Rabbits- neighbours complaining help!!

[stressedtothemax77]

We have 2 female rabbits in a very large hutch.
They are fine during the day but at night one (or maybe both) is thumping constantly.
It's really loud and is waking everyone up!!
I don't know how to stop it... I have tried covering the cage as I've read they can sense foxes etc and putting extra sawdust/bedding in to try and dull the noise but nothing is working.
Also they have very nearly smashed through the bottom of the hutch and I'm not sure we can stretch to a new one this close to Christmas ( they've only had this one since May!!)

I was aware of how loud it was but thought (stupidly) that it was only us that's been affected but today my next door neighbour has come round to ask if we can stop them, it's the talk of the street apparently

Any advice would be appreciated.

[FernieB]

Are there predators lurking around? Once they know rabbits are there, they'll keep returning. The only way to stop the thumping is to get to the root of it. Do they thump during the day? Have they always done this or is it recent? They normally only thump as a warning of predators, so foxes, cats, owls etc could all get this response.

[Patriciathestripper1]

Put some rubber matting in bottom of cage to absorb sound that should help

[Ylvamoon]

Bring them inside for the night. Your rabbits are clearly distressed and your neighbours are annoyed. A win win solution.

[stressedtothemax77]

They have done it since the 1st night we brought them home. Bringing them inside is not an option as I have nowhere to put them (two dogs that would be trying to eat them!!)

[stressedtothemax77]

They only thump at night. Lots of cats around here and they don't bother them in the day.
Will investigate the rubber matting.
Thanks

[Ilovehedgehogs]

Thumping is usually a sign of distress.

[gleegeek]

do you have a garage or shed they could go in? Extra security and might muffle the noise?
I've never heard our rabbits thumping - am intrigued!

[stressedtothemax77]

No garage or shed and there's no way of bringing them inside due to the dogs and even if the dogs weren't an issue their cage is huge and I have nowhere to put it.

[squiz81]

I would try and absorb the sound. Vet bed is good. It's the fleece they use in sick animals bedding. You can chuck it through the washing machine.

Do they get enough exercise in the day?

[stressedtothemax77]

Will look into vet bed. Thank you.

They are out most of the day unless it's raining, or really cold.

[squiz81]

I wonder if they are just stropping about having to go in then. I used to have a rabbit that would rattle the door on his hutch using his teeth to get out from 5am. It used to wake us up it was so loud!

Have they been spayed? Girl bunnies can be a bit grumpy if they haven't been. I read once it's like permanent pmt for some rabbits!

[PleaseNotTrump]

Ours thump me a. How about a light that comes into scare foxes away? Alternatively just an indoor hutch for night.

[stressedtothemax77]

I certainly think they don't like being put back in their hutch after playing out all day.
Neither have been spayed so that's something to look at.
We have a security light right above their cage, which is right under my bedroom window. I've never noticed it coming on when they are thumping so I presumed rather than there being a fox in our garden they could sense one close by.
Both girls are really big and I haven't seen an indoor cage yet that would be big enough for them to have enough wiggle room. Plus my dogs go insane when the rabbits are inside (even if they're not in the same room?!) so it's all proving a bit tricky at the moment

[Strongbeatsskinny]

My SIL had a bunny like that used to thump it's hutch at night. Bunny was attention seeking it stopped once it was brought inside and became a house bun.

[Idontbelievethelies]

You need to make them feel safe. Rabbits are prey animals that live in a warren system with many entrances/ exits and being shut in a hutch denies them their ' flight' option. Can you attach a safe exercise run to the hutch and give them 2 entrances / exits so that they feel safe. If they are objecting to being locked up this will also help. look at a website called runaround for fox proof runs. If you are worried about a run then try a garden shed instead of a hutch.

[squiz81]

Just a thought based on the post above. Mine all love a box to sit in. They seem to feel safer in an enclosed space. Mine have a cardboard box at the moment, when I had a huge run set up I had a little but and one of those plastic igloo things.

[Idontbelievethelies]

Yes absolutely A box with 2 holes will absolutely make them feel safe. Or a tunnel toy type thing. Doesn't have to be expensive. Not really much room for a box or tunnel in a hutch though I think you'll need to look at giving them more space.