Help! Rabbit destroying carpet

[Iamnotanugget]

We adopted 2 rabbits about 6 months ago. The male has been neutered but the female hasn't. They are approx 5 years old. They previously lived indoors but in a hutch. We have them free roaming but they do have their own private space. I litter trained them within a couple of days with ease. They are both lovely, inquisitive creatures but in the last week or so the doe has taken to destroying our carpet. We've kept lots of rabbits before and this has never happened to me! What do I do? We're supposed to be having a new carpet go down next month and dh is saying if she doesn't stop they'll have to go I don't think he really means it but I can see his point. I got some stop chewing spray but it's made no difference.

[MsMalcontent]

Please have her spayed! She is at a far far higher risk of getting uterine cancer as an unspayed female rabbit.
I've had house rabbits before and they do wreck everything. You could try covering the area with something you don't mind being wrecked such as cardboard but you will have to replace it. It's instinctive. You can't train them out of it.

[Iamnotanugget]

It is on my to do list to have her spayed. Unfortunately the pair of them came this way and not long after their arrival there was a massive family upheaval which meant arranging a vet appointment fell far down the day to day list. Things have settled down now and I have already said to dh that I'm going to book her in once children are back at school after Easter as it'll mean house is bit quieter while she recovers.

I've had a nibblers in the past and had clothing and wires destroyed but never such intense digging and chewing at the carpet. The buck isn't interested. Have I just been lucky with the others?? I can't really cover it as she doesn't have a favourite area. Anywhere is good for her and holes are popping up all over the place!

[TimeIhadaNameChange]

What about confining them to one room and accepting that you won't be getting a new carpet in there for a good few years?

I've had various house-rabbits and only one destroyed the carpet. The bare patches are covered by furniture, but, once the two that are currently in that room can go outside again I'll probably recarpet in there anyway, as I'm not convinced they're 100% house-trained anyway.

[Rudgie47]

Get a shed for them and keep them in there with a run outside for the good weather.

[MsMalcontent]

Glad to hear it, sorry if I sounded a bit preachy.
I've had lots of house rabbits and they've generally been fine other than one doe who literally shredded the entire carpet under the sofa, , chewed through the sofa frame, stripped the wall paper and gnawed through the plaster on the wall. It was a constant battle to make sure she had enough distractions to keep her occupied but it was hard work. Can you limit the room she has to exercise and give plenty of distractions such as cardboard boxes full of hay?

[bunnygeek]

Unspayed does have one priority in life - digging burrows for babies. This is why she's going for your carpet.

Book her in for a spay with a good bunny savvy vet and in the meantime provide her with a safe digging outlet with digging boxes. You can easily do that DIY or if you have the cash, this is fun:
www.manorpethousing.co.uk/digging-box-