Need help regarding rabbit!

[criowa88]

First off, I am brand new to this blog, so I apologize if I am posting this in the wrong area.

I have had a rabbit for about a year and a half. I bought her at a pet-store, and was told she was a rescue bunny from 4H. They did not tell me her age, as they did not know. I would guess she is between 2-3. She is NOT spayed.

At this point in my life, I cannot afford to get her spayed, and there are no free clinics nearby.

She is a fairly aggressive rabbit. If i stoop down to her level i can pet her. Anytime else I cannot even get close to her as she will run/hide..etc. She loves to go behind the couch, and under the bed, and until most recently she has started pooping in these areas. She has lived in our apartment for a year and a half, and recently is pooping in random places and I cannot understand why. She is definately litter trained while in the cage. She also has started to chew on carpet. Why is she pooping everywhere, and starting to chew on the carpet. HELP!!

Thanks

 

[LakeCondo]

Running & hiding isn't being aggressive, it's being timid.

Does she have a box to hide in, a digging box, & things other than carpet that she likes to chew on? Has something changed in her environment? Mine poops in the wrong places when she's stressed about something.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Random droppings could be territorial marking usually done by those in need of a neuter.

 

[I_heart_Fraggles]

Moved to behavior. You will get better answers here

 

[mrbunny]

Has something changed within your home?

As Nancy said, bunnies like to mark their territories with poop especially those bunnies that are not fixed. Territorial marking will decrease after they are fixed. It just seems strange to me that your rabbit has started marking things after a year. Marking may also occur if something has changed in your home or environment.

Bunnies like dark places. It makes them feel safe. My buns like to hide underneath my bed and futon sometimes. (One of them also likes to dig and scratch at the baseboard in the corner as well.) Also, as LakeCondo stated, providing more cardboard boxes to hide and dig may distract her.

I'm not sure if this helps and maybe you've already tried already:
Free or Low Cost Spay/Neuter Services Available: http://www.arc-na.org/resources-ser...spayneuter-services-available-listed-by-state
Spay Iowa: http://www.spay-iowa.org/Find_a_Program.html

 

[criowa88]

She use to like to go under the bed, and behind the couch. For a year it was find, until she found it was a good idea to start chewing the carpet in these areas. So i restricted her access to these areas. She still manages to get into these areas when I am not on the ball and forget to close the door/put something to block her way, and when she does get to these areas, she poops everywhere. It's getting really frustrating.

 

[LakeCondo]

She's pooping there to reclaim what she considers her territory. Does she have enough other things to chew on?

 

[criowa88]

I would say she has plenty of things to chew on inside her cage and out. She has several books, boxes, and other toys. She is pooping all over the house. She had never done that prior to the last couple of weeks. Granted its not difficult to clean up, it gets very frustrating. She is not spayed. Is this the primary reason? Any other way to tame her regarding her behavior, as she does not like to be handled at all. I understand that she needs spayed but are there any other short term solutions?

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[mrbunny]

For short-term solutions, you can try bitter apple spray or rubbing some perfume on paper towel and rubbing it in the carpet. The bitter apple spray doesn't always work, because some buns turn out to really love the stuff. To prevent her from chewing the carpet, I would block off the area and try to remember to close the gate.

You can still pick her up. My rabbits (minus one) don't like to be grabbed, but they are know when I pick them up, it's for a reason (usually routine check-ups or if they're in an area they're not supposed to be). When you hold rabbits, stay calm, support their bottoms, and they will remain calm.

 

[mrbunny]

Posted twice.

 

[mrbunny]

As for the reason, I agree with LakeCondo. She's probably trying to reclaim "her" territory, especially since you have now (somewhat) blocked off the area. Chewing is natural for rabbits. Perhaps provide some safe tree branches (willow, birch, apple are a few) to help with the chewing, and possibly discourage her from chewing on the carpet. Once again, spaying will help with hormonal behaviour.