House Rabbits being naughty

August 22, 2008 3:32am CST
Hi all I have a pair of house rabbits. They've only lived in the house a few weeks and up until a couple of days ago they were good as gold. Now though its a completely different story. They've started chewing on everything that they can get their teeth on. They chewed through a bean bag, 2 telephone cables, a couple of power cables and the bottom of the couch. I am always with them whilst they are out of their cage but they still seem to be able to destroy things without me seeing. How can I stop them doing this? What can I do to train them not to chew, especially on the cables as I would hate them to get hurt? Will they eventually stop if I keep on watching them and moving them on when they start to chew? Any help would be appreciated as I am at my wits end with them and am starting to wish that I hadn't made them house bunnies. Thanks James
1 person likes this
2 responses
liuqian
@liuqian (476)
• China
22 Aug 08
Hi,James.My family had kept rabbits before.We just kept them in a large place and didn't let them out of their place.We gave them cabbdges,and millet.I think if they are full,maybe they will stop chewing.Or you can change their cage to iron as they cann't destroy,or larger cage for them to live.
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mcgee_2008
@mcgee_2008 (44)
•
22 Aug 08
Hi Liuqian Thanks for your response. I very much wish for them to be house rabbits so I am determined to find a way that we can all live in peace in the house. They never have a shortage of food so I am not convinced that they chew becasue they are hungry. I think that it is natuaral behaviour. However in the wild there are certain things that rabbits don't chew on as they know that they are bad. I am hoping that someone could give me the answer regarding teaching them not to chew on these cables especially. Thanks James
CinderInMySoul
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
22 Aug 08
well you must rabbit proof your house. get all cords away from the floor..like 2 to 3 feet off the floor. chewing is a natural instinct in bunnys..they do it to keep their incisors from getting overgrown..so they MUST have things to chew. supply safe chewables as alternatives, redirect rabbits to areas you want them to chew..like untreated wood blocks, sticks from safe trees, like apple and willow (double check with a search on bunny safe trees, cause im not positive) empty toilet paper rolls...those kinds of things. some ppl say they've been able to train their bunny not to chew..others say its impossible to train them not to do something that is a health requirement. here are two links for you to check out...the first is about rabbit proofing your home and some ideas for chewing substitutes. http://www.petsandkids.co.uk/RabbitProofingYourHome.html this second one is advice on how to attempt to train your bunny not to chew. it also has a number of personal experience/suggestions from visitors to the site (a number seem like very good ideas) http://www.ehow.com/how_16488_train-rabbit-chew.html hope something in there helps you!
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mcgee_2008
@mcgee_2008 (44)
•
22 Aug 08
Hi Cinder Thanks for the links. I have made every effort to bunny proof. The only cable I can't move up off of the floor is the telephone cable as the box for it is only a few inches off the floor and there is not enough room to move it. I will definately look at the links you supplied. Every bit of information i can get is great. The bunnies also have lots of stuff that they are allowed to chew but only seem interested in the stuff that they aren't allowed. Like children! lol Thanks James