Bored bunnies?

[snap]

I remember a similar post a while ago about someone's bunny digging and being obnoxious, but I can't find it. >.<

My two Holland does are 6 months old, and recently separated because they're going to be bred, plus they were beginning to fight((It really broke my heart to separate them)). Now they both WON'T STOP DIGGING! D< I'm sweeping the floor afternoon, and Dragonfly goes into my mesh-bottomed carrier almost every night so she can't dig because I just can't stand it.

They're both in 2 ft x 2 ft cages but they are getting play time EVERY day. They also have toys, and timothy hay- which usually makes Harper stop digging/being obnoxious. But they keep digging, and it's getting on my nerves((honestly, I do not do well with anger and this isn't good for the bunnies)).

I just don't know what to do anymore, I'm so frustrated. I feel like I'm dealing with toddlers, with cute floppy ears and soft fur.

 

[Amy27]

Are they digging the bottom of their cages? Could you put some paper down so it may not be as loud when they dig? Or a box with paper and hay in it they could dig? I am trying to think of things that may not be as loud as them digging on the plastic cage bottom.

Here are some threads I found about digging, hopefully one of them is the one you are looking for.
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=57315&forum_id=48&highlight=digging
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=55975&forum_id=48&highlight=digging
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=55593&forum_id=1&highlight=digging
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=55438&forum_id=48&highlight=digging

 

[snap]

No, they're digging in their litter boxes. I have hay in their litter boxes now, because maybe it will be less messy & more quiet. :/

Paper like...plain computer paper? Or newspaper?

 

[Amy27]

Let me find a thread as I don't use this but I know members have posted about the lighting grates you can cut easily to fit in a litter pan so they can't dig.

okay it is called coroplast.
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=55614&forum_id=93
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=54540&forum_id=93

You can buy litter boxes with it already in it like this
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752717&lmdn=Small+Pet

I think that would take the fun out of digging if they can't get to the litter. I would also hang a basket above the litter box for hay so that there isn't hay in the box for them to dig.

I was thinking paper would help if they were digging the plastic on the bottom of the cage. But since that isn't the issue, I don't think that would help.

 

[Amy27]

Here is a bigger litter box I found with the grid

http://store.binkybunny.com/shared/...ucts.asp&utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase

 

[elrohwen]

Can you give them more expercise time? Some bunnies are just diggers and hyperactive. My female digs in the cage bottom unless she's allowed a lot of exercise during the day or a large cage area. She doesn't dig in a 4'x4' cage, but she digs like crazy in a 3.5'x1.5' cage. Not sure there's much you can do other than change their environment or learn to live with it. Or wait until they get older and possibly grow out of it (though my girl is 3 and has been doing this all her life).

A grid on the litter box will help keep them from digging in that, though they may still dig in the rest of their cage.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

There is also a Yard Grid you can get at a walmart or hobbyhouse that you can cut to size and place in the box over the litter. Let me see if I can find this post from long ago, ahah.:biggrin:

Here's the thread from our Library, it also has the lighting grid photo:

http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=10792&forum_id=1

 

[tamsin]

The digging you are seeing is abnormal repetitive behaviour caused by a lack of stimulation/enrichment. It's common in laboratory caged rabbits. Like the footage you see of zoo animals kept in small space pacing back and forth over the same area - rabbits default to digging instead of pacing.

How long is playtime? Rabbits would naturally spend about eight or so hours a day hopping around grazing. If they don't get this time to exercise they easily get frustrated. They need to have exercise a minimum of 4-6 hours, preferably split in two, one early morning, the other afternoon/evening. You need to encourage them to be active during this time by providing an interesting & challenging space to explore not just an empty pen.

If you are shutting them in for more than a few hours per day you need to think about increasing the cage size to more like 6'x2'. The larger cage size will also give you space to provide more enrichment. If you give them activities that keep them stimulated and occupied they have less time and desire to do the activities you don't like.

 

[jcottonl02]

I have to say I agree with Tamsin on this. If you had them in 5'x 3' or something then maybe it would be easier to think of other reasons why they may be digging. But 2'x2' is quite small, so they should be getting more exercise time than the average bun. The first thing I'd look to here is boredom.
3 hours in the morning, and 3 hours in the evening is great. That means that they have approx 10hours in there at night, then 3 hours to stretch their legs, then perhaps another 6 hours in there, and then 3 hours to stretch their legs before bed again. (yes yes I know that doesn't add up to 24 ) haha.

Tbh having said that, even a bun that lived in a much larger cage than that, should get at least that much exercise time a day.

Do you use NIC panels? Is there any way of just extending their cages a few panels?

What toys do they have? Have you tried rotating them? Giving them toilet holders stuffed with hay etc and other stimulating toys?
Also, if you can stand the noise try giving them a yellow pages to rip up, dig on and throw about- they'd love it and hopefully use up some of that energy on doing that!!

How much time do they get out, generally?

Jen

 

[Mrs. PBJ]

I have to say Jessi and Storm gets a day out and when they go to bed Jessi digs for a couple of minute once the lights are off she settles.

Then I have my 6 o'clock wake up call normal a enough does enough to get them to stop.

I would look into a box with shredded paper in it. Or maybe some chew toys. I have found that more time out and some extra attention at night seems to help the most though.

all my pets are in bed by 9:30 also and I feed the buns when I role out of bed as their food bowls are right by my bed anyway. I think a schedule helps also.

 

[snap]

They are out all day, from about 7 in the morning to about 8 at night. I have toys for them to play with((cardboard tubes, wooden things, a hay ball, boxes, cardboard ramp-type things)) and whenever I go downstairs I'll go out and play with them for a bit. I can't do split time because I have to go to school.
There's no way at all to expand their cages. I keep trying to remember to take a picture, but I can never find the camera. They're just in a ferret cage that I split into top & bottom halves.

I'll get more things for them to play with, maybe? See how that goes...