My rabbit is outdoors, and for the past 8weeks or spo he has chewed the bars off his hutch.(he is in a seperate hutch), we had him and his brother 'done' and we had to seperate them as they were fighting really bad.Why is he doing this as it isn't nornal rabbit behaiviour???!!
2007-01-10 00:14:38 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
By the sounds of it he is doing this because the wants something to gnaw or chew on. I would suggest buying a wheel in which to attach to the cage door. Or a small log from a tree in which he can chew on. This has always helped my rabbit. Also strengthens their teeth too.
2007-01-10 00:21:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is either boredom or a mineral deficiency.
Give him a fruit tree branch to gnaw on, the thicker the better. If you can't do this, provide daily carrots or other root vegetables.
Then get him some toys. Cat toys work fine, but try to get metal ones if possible, as some rabbits will destroy plastic ones! Most rabbits I know love to toss around a cat ball with the bell inside.
Make sure he always has plenty of food available and vary the food from time to time or provide regular treats such as different fruits and vegetables, or some green grass or hay.
Get him a mineral block or wheel. Most pet shops will have these, and they aren't very expensive. Not only do they provide your rabbits with all the minerals he needs, but it gives him something tasty to gnaw on!
Make sure he can see the other rabbit (because even though they were fighting, he is probably lonely), and gets daily human contact. If you can't have him near the other rabbit, perhaps get a guinea pig. Rabbits and guinea pigs very rarely fight.
Good luck with your rabbits!
2007-01-10 00:34:53 · answer #2 · answered by ThePONYKID 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits are *very* social animals. They love to cuddle, snuggle, and groom one another. Is your rabbits and his brother neutered? That could lesson the aggression between them. Alternatively, they just might not like each other. A third rabbit gradually introduced could be come a life long friend for your restless bunny. Give him stuff to chew on, too. (My rabbit won't chew on anything except his cage bars though.) And give hime some room to run around. Build a playpen.
2007-01-13 09:50:33 · answer #3 · answered by stampadhesive 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tjhere could be a lot of reasons, mainly that bunnies like to chew , so yes it is normal (see: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/chewing.html)
Chewing cage bars however is bad for their teeth - rabbits teeth grow their while life and it is best to give them better things to chew like twigs and hay. Grass hay should be available all day for your bunnies' health and to wear down their teeth.
That is good that you got the boys neutered. You can bond them if you take it slowly and do it in neutral territory. If you can bond them, that might help to give them both some company. See this link for information on bonding:
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html#bond
There is another reason your bunny might be chewing his bars and that is to get out because he is scared outside. Rabbits do much better indoors - healthier for them and you get the benefit of getting to relate to a wonderful pet. Here is some information about why your bunny should be indoors and a link with tips if they must be kept outdoors:
Why indoors? http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/indoorbun.html
If they have to live outdoors: http://www.ontariorabbits.org/hot_topics/hot_topic.html
HTH, Martha
2007-01-10 03:59:40 · answer #4 · answered by Martha G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
google House Rabbit Society. everything you need or want to know about rabbits is there. why have a pet if your just going to keep it outdoors? rabbits are vulnerable to many different types of prey. this could actually give them a heart attack and kill them. take the rabbits in the house or give them to a responsible owner. putting animals outdoors is not responsible, cage or not caged.
2007-01-10 02:40:56 · answer #5 · answered by punkbun03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is really bored. You need to provide things for your rabbits to do. In the wild he would be chewing bark off trees, reaching up and pulling down and chewing bits of bushes and small trees, digging, running, and looking for food. Kept in a cage 24/7 i'm sure you would chew the bars. My rabbits have lots of toys, like balls to knock around, balls that you can hide food in that they have to get out, boxes to play in and chew, bits of timber and bark to chew, ramps and steps to go up and down. Try hiding food around the garden or a safe enclosed area for him to find. They need stimulation like any pet.
2007-01-10 01:07:16 · answer #6 · answered by jo jo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
all rodents (rabbits, rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc) need to sharpen their teeth, it's instinctive. they'll chew on wood, metals, or other materials to accomplish this.
if he has "chewed the bars (completely??) off", perhaps he just doesn't like being in jail due to the fact he was never given a fair trial.
2007-01-10 00:22:49 · answer #7 · answered by evoleye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits need things to chew to file there teeth down. They also gnaw things when they're board.
I can't remember what we used to give our ribbit to chew, but we gave him a few cat toys (especially bell balls they can pick up and shake) and that stopped him chewing.
2007-01-10 00:25:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He doesnt like being locked up I had a rabbit that did the same thing
2007-01-10 00:22:51 · answer #9 · answered by Matt G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's probably because his teeth are getting long. You should get him something to chew on like a salt block, or a piece of wood.
2007-01-10 01:12:01 · answer #10 · answered by Callie O 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋