Charlie is eating everything!

[BinkyBunny]

How do you handle your rabbits chewing on things like carpet and blankets or digging? Charlie seems to be all about these two activities! :no:

I am looking for solutions other than not letting him around those items because that is obvious. Thank you !

 

[Chrisdoc]

Only thing you can do is try and give them as many alternatives as possible to chew instead of the carpet or furniture. I give them cardboard, twigs, boxes, and anything else I can think of that comes free. I have old blankets which I don´t mind them putting holes into and I try and make sure I always wear old clothes when they´re climbing all over me as Snowy bit a hole in one of my good fleeces last week. Failing that, you just have to rabbit proof anything you really don´t want them to touch and hope they get the message. As you will find out, anything forbidden is sure to attract them :whistling

 

[erinmoveit]

Peanut is the same way. SHe is literally eating herself out of a home! Even though I give her toys, cardboard, chews... she wants to chew her house. I give her an edible log that you can find at most pet stores. It made from Timothy and honey. Since it is high in sugar I do everything I can do reduce their sugar intake (very few fruits). It is the one thing and the only thing that I can do to keep her occupied off of eating the walls, floor, stairs...

 

[Chrisdoc]

Well, it´s certainly a challenge being a bunny mom and a never ending journey to stop them eating you literally out of house and home. Really do find that less is more now so I have a very sparsley furnished living room now to accomodate my three little boys. A real must is proofing cables. Haven´t found a rabbit yet that doesn´t love them to bits.

 

[BinkyBunny]

My two before never chewed cords. They would take them in their mouth if it were new and spit it back out and move on! Lightening is NOT striking twice sadly

Charlie seems to like rugs and, oddly, the tubing that goes to a breast pump *shrugs* I'm going to have to keep those up because those are $20.00 a set to replace!

 

[Blue eyes]

How do you handle your rabbits chewing on things like carpet and blankets or digging? Charlie seems to be all about these two activities! :no:

I am looking for solutions other than not letting him around those items because that is obvious. Thank you !

No easy answers here. Is it any part of any rug or carpet that he chews? Mine have been very good on the carpet until I noticed them one day particularly interested in one 2" area of the carpet. They were trying to pull up the carpet there. Fortunately I caught them right away. I poured some white vinegar directly on the carpet in that spot. That did the trick.:weee: They've stayed away from that spot since then.

I thought I saw some members that have a dig box for their diggers to use. Maybe a cardboard box (deep) filled with shredded paper?

I don't use blankets, but I do give mine a towel or an old (clean) raggy t-shirt to play with now and then.

I'm sorry I forgot whether or not yours is altered. I've heard that can help too.

 

[BinkyBunny]

Charlie gets fixed jan 15

 

[Thumperina]

How do you handle your rabbits chewing on things like carpet and blankets or digging? Charlie seems to be all about these two activities!

taking him outside where he could chew and dig?

 

[BinkyBunny]

I will but for now it's very cold and snowy!

 

[Thumperina]

wow, snowy...! He probably would be excited! Where do you live if you don't mind me asking?

 

[BinkyBunny]

I thought he would like the snow too, but other bun parents have recommended that we not take him outside until it's a little warmer or bring the snow to him. He is an indoor bunny and has always been indoors, so I'm afraid he would find it quite shocking!

 

[Imbrium]

I'd say it depends on just how cold it is... it can snow and not be all that cold, after all. I'd think it's fine to take him outside for as long as you can stand to be out there with no jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie on. if it's too cold for that to be an option then yeah, keep him in.

 

[Thumperina]

With all the cold we have here (it's warming up recently, but was pretty cold), my rabbits demand me let them out as early as 7am! (which is the coldest time of the day). But they are mostly outdoor rabbits.
Can rabbit seriously be kept indoors all his life and stay healthy?!? I can hardly imagine a human being who never goes outside and lives 100% indoors, and bunnies are much more "outdoor" by their nature... It's not that I am criticizing, but I am sincerely amazed!

PS try to keep children indoors for too long and they will be kicking walls

 

[Apebull]

With all the cold we have here (it's warming up recently, but was pretty cold), my rabbits demand me let them out as early as 7am! (which is the coldest time of the day). But they are mostly outdoor rabbits.
Can rabbit seriously be kept indoors all his life and stay healthy?!? I can hardly imagine a human being who never goes outside and lives 100% indoors, and bunnies are much more "outdoor" by their nature... It's not that I am criticizing, but I am sincerely amazed!

PS try to keep children indoors for too long and they will be kicking walls

I can't imagine taking Twig's outside. He won't even go near the sliding glass door if the curtain is open let alone the door :hiding:. I would love to but can't see him liking it at all. But I do agree about children or at least mine LOL.

 

[Imbrium]

With all the cold we have here (it's warming up recently, but was pretty cold), my rabbits demand me let them out as early as 7am! (which is the coldest time of the day). But they are mostly outdoor rabbits.
Can rabbit seriously be kept indoors all his life and stay healthy?!? I can hardly imagine a human being who never goes outside and lives 100% indoors, and bunnies are much more "outdoor" by their nature... It's not that I am criticizing, but I am sincerely amazed!

PS try to keep children indoors for too long and they will be kicking walls

I take my bunnies outside every day or two, though not for very long and only in the *very* early morning in the summers, since I live in south texas and it's hot as hell... usually 100F+ in the afternoons and still 80F+ until *long* after the sun sets... 6-8 am or so is the only time I can often catch it below 80-85F and they're usually looking hot after 30 mins to an hour, so I take them in. they love their trips outside, but then, they seem to enjoy life inside with the air conditioner, too. like me, they're not fans of the texas heat.

I had an indoor cat before I had the bunnies... got her when she was 3 mos old and lived in an apartment, so she was indoors full time, then later moved to a house. she was terrified of the outside... if I left a door open, she might take a few steps out onto the porch, but then she'd dart back inside.

 

[BinkyBunny]

I will take him outside as I agree it is in their nature to enjoy the outdoors. When it is 10 degrees...not so much. He prefers to get his Vit D via window sunlight on those days

 

[PaGal]

I have tried everything ever suggested to get Thumper to stop chewing what he should not but none of it has worked. I tried clapping and saying "No", I tried spraying water, applying lemon juice, Ivory soap and hot sauce he loves!
He has several large cardboard boxes to play in, on and chew on.Different pieces of cardboard galore, paper towel tubes, wooden spoons, alfalfa blocks, branches, balls so it is not a lack of toys.
If you find anything that works, be sure to let me know!

 

[JBun]

What about trying timeouts? Have a time out area and put your bun in it when it doesn't listen when you say no. Might work. Could try clicker training and treats to redirect to positive reinforcement as well.

 

[BinkyBunny]

Charlie is responding very well to redirection If I see him nibbling the carpet or something naughty I have placed a good object near him. I realize this could be seen as positive reinforcement, but his attention span leads me to believe he is just being redirected!