around why they like the wood one min and then not the next. Silly little mischeivous bunnys!

Thanx for the suggestion though! anyone else?!

pboae

Yup, more toys, they sound bored. Also, how often are they getting out for a proper run around? A little run is OK for them to have a bit of room to roam, but unless the run is huge they need to be let out to exercise properly every day.

MoneySavingStudent_2

they have a 6 foot by 4 foot run which they run in now and again. But because there so young and the weather been so bad they like to have a run around in the living room about once or twice a week. There cage is a good size anyway.

Ive brought them loads of toys varying from wooden hanging ones to just toilet roll tube. But they must get board with them really quickly. But its litrally a couple of days and they dont bother with it and more.

And when i open the door to give them there food i leave the door open because sometimes they like to come out and say hello but when there being silly they chew the bottom of the door etc.

is there nothing i cud put on the wood thats safe for them but they wouldnt like? just to put them off abit? there now starting on the doors alot and i think the wire that keeps them in the cage might start coming off soon

pboae

A couple of times a week isn't enough, they need to be out every night, or near enough. Just using the run is like us pacing up and down a corridor. You *could* get enough exercise that way, but it would be boring beyond belief.

Without enough exercise you are storing problems up, obesity, heart problems, muscular problems, etc. If they need to be encouraged to come out and say hello, they are probably pretty unfit already. Get them out, get them moving around, tire them out. It'll keep them healthy and stop them getting stressed and bored, which will stop them wrecking the cage.

MoneySavingStudent_2

hmm.. I see what you mean. I do get them out everyday for a cuddle etc though. They dont need to be encouraged they just like to come out while im sorting out there water etc (believe it or not they like to play with our dog! who loves them like there her puppies! we do keep an eye on them though obviously)

When they were in there run (which was attached to there cage) over xmas they liked having boxes in the run and made there own little mini city as we called it!

Do you think if i purchased a bigger and better maybe more interesting cage ingeneral (maybe with lots of levels or something) and got them out for a run every night they would stop chewing there cage? Weight wise they are okay at the moment thought and are very healthy according to the vet (they got checked about 2 weeks or so ago)