Unusual hay behaviour following neutering

[Bunnyfan25]

Hi I have two 4mths old minilops, in separate outdoor hutches, neutered 3wks ago, spent 2wks inside house in cages with soft paper bedding, gradually introduced bedding hay in final wk then back in outdoor hutches with wood shavings in living area and bed with straw and hay in bed area too. Same as they had before op. One of them, Snowy,isnow dragging all the hay into living area every night, compromised put hay in both areas n he js still dragging it out until only wood shavings left. Thing is under the hay etc is corner plastic toilet filled with wood shavings that has worked well as hidden toilet corner,protected the sides of the hutch from wee etc. Now he is dragging it out and sometimes tipping over the corner toilet it is harder to keep clean. I havd thoroughly cleaned the hutch every wk, swapped toys for variety and put grazing dry leaves in hay as distraction n he still keeps moving the hay. Other bunny same as before happy with setup. Not started bonding yet but can see n smell each other in side by side pens during the day and above each other at night. Any ideas as to why he is doing this, and how to deter it?

 

[Shimmer]

Some of mine do this at times. I don't know why - it might be a seasonal thing. It's annoying, but I just keep putting it all back. It's easier with lino on the floors as it can all be swept back in to the tray. One of them moves the whole tray and tips it up - but only the one tray that they usually sleep in.

Hopefully it will settle over time - they are both going through hormonal changes after the neuter, and they still have to be bonded - so that will change things as well. My only suggestions are to give in to their redecorating, or put a brick / stone under the hay to make it harder to tip the tray up (as long as it's not going to hurt the rabbit if it does move it).

 

[Bunnyfan25]

Thanksfor your reply. Good to hear others doing this too...tbh I left ot alone last night n he has left toilet there with sawdust only in bed area. Thought maybe he doesn't like the dark n wants to b warm in living quarters where he can see out lol...

 

[Shimmer]

Mine thought they would reinforce their right to rearrange their den last night by emptying the whole tray out and sending most of the contents down the ramp.
I've put it all back again...so they can repeat it tonight, no doubt. Usually it's just half the hay that gets kicked out (and only one specific tray), but they decided on a total clearout this time. They usually stop after a couple of weeks and things go back to normal, although they still tend to rotate the tray they choose to sleep in by 90', no matter which way round I put it. They keep life interesting.

 

[Bunnyfan25]

Oh yeah they do x