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Digging

cazaline

New Kit
Hi,
I have a single female house rabbit who after 2 years being with us has suddenly started digging.
She has never done this before. She has always steadfastly ignored her digging boxes.
She diggs the contents of every litter tray out all over the place. We have tried giving her a digging tray which she likewize empties then moves onto the the litter trays and empties those too. If she has already emptied them then she sometimes digs at her blankets.
It's a nightmare, she's making such a mess it's ruining the hoover cleaning up after her.
Background :
She was initially brought home and bonded with our widowed male. She is 6 or 7 years old as was he. They were outdoor rabbits. They got on really well until he died last autumn. We brought her inside to keep her company until we find her a new mate.
Unfortunately we have been unable to find a male of a similar age and don't want to get a younger rabbit and end up on a treadmill of rabbits constantly getting a new rabbit when the older one dies.
She is very friendly and loves to snuggle up with us in the evenings.
Help! How can I stop this behaviour?
 
How to stop it? Hmm, don't know.
From what I have seen, female rabbits just have a very strong urge to dig (perhaps less so in winter). They live in warrens after all. Our Willow turned the entire garden into a labyrinth of underground tunnels and on one occasion she even came up in the neighbour's flower bed. She looked delighted. (Willow, not the neighbour.)
(I even measured her progress and found she averaged about 20 cm per day.) I guess you could put down some physical barrier. (I would have felt sorry for her so I didn't.)
Now that the weather is warming up, would it be perhaps possible to give your rabbit an outdoor controlled space for daytime digging?
 
I've never found a way to stop a rabbit digging - it's what they do. Some do seem to be more determined diggers than others, though, so it's more a case of managing it.

I would put a digging box inside a much larger enclosure so the mess is contained, eg in a dog crate - with a cover over it, or line the inside (cardboard box / sheets, pespex sheets, etc - anything that will contain the mess with high sides). Maybe only accessible by a tunnel to limit any mess being trodden out of the area. It also makes it more like a rabbit warren.
 
whilst it is not a answer to the digging issue, have you thought about contacting a rescue to find a male as a long term foster, and then hand him back when your girlie goes to the Rainbow Bridge?
Richard

Edit
The white bum you can see in my signature is my girlie busy digging :censored:
 
Yes I believe she is spayed.
Like I said she came to us as an 4/5 Yr old. She had been donated to a preschool by parents moving away. But as staff changed she wasn't getting the care she needed. When our Betty died I suggested trying to bond her to our lonely Brian.
I was told the original owner has said she was spayed.
 
I don't mind her digging in one area its that she is suddenly digging everything out everywhere.
There is little point in her being litter trained if she then spreads the urine soaked litter everywhere. 🙄
 
Maybe I should move her back into her outdoor enclosure. Then she can make as much mess as she likes. 🤷
She hates being picked up so I don't want to be moving her back and forth all the time.
 
Reminds me of my Boo, she's a complete rotter with it. So many of the threads I make December - February are moaning about her doing this. . She typcally calms down in a month or so. Sometimes I embrace that she keeps herself so active & well entertained...& me entertained too.

Some rabbits just LOVE digging. I think its as simple as that
 
Maybe I should move her back into her outdoor enclosure. Then she can make as much mess as she likes. 🤷
She hates being picked up so I don't want to be moving her back and forth all the time.

If you are going to do that she will definitely need a Rabbit companion. Rabbits need a companion of their own kind and this is especially true for outdoor Rabbits. Indoor Rabbits are usually less destructive if they have a Rabbit companion too.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/behaviour/rabbit-companionship/


As you are not 100% certain that she has been spayed I would suggest a Vet check. Digging is very normal behaviour, especially regarding Does. It is often worse as Spring approaches. All completely normal, it’s what Rabbits do.

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/behaviour/digging/


BUT a sudden change in behaviour, including frantic digging, can be indicative of an underlying health problem. In an older unspayed Doe this could include the possibility of uterine adenocarcinoma.

https://www.goddardvetgroup.co.uk/do-rabbits-really-get-womb-cancer/


In the meantime try providing her with a digging box

http://bunnyproof.com/how-to-build-bunny-digging-box.html

And other environmental enrichment

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/behaviour/enrichment/

http://www.therabbithouse.com/blog/category/rabbit-toys-enrichment/
 
Last edited:
Thank you inspectormorse
That info was really useful.
She does have lots of enrichment, balls, tunnels, chewing things, digging tray, toy to hide food in, levels to jump up and down.
We are still looking for a partner for her but so far no luck.
The vet isn't sure if she's been spayed or not. He can't see a scar but said that it could just be hiding amongst the fur. The only way to tell is to open her up. Which seems a bit drastic if not necessary, for an older rabbit. I remember when my Betty was spayed, having to syringe feed her for 2 days as she wouldn't eat after the anesthetic. I don't know what the right thing to do is. 🤷*♀️
As for the possibility of uterine cancer. I'll take her in to vets for a check up. I didn't know change in behaviour could indicate anything like that.
Thank you again it was really helpful.
 
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