Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

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.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

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

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bitter apple?

Viewing 11 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • poopy
      Participant
      684 posts Send Private Message

        Does anyone know how it is that Bitter Apple and other repellents can be safe for wood? You would think the moisture would be harmful to wood.


      • LillyBear
        Participant
        223 posts Send Private Message

          Hey, I have that stuff.. it hasn’t damaged my wood at all.. Im not sure how that works.. but it is more an alcohol type instead of water.. so it evaporates very fast and thus leaves no moisture.. and it definitley even if it caused a problem, wouldn’t be as much destruction as my bun did … and also one more thing.. it hasn’t detered my bun from the wood at all… she even was eating the wood when it was still wet with the liquid.. so.. yeah.


        • Lucy
          Participant
          370 posts Send Private Message

            hey amanda… i had the same problem with Fujoe and him liking the phooey stuff.. it really pissed me off.


          • BinkyBunny
            Moderator
            8776 posts Send Private Message

              Yeah, that stuff doesn’t deter my bunnies either, and like Fuejoe, Jack actually likes it. I think that since many bunnies actually like the taste of bitter things – like Dandelion greens, that the bitter taste of the bitter apple spray doesn’t phase them.

              I have tried it on my wood furniture, and it didn’t do any damage. Note: all of my wood furniture has been finished. So there is some protection, but the bitter apple didn’t damage the finish either. They used to carry a bitter apple cream. For some reason the bunnies didn’t touch that stuff, maybe it was the texture. That was the only thing in that line of products that worked, but now they don’t carry it. Go figure!


            • poopy
              Participant
              684 posts Send Private Message

                have you guys found anything that does work then?


              • BinkyBunny
                Moderator
                8776 posts Send Private Message

                  Perfume works well for mine. I can’t tell you for sure that it wouldn’t damage all wood, but it hasn’t mine.  I don’t want a huge smell of perfume, so I spray it on a paper towel (you don’t have to soak it, just a light spray) and then I wipe it on the areas that I don’t want chewed.

                  Another member had success with pure lemon oil, while others say rubbing lemon rind on worked.

                  What exactly is she chewing on, a dresser, a table leg???   I know with Jack he likes to chew on the end of a particular door when it’ s open. I use one "Fiddle Sticks" Flexible wood thing around the edge of it and he chews on that instead.    Here are some links to what it looks like.

                  Smaller size in natural
                  Colorful larger size
                  I prefer the more natural wood look so it doesn’t stand out so much.

                  Note: these are pictures I  found on ebay.   I don’t know those sellers and can’t vouch for them, but at least it offers pictures.  I was having hard time finding the "natural" ones online.  I just got mine at a local pet supply.


                • dmh426
                  Participant
                  433 posts Send Private Message

                    Sophie EATS and LICKS the bitter apple stuff. Sophie thinks I put the bitter apple stuff on the Pottery Barn furniture to make it taste better to her.

                    Binky Bunny got me to try perfume. I now regularly use Body Spray from Bath and Body or febreeze. Rabbits hate perfume! You just have to reapply every other day or so in a fine mist until your bunny stops going to that area completely because they hate the smell!


                  • Hedi
                    Participant
                    969 posts Send Private Message

                      My rabbits ignored the bitter apple as well. Perfume has worked to save our carpets. Carpets are the only things they bother. We keep toilet paper rolls and scrap paper/phone books in the areas where they would normally pick at the carpet and since they have something else to capture their attention they leave the carpet alone (of course if we have company we have to pick up all that stuff but its worth it to save the carpet lol).


                    • Bunnies4ever
                      Participant
                      368 posts Send Private Message

                        I wonder if anything that has an citrus flavor/smell works. I have my computer wires covered with crittercord (I think that’s the name) which has a citrus smell and flavor to it. My buns haven’t touched the wires at all! I have all my wires in my office covered with it.  I think the website is http://www.crittercord.com. Maybe a citrus spray would work. Good luck!


                      • BinkyBunny
                        Moderator
                        8776 posts Send Private Message

                          As far as citrus, I guess it depends on what kind – I have heard pure lemon oil and grapefruit scent are deterrents.   I haven’t used it.  I don’t think orange would be good because many bunnies actually like orange.     My great vet, Dr.Harvey, originally told me about the perfume deterrent idea a few years ago, and so far that has worked so well, that I haven’t needed to try anything else.

                          Keep me updated as to what other things work for ya all.   I’ll also ask the the vet this Sunday if she has any other ideas.   She has bunnies of her own


                        • Bunnies4ever
                          Participant
                          368 posts Send Private Message

                            BinkyBunny, you’re probably right about the citrus. My buns are just strange. They don’t like oranges, bananas or raisins! I thought bunnies loved bananas and raisins. I even tried a little piece of apple. Nope! Three of my buns love popsicle sticks soaked in apple juice. They LOVE dried papaya though. Is Dr. Harvey the vet at VCA in Oakland?


                          • BinkyBunny
                            Moderator
                            8776 posts Send Private Message

                              That’s right, she’s at the "VCA Bay Area Hospital" in Oakland.

                          Viewing 11 reply threads
                          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                          Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Bitter apple?