Please help! Bunny destroying hutch!

Angel has started trying to destroy her new run, which is attached to her hutch. Last night we came home and found largish chunks of wood on the ground and it seems she has been shredding it off the front bar at ground level down to where the wire is. Basically she will end up being able to push the wire out! She has plenty of toys and blocks of wood to keep her occupied, which she doesn't really bother with so it can't be boredom. She is on her own at present because she was a bit agressive and had previously gone for hutchmates.

Has anyone got any ideas how to stop her from destroying her run or a way of deterring her from chewing it?

Thanks!

Is she spayed? How old is she?

x x

She is about 2 (rescue was not sure) and is not neutered yet.

BeckyLH said:

Is she spayed? How old is she?

x x

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My first thought too - I currently have two lads awaiting their ops who have made holes in their hutch

Spaying would probably help and then maybe she would be more keen on the idea of having a friend. Does she get time out of the hutch/run?

Sorry cross posted last time. Definately think getting her spayed would help and having a friend will alleviate bordom and hence the desire to chew!

Yes lots of toys to distract her away from chewing the hutch too. But like others have said getting her spayed will help the most.

And a friend from a rescue

She is not allowed out of the hutch at the moment as we can't pick her up! She calmed down alot since we first got her - she used to lunge and bite but doesn't do this much now.

yep id say the same, joey is so much calmer, saffy is the devil bunny!! Had her done yesturday collecting her later so hopefully she will be better, 2 broken food bowls, 4 destroyed willow balls, 2 willow hay holders, 2 pairs of shoes, 2 video boxes and alot of tantrums later!! lol

A friendly husband may help you persuade her you're fun to be around too

Somebody has posted about this before...you can use metal strip edging (used by plasterers) to stop the edges being bitten. You can get the edging from DIY stores.

It does sound like a combination of hormones and boredom.She really needs to have time out to stretch and run about. Her aversion to being picked up and handled won't just disappear..you'll need to take it slowly and steadily to get her used to your hands, and to realise that it doesn't mean something bad's going to happen. Try offering her something nice each time you go near the hutch..offer her a treat through the mesh first until you both build up your confidence. Meanwhile don't try to lift and carry her to the run..shoo her into a pet carrier and use that. I had to do that for a couple of months when I first got Floss as she used to lunge and I was so afraid of being bitten. She still doesn't like being picked up and carried, but will tolerate it now..though she grunts all the while!! Plasterer's angles can be tacked all along the exposed wooden edges of the hutch to stop further damage.

Yeah, it sounds like she feels imprisoned to a certain extent (that's not an insult, mine feel like that when they don't get long enough out :roll: ) Maybe you could try letting her have a run somewhere else, perhaps your garden if it's enclosed? x x