Pet Information > ASK Experts > Exotic Pets > Rabbits > nesting habits

nesting habits

22 10:33:31

Question
We have a jersey woolie who is about 8 months old. He has been a good pet and trained easily. He has just recently started to make a nest with his fur in the corner of his hutch ( on the private side). We had his litter box on that side and he was using it and very protective of it. He moved a cloth and started arranging this hairball on it this side and has not been using the litter box as much as he previously did. Should this just be left alone? He has not been neutered and I don't like that he isn't using his box as much now. Is it just the age? Should we change anything or just let him be?

Answer
Dear Roxanne,

Whoever sexed your bunny apparently made a booboo.  Nesting behavior like this occurs only in unspayed females. So I hope your bunny has a name that can go either way.  :)

Litterbox habits will improve and false pregnancies (the cause of the nesting behavior) will stop once she's spayed. Please read:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

and find a good vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

Unspayed, unbred females have a very high risk of uterine cancer, so this surgery is important for many reasons.

I hope this helps.

Dana