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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

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    • StickyBun
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        Hey there   I am having some trouble and I am not sure where to start…or what to do.

        Sticky has been doing well health -wise.  Just discovered he has coccidia but I am not overly surprised considering where he came from.  He is currently being treated for it. Hair is finally growing back in on the back of his neck. He is eating well and litter box habits are perfect.  However…

        Behaviorally he has become a nightmare.  He is in his xpen when we are not home or while we are in bed; otherwise the door is open and he can come and go at his discretion.  From day one, when out of his pen he has tried to chew cords and rip up carpet.  We do not allow it (of course) and have just constantly corrected him and shooed him away from whatever he is doing and he would stop and go on to something else.  He might try again a little later but we would just correct again and carry on. 

        We have provided toys for him but they are largely ignored.  Seagrass mats, seagrass carrot toy, wood to chew on, small paper bags filled with hay and treats to rip up, cardboard tubes filled with hay and treats, wicker balls, paper to shred, carboard boxes with holes cut in them to play in or destroy, etc.  None of it seems to be anything he enjoys.  We did make him a ‘dig box’ and filled it with shredded paper and hid treats in it.  He liked it for about two days and he now ignores it. He does like towels or blankets but since he pees on them immediately, he isn’t allowed to have them at this time.  He has played a bit with the cardboard boxes.

        The last few days he has become a terror.  When he is let out of his pen, he immediately….and I mean IMMEDIATELY starts doing something that isn’t allowed.  Example: he has begun jumping in the tote that I keep all of his supplies in and trying to rip everything open.  It is a large tote that holds his litter, hay, pellets, etc.  Obviously this is not allowed.  I keep all of his stuff in this tote because I don’t want it available to him on the floor.  Because we go through so much litter, I have to buy a huge 40 lb bag and of course those pellets I got came in a huge bag as well.  I have hay in large amounts and so on.  I don’t have a lid for the tote unfortunately but I have now covered it with a very large towel and put a box on top of it…and he simply knocks the box off and digs at the towel.  When I clap my hands loudly at him and tell him NO! he just looks at me so I actually have to shoo him away.  That is fine but he immediately goes and does something else that isn’t allowed, i.e. grabs a cord or begins ripping at carpet.  I clap my hands loudly again at him and again he just looks at me so I go over and shoo him away again. 

        I can’t stress this enough: when he is out, he is constantly doing things that are destructive and not allowed.  As I have typed this, I have gotten up 4 TIMES to stop him from trying to get in the tote with his supplies.  The minute I step away, he just does it again.  He has been trying very hard to get under my son’s bed and under the couch lately too which cannot be allowed because he just tears up the carpet when he is under there.

        I am not sure what to do anymore.  We have regressed in our relationship…he won’t even allow me close enough to pet himanymore because I am constantly clapping and correcting him.  The only time I get close to him is when I am in his pen to feed him or clean.  He will take treats from me (he loves the Oxbox papaya tablets) but he just takes off as soon as he has it.  I hate to lock him up in his pen all the time because he just ignores all toys and I am afraid he is just bored. 

        Before everyone says ‘Well, is he neutered?’, no he is not but he was just born in march and his little boys parts have not made an appearance yet.  As soon as they do, they are being removed because if he is like this before hormones kick in, I don’t think I will be able to handle him at all once they do.  

        Any and all supportive and constructive help is appreciated. 


      • Sarita
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          He’s hit puberty and it’s going to unfortunately be like this for awhile. Neutering and age is going to help.


        • StickyBun
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            At this point do I just keep him in his xpen primarily and not allow him out since I know he is going to continue to be destructive? Do I still allow him his free time although it is constantly filled with correction? I guess I am having trouble figuring out if it is more detrimental to keep him penned until this calms down or let him out and be in trouble constantly?

            Neither option is a good one, is it? Poor guy. I will talk to my vet and see if she can neuter him immediately. As of last week we had no parts to remove…and at this moment I can’t check again because he isn’t allowing me to touch him much at all.


          • Chronicambitions
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              Sounds like he’s hungry. My hay and pellets are kept on top of the cage. When my bunnies haven’t gotten their pellets in a while, they make it their mission to get on top of their cage and rip the bag of pellets open.
              Is sticky on unlimited pellets? Next time he tries to get into the tote, stop him. After waiting a bit, give him some pellets. (Maybe feed him by hand so he learns to go to you for pellets instead of the tote)


            • Beka27
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                Ah, yes. I remember those days. Meadow was a major pain in the rear. It got to the point where I didn’t even have to say ‘no’ anymore, I could just stand up from whatever I was (the computer desk or the couch) and she would stop. Within a ten minute period, I would seriously have to stand up and sit down 30 times.

                But… it passes.

                You’ve reached the trifecta of naughtiness…

                1) PUBERTY; solution, neutering.

                2) COMFORTABILITY; (new rabbits are too afraid to be bad, but once they realize this is home, they act out); solution, allowing him time to continue to become accustomed to the new surroundings and realize he doesn’t need to claim everything and chew everything to pieces.

                3) AGE; solution, patience. (It’s likely that he will continue to be naughty up to, and past, his first birthday. This is partially age-related behavior and neutering won’t stop all of this.)

                I would keep him penned when you cannot DIRECTLY supervise. You’re not “failing him” by needing to confine him. You’re preserving your sanity and house and possessions. It’s not forever. It does not mean he isn’t a “real house bunny”. It does not mean he will never be free range. You’re in the “temporary-counting-down-the-days-please-snip-those-boy-bits-as-soon-as-possible” stage.

                Again, it passes. ;o)


              • Beka27
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                  Also, can you get a bunny tote WITH a lid? It is worth the extra $10-15. I’m thinking of those large sterilite containers with the locking lids that you use for xmas decor and various basement/attic storage.

                  Have you read this HRS article yet: http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-3/age-related-behavior.html


                • Stickerbunny
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                    Sounds like Stickers. Every 5 minutes or so I have to stop her eating carpet any time she is out. If she stops that, she goes to find something else bad to do. Getting under the bed (which is blocked off, but she has to find a way past the blockade, it’s her lifes mission), or behind the TV (again blocked off, but she has to find a way through that baby gate, even if it means chewing through it). She can’t sit around and behave, or play with her toys, or eat her food, or play with Powder… she HAS to be getting into something she knows she isn’t allowed. Though, at least all I have to do with her is stand up, or say “rabbit” or pick up the water bottle, or sometimes just look at her. She knows it’s bad and she is supposed to stop.

                    All I know to do is keep correcting them and wait for the age of terror to end (I have been told somewhere around 2). Spaying didn’t stop her at all, but she’s calming a bit as she gets older.


                  • StickyBun
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                      @ Beka – LOL at the ‘trifecta of naughtiness’! I think you are correct though…he has certainly arrived at that. I am taking him to work with me tomorrow and I will see if my vet can find his manly parts. If so, I will be removing them ASAP! I know it isn’t an immediate fix but it gets us on the right road….and at least from what everyone is telling me, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

                      @Chronicambitions – he isn’t hungry, he is being a brat! He has unlimited pellets, hay, gets his salad daily and a papaya tablet. Apparently they can reach the hormonal terror stage before they are actually able to be neutered, which I was not aware of.

                      Perhaps I will try the water bottle. Keep your fingers crossed that he isn’t a water loving bun!


                    • Sarita
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                        I wouldn’t do the water bottle thing – I don’t think it works and it’s not positive reinforcement.

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                    Forum BEHAVIOR Constant Correction