Rabbit Digging/Chewing

[Bribble]

I know I posted this topic before but never got an answer as to how to stop it, just what it was. The last, 4 weeks or so, my rabbit has just constantly been digging and chewing at the corners of the cage. The first two weeks it was just at night, and it kept me up. Now however, it's ALL DAY LONG too! It's like the rabbit never sleeps!

The cage doesn't have a top on it and the front door is always open. So if she wants out, she can get out. Nothing I've done to try and stop this behaviour will work. I've honestly resorted to putting her in a bin in the garage at night just so I can get some sleep in. I know she doesn't like it, and I don't either, but I've got no other choice. She's the only rabbit in my room that does this. And it's all she does. Does anyone have any idea on what to do to stop it? I hate throwing her out in the garage, and we've had the occasional peaceful night the last week but she still starts up again at some point. For the chewing/digging I've tried blocking the corners but then she just digs right next to it. I've also tried vinegar and some nasty tasting stuff to try and prohibit the chewing but that works for about 10 minutes. I've tried adding a hay rack to keep them busy as well but it doesn't really work. I'm at a loss here. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Blue eyes]

Can you post a photo of the cage set up so we can see what it's made of and whether we can figure out what might be an issue? Also, is she spayed?

 

[Bribble]

I don't currently have a picture of the setup but its got a deep plastic bottom. It's like this but much longer/wider. On one short side there's a water bottle and feeder, on the other short side there's a litter box with a hay rack and there's some toys/things to knaw on in between. There's also a slab of wood wedged between the bars of the cage above the plastic bottom they like to sit on occasionally. None of my rabbits are spayed but none of them have really had behavioural problems either.

 

[Popsicles]

To me it sounds like a boredom behaviour that’s become a sort of obsessive stereotypy, a bit like zoo animals pacing etc. It could also be behavioural due to not being spayed. How old is she? What sort of toys and stimulation do they have, and do you mix up the toys regularly to keep them interesting? I’m not sure what else to suggest!

 

[Blue eyes]

You said the door is open always so she can get out. Does she ever go out? Is it easy for her to go in and out? The photo shows a cage on a stand. Is yours like that? Just wondering if she finds it too difficult to either go in or out of her cage. Each rabbit is different. So what one rabbit may find a simple thing to do, another will not.

Same goes with hormones. Hormones can affect some rabbits severely while with others it is barely noticeable.

Is she in the cage by herself? Does she share space with other rabbits? What's her age?

 

[Bribble]

To me it sounds like a boredom behaviour that’s become a sort of obsessive stereotypy, a bit like zoo animals pacing etc. It could also be behavioural due to not being spayed. How old is she? What sort of toys and stimulation do they have, and do you mix up the toys regularly to keep them interesting? I’m not sure what else to suggest!

I've got some little plastic balls that make noise when you shake them. Bought a few that were strung together as a bird toy. They've also got a baby plastic key toy that the one likes to throw around. The one that does the digging typically likes to shred things so she gets anything from paper to cardboard tubes (sometimes filled with treats and hay). They get cardboard boxes to shred/hide in as well. They are rotated when they stop playing with them, although the box is always in there as one can be timid.
She's at least two or three at this point, the white one being almost 5. Never had any weird behavioural problems with my white one.

 

[Bribble]

You said the door is open always so she can get out. Does she ever go out? Is it easy for her to go in and out? The photo shows a cage on a stand. Is yours like that? Just wondering if she finds it too difficult to either go in or out of her cage. Each rabbit is different. So what one rabbit may find a simple thing to do, another will not.

Same goes with hormones. Hormones can affect some rabbits severely while with others it is barely noticeable.

Is she in the cage by herself? Does she share space with other rabbits? What's her age?

The cage is on legs, but I also tend to store my box of rabbit feed right by the door, so it wouldn't be very hard for her to just hop out. When the cage was near my desk she would hop over the tall side to sit on my desk. And the cage door is only about 1-2 feet off the ground (4ft high total) and jumping doesn't seem to be much of a problem for her. She never comes out though. She shares the cage with my other female, who's jumped out of the cage a few times to stretch her legs.

 

[Popsicles]

Hmmmm.. The fact she is a bit older makes a hormonal explanation feel unlikely, because it probably would have started earlier. It really does sound like a frustration kind of response - like blue eyes said, is she able to roam around and release that energy at all? My rabbit digs and chews the corner like mad if I haven them let her out yet.

 

[JBun]

Could you just remove the cage base completely and see how she reacts. That may solve the behavior if the object of her obsession is gone. Or she may redirect to something else.

If she does, I would be looking at it being hormonal or even possibly she could be developing uterine problems. Unspayed non breeding does are very susceptible to developing uterine cancer as they get older. I had an older unspayed doe that started obsessively nesting(false pregnancy behavior) and I suspected she might be developing uterine cancer. Once she was spayed the behavior stopped and she was fine.

I would try removing the cage base and also seriously consider getting her spayed by a knowledgeable rabbit vet. There's no guarantee that spaying will correct the behavior, but there is a good chance it could.

 

[Popsicles]

I’ve just seen your second reply sorry, maybe it would be worth providing some sort of step so she can get out a bit easier if she wants, because there could be something putting her off - it would be really helpful if she could run and binky around and use up that energy

 

[Bribble]

Hmmmm.. The fact she is a bit older makes a hormonal explanation feel unlikely, because it probably would have started earlier. It really does sound like a frustration kind of response - like blue eyes said, is she able to roam around and release that energy at all? My rabbit digs and chews the corner like mad if I haven them let her out yet.

Now that people are bringing up the boredom factor, which I haven't thought of before, I'm thinking it could be that too. Spring fever was suggested as a cause when I posted my original thread. It made a lot of sense then because she was also nesting, but at this point it's improbable.
While I don't normally physically take them out of the cage (unless it's a nice day and I can watch them outside) it doesn't look to be very hard to get in/out of the cage. They've done it before but seem to make the choice to stay in, unless they just haven't figured it out yet?

 

[Blue eyes]

The cage is on legs, but I also tend to store my box of rabbit feed right by the door, so it wouldn't be very hard for her to just hop out. When the cage was near my desk she would hop over the tall side to sit on my desk. And the cage door is only about 1-2 feet off the ground (4ft high total) and jumping doesn't seem to be much of a problem for her. She never comes out though. She shares the cage with my other female, who's jumped out of the cage a few times to stretch her legs.

Based on what you said the issue is clearly that she is not comfortable with getting out of the cage. She desperately wants out (hence the digging). You need to come up with a better way. If she isn't coming out, it is only because she doesn't feel comfortable/confident doing so (or is afraid she can't get back in). It doesn't matter whether the other rabbit is able to.

Maybe you can remove the stand and get that cage down on floor level (where it should be). That would be the best solution. If that absolutely can't be done, then the door should be removed (if it opens like a ramp) and a platform placed at the entrance and then a step or two (boxes) to go from the platform to the ground level.

She needs a way that is easy (in her mind) to get in and out. Any rabbit will hop out to explore. The arrangement needs to change to suit her.

If she's bored and was comfortable getting out, she would get out and explore! She needs an easier way.

 

[Popsicles]

Some buns are just braver than others so she might not feel comfortable jumping out. I’d be surprised if she knows the space is available to her but doesn’t make use of it

 

[Bribble]

Could you just remove the cage base completely and see how she reacts. That may solve the behavior if the object of her obsession is gone. Or she may redirect to something else.

If she does, I would be looking at it being hormonal or even possibly she could be developing uterine problems. Unspayed non breeding does are very susceptible to developing uterine cancer as they get older. I had an older unspayed doe that started obsessively nesting(false pregnancy behavior) and I suspected she might be developing uterine cancer. Once she was spayed the behavior stopped and she was fine.

I would try removing the cage base and also seriously consider getting her spayed by a knowledgeable rabbit vet. There's no guarantee that spaying will correct the behavior, but there is a good chance it could.

There's no way to remove the cage base, which I tried to do when I first got it. That is unless you cut the metal bars holding it up. Would a ramp from the front door to the floor work just as good? I honestly would rather her not on my carpet (although litter training seems to be going well) but if it makes her happy I'm willing to do it.

 

[Bribble]

Based on what you said the issue is clearly that she is not comfortable with getting out of the cage. She desperately wants out (hence the digging). You need to come up with a better way. If she isn't coming out, it is only because she doesn't feel comfortable/confident doing so (or is afraid she can't get back in). It doesn't matter whether the other rabbit is able to.

Maybe you can remove the stand and get that cage down on floor level (where it should be). That would be the best solution. If that absolutely can't be done, then the door should be removed (if it opens like a ramp) and a platform placed at the entrance and then a step or two (boxes) to go from the platform to the ground level.

She needs a way that is easy (in her mind) to get in and out. Any rabbit will hop out to explore. The arrangement needs to change to suit her.

They've both gotten out and run around before, but I'll try a ramp and just show her that she can get out a little easier. While the door is always open and there's always a step I think she thinks she can't get out because of the step. She did it fine without one there, and even better jumping the 3ft from the bottom of the cage to my desk.

 

[Popsicles]

If you aren’t comfortable with her on your carpet you can close off Just part of your room and put some sort of protection down - my bunny has a roll of flooring on top of my carpet as I’m in Student accommodation and can’t risk my carpet haha

 

[Blue eyes]

Yes, but jumping is up is much different than jumping down.

 

[Bribble]

If you aren’t comfortable with her on your carpet you can close off Just part of your room and put some sort of protection down - my bunny has a roll of flooring on top of my carpet as I’m in Student accommodation and can’t risk my carpet haha

Didn't think about covering the carpet, thanks! I can't really risk my carpet either cause my mother would be livid if it was ruined Although we are getting it professionally cleaned soon so I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world . . . But I will try the ramp and covering the carpet. Thank you all!

 

[Popsicles]

Best of luck, keep us updated!

 

[Bribble]

Best of luck, keep us updated!

Will do, I'll let you all know tomorrow if I got any sleep
One last thing, should I put another litter box on the floor? I don't have time to cover it tonight but I'm willing to test run unprotected for the night (I've got my rabbit carpet cleaning technique down).