Need some advice for a newbie with a crazy bun!

[Bex&Bun]

Hi Im Rebecca (and my bf David)

We have a beautiful but naughty mini lop named Willoughby, we've had Willoughby and his brother and sister (Barnaby and Anouk - both guinea pigs) since the begining of the year.

I've been very patient and loving with them and they have lots of little toys etc. But Willoughby is being slightly difficult at times.

We live in a unit which has a 2.5meter x 1.5 meter verandah. They have a cage with a ramp so they can get in and out at any time they want. There are places where Willoughby can go out of the road of the Guinea pigs and they seem to get along well with each other which is nice

However, Willoughby is also allowed inside for as long as he wants when im home. He is generally good and doesnt poo inside and when he wants out he scratches at the door or sits till I notice him. The bad part of his behavior is chewing, clawing and trying to dig on furniture and the carpet! He also hates being picked up and will only ocassionally let me pat him.

Yesterday he ripped up all the bedding in his cage, chewed on the doggy pee pad we were testing for the guinea pigs (we wont do that again!) and knocked his bin feeder over scattering all his food.

We love him to death but im spending so much time scolding him for being naughty and cleaning up after him! We really want him to love us too...

Any suggestions would be great!

 

[Yield]

Some buns seem to bond slower than usual with their humans (with me, my bun bonded with me quickly- i'm a new bun owner as well).
How often do you interact with Willoughby?
Maybe he feels like he's not getting enough love?

And I believe that the chewing, clawing, and digging is a natural behavior. My bun is always doing all of that. It gets annoying, but it's typical. Solara is always throwing her food, kicking her litter out of the box... throwing her poop. Is he neutered yet? Because that plays a large part. How old is he?

He could be bored also.
What kind of toys do you give him?
Solara isn't very interested in her toys either. Try some cardboard boxes. Or toilet paper rolls. Solara LOVES those.

and maybe, instead of scolding him, try praising him and treating him (in moderation) when he behaves, or does something you like?

x Bailee

(Edit: Though I'm a new bun owner as well, I have done a TON of research and I read every post on this site that has to do with bunny behavior and such. I'm no expert, but I've had similar problems and have been asked the same questions I'm asking you. Just wanted to let you know so you don't feel like some newbie is trying to help you, lol )

 

[Bex&Bun]

Lol, when I say "he" Willoughby is actually a "She" we weren't sure when we got her and she just looked like a he.. but I can't bring myself to call her a girl. shes a boy to me!

I let him inside at least 3 times a day, and I talk to him, try and pat him, ocassionally try and give him a cuddle and I feed him treats etc. He's not so much scared of me. but hes not that interested in me for most part. She's not de-sexed, its really expensive ($145 for our guinea pig!!).

OUt side they have a pigloo, tunnels to crawl through, a mineral chew toy, old towel, an egg container that I've cut a few holes in the top and hidden food in it so that he has to try and get it out. Also stuffed some lucerne in a toilet paper roll so he has to try and work to get it out. Inside he climbs up to the tops of the lounge and seems to enjoy sliding down or climbing on me

I do praise him when he's good too, especially since he goes to the door when told

Im also thinking about getting him a friend to play with.

Im happy for any suggestions btw your bunny's name is gorgeous!

 

[Yield]

Oh, ok sorry, though she really was a he, lol!
Well, now I'll probably be going he and she randomly.. so excuse me if I do that XD

And that's the problem, I think. When they are not spayed, they get really crabby, going through puberty. They dig more. They chew more. They are kind of anti-social (even though Solara isn't really.. She's just super sweet I got really lucky )

I know it's a lot of money, but I'd really really recommend getting Willoughby fixed. Bunnies who aren't fixed are more prone to cancer (especially females). She will be much calmer, Less irritable also. (This is what i've heard.. Solara isn't fixed yet so I don't quite know how getting a bun fixed affects them all too much yet, I've just heard stories and such.)

See, where I got Solara, we pay 45 bucks for a bun, but we take her back to get her fixed and they give us 25 bucks back! If only they did that everywhere!

When exactly did you get Willoughby? Maybe it's too soon to be cuddling. Solara HATES cuddling. She wants to be stroked on her terms. She wants to lick me on her terms (which is CONSTANTLY!... I swear she has OCD)

And wow, that sounds actually pretty interesting! If I was Willoughby I'd be having a blast with all those toys!!! O:

And about getting the friend, really really consider that. Buns are VERY hard to bond. It can take over nine months to do so, and you risk both buns fighting and getting hurt.

But if you do get another one, I suggest getting a boy- girls don't usually get along. And getting a boy would require one of them being fixed. (Better, both, because hormones can be scented between them and can cause havoc).

Having a friend would be wonderful for your Willoughby, but it's difficult for the bonding stage. You'll need a seperate cage in case they don't get along right away, or if they don't bond at all. Or if the bond breaks. You have to be prepared to maybe have to care for two seperate buns instead of bonded ones, which I have heard is difficult.

Also, it's suggested to wait at least six months before getting another bun. Getting another bun too soon could interupt the bond you are forming with Willoughby, and he might start to ignore you AND other humans.

Bonding buns is so difficult ): I wanted to get another bun, but I don't want to risk my precious Solara's health or happiness. I think she'll just prefer being a single bun. Maybe I'll bond her a few years in the future it's never too late to bond!

and thank you I got it from the movie "The Book of Eli".. and sorry for posting so much I'm glad to be of service!

 

[Bex&Bun]

I pretty much got Willoughby on the first week of the year. Around the 2nd/3rd of January. He is a good bunny and has no agression towards the other guinea pigs (the only time anyone gets slightly agressive was this morning when Willoughby went to chew on some corn husk that ANouk was nibbling and she had a cranky swipe at him! It was actually funny because she is tiny!!).

Im hoping to save up to get Willoughby de-sexed and see if I can find a cheaper place to do it! I would really love another friend for Willoughby as I worry he gets lonely during the day and that someone to play with might calm him down a bit.

 

[Pipp]

Can you put your location in your profile? Sounds like you're 'down under'?

How old is Willoughby? (She might be mad at you for calling her a boy, LOL!)

It always takes time for bunnies to settle in. If she's young, she'll be a little troublemaker. Spaying will help for sure.

The number one activity around here is chewing on cardboard boxes. You're on the right track with the egg container, but you have to keep it interesting. I build little bunny forts out of boxes within boxes, different entrances, exits, levels, etc, (and I stuff a phone book in one of them for ripping) and let them 'renovate' at will. It keeps them gainfully employed.

I also give mine unlimited amounts of grass hay, but not sure what you have in your area. Lucerne will do in a pinch, but grass is better. Bunnies spend all day foraging in their natural habitat, they can (and should) munch on a ton of the stuff. Give them a whole box of it. They will stay busy eating it, digging it, playing with it and peeing on it.

Most of my bunnies very readily come running up for pets, although not my mini-lop, Darry. She's also a VERY busy bunny and loves ripping things up. I'd definitely get her a friend, especially if she's not very friendly. Mine did improve with time and a bf.

Guinea pigs can eat corn husks? They can be bad for rabbits, or so I'm told. Not very digestible.


sas :bunnydance:

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

Bex&Bun wrote:

Hi Im Rebecca (and my bf David)

We have a beautiful but naughty mini lop named Willoughby, we've had Willoughby and his brother and sister (Barnaby and Anouk - both guinea pigs) since the begining of the year.

I've been very patient and loving with them and they have lots of little toys etc. But Willoughby is being slightly difficult at times.

We live in a unit which has a 2.5meter x 1.5 meter verandah. They have a cage with a ramp so they can get in and out at any time they want. There are places where Willoughby can go out of the road of the Guinea pigs and they seem to get along well with each other which is nice

However, Willoughby is also allowed inside for as long as he wants when im home. He is generally good and doesnt poo inside and when he wants out he scratches at the door or sits till I notice him. The bad part of his behavior is chewing, clawing and trying to dig on furniture and the carpet! He also hates being picked up and will only ocassionally let me pat him.

Yesterday he ripped up all the bedding in his cage, chewed on the doggy pee pad we were testing for the guinea pigs (we wont do that again!) and knocked his bin feeder over scattering all his food.

We love him to death but im spending so much time scolding him for being naughty and cleaning up after him! We really want him to love us too...

Any suggestions would be great!

chewing..ie hay is a large percentage of the rabbit diet,,chewing is preventive maintenance for the constantly growing teeth.//.in the wild nails are kept at proper length by chewing and digging--try fruit tree branches/twigs--should help the teeth and gi tract.//. your set up sounds nice,,as far spay or neutering--it is said rabbits can live longer with the proper diet,,,females do tend to get uteran cancer,,males may quit spraying the territory....rabbits and guineas-seem to get along-buddies.//.if you feed guineas seeds,,don,t feed the rabbits seeds,,hope this helps...sincerely james waller:wave::rose:

 

[jamesedwardwaller]

Bex&Bun wrote:

I pretty much got Willoughby on the first week of the year. Around the 2nd/3rd of January. He is a good bunny and has no agression towards the other guinea pigs (the only time anyone gets slightly agressive was this morning when Willoughby went to chew on some corn husk that ANouk was nibbling and she had a cranky swipe at him! It was actually funny because she is tiny!!).

Im hoping to save up to get Willoughby de-sexed and see if I can find a cheaper place to do it! I would really love another friend for Willoughby as I worry he gets lonely during the day and that someone to play with might calm him down a bit.

spay is generally more$$ than nuetering,,but read up on the surgery first..,soas what to expect,,,they are anethetised for the surgery,,a radiograph is recommended for a female --to check for uteran cancer,..sincerely james waller:wave::rose:--note if you are in australia,,ask around about a dreaded disease called myxi...

 

[elrohwen]

I'm going to suggest that spaying will help her control some of her digging and generally naughty behavior. Not completely, but it should settle her down. Plus, it will extend her life by 7-10 years - I think that's worth a few hundred dollars.

I think it will also help your bonding with her. Most bunnies really do not like to be picked up - I would avoid this if at all possible. When I pick up my bun, he tends to avoid me for the next day or so. He's not interested in getting pets when he thinks I may reach out and grab him up. It also took 6-8 months of owning my boy before he enjoyed pets. Now he is the king of snuggles and will cuddle with me for 45 minutes straight. Just give it time! Keep petting her, and try to feed her treats while you're petting so she has a reason to stick around and put up with it. After a while she should associate food with petting - food will make that associate positive for her. You just need to be very patient with some buns and don't get discouraged. And the time of day matters too. My bun will not put up with petting in the morning or during the afternoon. He's just not interested! But if I snuggle him at night, after 6pm, he's all for it. Sometimes they're just fussy about when and where they want affection.