How to protect your home from those NAUGHTY BUNNIES!
As bunny owners of more than fifteen years, we’ve kinda seen it all…
From destroyed wallpaper to munched indoor plants and our personal favourite…the dreaded “spicy hay” nibbling. YIKES.
After losing more than seven USB phone cables within one year, we decided to look into manufacturing our very own Ecobuni “Bunny-Proof Cables” - now selling in our little online store worldwide!
We’ve also put together a little DIY guide below just for you, with some practical and creative ideas on how to keep your home in tact while enjoying these beautiful, cheeky critters.
Bunnies are curious animals that love to explore their environment by nibbling on different objects, including furniture, electrical cords, and baseboards. Chewing is a natural behaviour for bunnies, but it can cause damage to your home and pose a danger to the bunny if they chew on something toxic or hazardous. Here are some tips on how to prevent bunnies from chewing stuff around the house:
- Provide plenty of toys: Bunnies need to chew to keep their teeth healthy and wear them down. Provide your bunny with plenty of toys that are safe for them to chew on, such as untreated wood blocks, willow balls, and cardboard tubes.
Be sure that you know where the wood has come from, in case it’s been treated, and avoid the wood from cedar, peach, aspen, pine, yew and a few others.
Stick with willow, birch, apple or maple for the safest chewing sessions!
- Keep electrical cords out of reach: Electrical cords can be dangerous if chewed by a bunny. Keep cords out of reach by tucking them behind furniture or using cord covers.
You can also spray cords with a bitter-tasting deterrent to discourage chewing, or purchase “Bunny-Proof Cables” from us to have the best of both worlds - charging your phone AND cuddling your bunny rabbit.
- Cover baseboards and furniture legs: Bunnies often like to nibble on baseboards and furniture legs.
Protect them by covering them with a chew guard, such as plastic tubing or wire mesh. We also find paper masking tape to be particularly useful for the edges of skirting boards.
If you have wallpaper and a particularly cheeky bunny though, we do recommend fencing or blocking off that wall with a playpen just in case…especially if your home is a rental. *Gulp* Trust us…
- Provide a bunny-proofed play area: Give your bunny a designated play area that is safe and free from hazards. Provide toys, tunnels, and hiding spots to keep your bunny entertained and prevent them from wandering around the house.
If you give them lots of space and freedom in their own designated area, you’ll find that they will burn off energy quickly and be less likely to try to seek out trouble!
- Supervise your bunny: Supervision is key to preventing chewing. When you are home, keep an eye on your bunny and redirect them to appropriate chew toys if they start nibbling on something they shouldn't.
When you go to sleep, make sure that they’re in a safe space away from possible dangers, chewable objects and other animals that could harm them like cats and dogs.
- Use positive reinforcement: Reward your bunny with treats and praise when they chew on appropriate objects. This will help reinforce good chewing behaviour and encourage them to continue to use their toys.
Bunnies are kind of like small children, they’re very smart but don’t quite know the ropes to life yet so with a bit of patience and positive reinforcement, they will learn.
You also have to know when something is simply too much of a risk, instead of giving them free reign and getting mad when they break something or hurt themselves. Kind of like not letting your child use the oven when you aren’t watching! …We don’t really recommend letting your bunny use the oven, either.
In conclusion, preventing bunnies from chewing on objects around the house requires a combination of providing appropriate chew toys, bunny-proofing the environment, and using positive reinforcement.
By following these tips, you can keep your bunny entertained and happy while protecting your home from damage.