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Forum BEHAVIOR Rabbit chews blankets during grooming

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    • Starla
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        Almost everytime I groom my Jersey Wooly (Houdini) he chews the blankets in front of him (literally puts holes in them). Since he is a Jersey Wooly, grooming him is a longer and more difficult process. He doesn’t really chew on anything else really. Except he has once pulled blankets close to his cage inside his cage (he tries, only a little ever makes it in) this obviously makes the holes but my female does the same and she rarely chews on blankets or fabric other than trying to bring it into her cage. Also Houdini did make holes in his bonding stuffed animal (I removed it from his cage)

        Is this a stress behavior?

        He hasn’t always done it, it started a few months ago. I don’t mind it, I just want to know if it means stress. The chewing of the stuffed animal could of been done during stress (there could of been thunder, dogs barking, and so on).


      • Wick & Fable
        Moderator
        5770 posts Send Private Message

          Grooming each other is important for a rabbit relationship. Grooming a stuffed animal because your rabbit likes it could cause the damage, and the blanket behavior while being groomed could be explained as your rabbit trying to reciprocate grooming to you.

          The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.


        • Starla
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            He doesnt ever try to groom me, my leg and arm will be out and he will purposely move to chew the blanket. Our relationship has luckily grown recently. He was very skittish when I first started fostering-to-adopt him. I’m guessing it’s because of what he has been through (they named him Houdini because he was in the worst condition of his 3 siblings and has healed so quickly! He used to always want to hide under the blanket so thats why i provide one. Since he used to be so nervous and wanted to hide, I still want to provide the option (especially because i live in FL, storms almost daily, if it thunders and he gets scared he should be able to hide if he wants). So I wouldnt say it’s a relationship thing at all. He will cuddle sometimes (rare but happens) but he never tries to lick or even bite my skin. He seems to only bite fabric. Yes he has bitten me in anger though lol it was when he had a knot and he was mad that it was a longer grooming session. 


          • Starla
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              Also the stuffed animal was in his pen so he could get his scent on it and then you switch the stuffed animals with the bonding buddy to put the scent in the cage. I have been doing it for a month or two but I had just washed them so I had to get his scent back on it! He defiantly isn’t trying to groom when he chews on things, if that was how he groomed himself he would have wounds all over his body. (I did remove the stuffed animal after the sign of bite marks)


            • Starla
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                Also the stuffed animal was in his pen so he could get his scent on it and then you switch the stuffed animals with the bonding buddy to put the scent in the cage. I have been doing it for a month or two but I had just washed them so I had to get his scent back on it! He defiantly isn’t trying to groom when he chews on things, if that was how he groomed himself he would have wounds all over his body. (I did remove the stuffed animal after the sign of bite marks)

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            Forum BEHAVIOR Rabbit chews blankets during grooming