lizzyandlilybun
New Kit
(Sorry this is so long! Unsure whether to post this in housing or behaviour as it covers both).
I'm losing it with my 2 bonded neutered buns (male and female). I moved house in November into a carpeted flat - we had laminate flooring before (the bunnies love the carpet now because they've got lots of grip for big binkies!).
However in the last month or so they've become very destructive and naughty. In 5 months at my last flat they never destroyed anything, never went for any furniture and seemed happy with their toys. A month ago I came home to a 6x2inch area of carpet behind the sofa completely chewed up, of course I know bunnies do stuff like that but I've recently had some money worries so I'm terrified of having to pay for recarpeting when I leave. They have also chewed small chunks out of the armchair and sofa. All of this stuff belongs to my landlady and while I'm responsible enough to have savings for emergency illness/damage, I never expected this level of destruction to appear out of nowhere! I kept Lily mostly free range in a carpeted house for 8 months a couple of years ago and she only ever nibbled a couple of times.
I blocked off behind the sofa and kept them in their pen while I was at work for a while as every time I let them out they managed to get into blocked off corners, try to eat the furniture, and chew up even more carpet. Unfortunately now when I let them out they are super determined to destroy things because I guess they are frustrated, and I know it's not fair on them because they have been free range since August!
I have tried lemon oil/perfume/soap on the carpet, it doesn't bother them and anyway they just find another patch. They have several cardboard boxes with hay and paper in, tunnels, a large plastic digging box with a towel and stuff in, willow balls, corrugated cardboard rolls, woven chew mats, yellow pages to rip up... I'm at the end of my tether and not sure what else to try. Hoping that as I move them back into free ranging they'll calm down and see it as less of a novelty, but there are areas I just physically can't stop them getting into (blocked off with xpen panels but they can jump over from the sofa if they're really determined, spaces that xpen panels just don't work in, etc). I can't think of a reason for their change in behaviour...
Any advice greatly appreciated!!☺
I'm losing it with my 2 bonded neutered buns (male and female). I moved house in November into a carpeted flat - we had laminate flooring before (the bunnies love the carpet now because they've got lots of grip for big binkies!).
However in the last month or so they've become very destructive and naughty. In 5 months at my last flat they never destroyed anything, never went for any furniture and seemed happy with their toys. A month ago I came home to a 6x2inch area of carpet behind the sofa completely chewed up, of course I know bunnies do stuff like that but I've recently had some money worries so I'm terrified of having to pay for recarpeting when I leave. They have also chewed small chunks out of the armchair and sofa. All of this stuff belongs to my landlady and while I'm responsible enough to have savings for emergency illness/damage, I never expected this level of destruction to appear out of nowhere! I kept Lily mostly free range in a carpeted house for 8 months a couple of years ago and she only ever nibbled a couple of times.
I blocked off behind the sofa and kept them in their pen while I was at work for a while as every time I let them out they managed to get into blocked off corners, try to eat the furniture, and chew up even more carpet. Unfortunately now when I let them out they are super determined to destroy things because I guess they are frustrated, and I know it's not fair on them because they have been free range since August!
I have tried lemon oil/perfume/soap on the carpet, it doesn't bother them and anyway they just find another patch. They have several cardboard boxes with hay and paper in, tunnels, a large plastic digging box with a towel and stuff in, willow balls, corrugated cardboard rolls, woven chew mats, yellow pages to rip up... I'm at the end of my tether and not sure what else to try. Hoping that as I move them back into free ranging they'll calm down and see it as less of a novelty, but there are areas I just physically can't stop them getting into (blocked off with xpen panels but they can jump over from the sofa if they're really determined, spaces that xpen panels just don't work in, etc). I can't think of a reason for their change in behaviour...
Any advice greatly appreciated!!☺
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