Bunny has Pinterest bug?

[Cosette]

I recently brought home a new bunny, (supposedly) male, unsure of age but young. We bought him a cage that’s slightly bigger than where he came from, and put a grass hutch in there. It’s a tunnel rather than a normal house style. But now he’s constantly rearranging it. He’ll flip it over, push it from one side to the other, it’s crazy. He goes in and through it, but then flips it around more. Could he just be bored? Adjusting to a new home? Anything I can do to do this, because during the night it’s terribly loud, lol.

[Rhian]

Rabbits will rearrange everything in their cage if they are able to pick it up in their mouths, especially when they’re bored or want something. Your best bet is to find a heavier tunnel/house (I’ve had good luck with the large bendable log tunnels, but it does depend on the size of rabbit) for him and take the grass tunnel out at night if it’s keeping you awake. Find smaller, quieter things he can throw around (cardboard tubes, willow/grass balls, wooden sticks). Make sure to watch out for their dishes too! My older rabbit girl, if she’s locked up at night, will take her food dish, drag it over to her water dish and clang them together. She lives in my room, so it’s super fun at like 4-5 AM.

Either way, chances are he’s going to be loud at night. The tunnel throwing might turn into bar pulling, or digging or whatever that can be just as loud. Rabbits usually have a high energy period when we’re all trying to sleep. How large is his cage? How much time does he get outside of the cage? Is there anyway you’d be able to add something like an x-pen to his cage during the night?

I know it can be awkward during the time when they first get there, as litter training doesn’t necessarily kick in for awhile (or until they’re neutered). Just do what you can to minimize the noise and get him as much exercise as you can. Test out different toys and try to change them regularly, make sure he has some kind of busywork (you can fill up cardboard tubes or paper bags with hay for him to shred, offer him cardboard boxes he can destroy, but these are also somewhat noisy activities that I have become accustomed to sleeping though).

If you’re a really light sleeper you might want to consider finding a different room for him to go to, even if it’s just for the night.

[Author]

Messages