Why do some rabbits chew their hind legs bare?

[a7736100]

I've had rabbits of different ages chew all the fur off their legs. Is it mental or are they missing something in their diet? They get pellets and green vegetables and are well fed. I don't remember but I think I've seen it both in individually caged and also group caged rabbits.

 

[ladysown]

fur chewing can be learned behaviour, but often is a sign of something (Can't recall what exactly) missing from their diet.

I'd be checking their diet first...but if it's only a select few doing it, or you notice it runs in certain lines, I'd be culling those out or making them your first dinner line.

 

[ottersatin]

It is possible that they have a Fungal infection.
They may also be lacking enough protein in their diet.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[LauraNJ]

Do you see them chewing the fur or is the fur worn to the bare point? A couple of my mini rexes will get sore hocks and the fur is rubbed off if they don't have a resting pad or aren't using the resting pad and are molting.

My beverens always have fur, molting or not.

 

[Dood]

I ve only known one rabbit to chew off its fur. She was from a pet home and fed mostly a diet of vegetables ( mostly celery, beet greens, lettuce, carrots and apples) once I had her on 18% protein pellets and free choice hay she stopped. She was also put in a colony so she may have been doing it out of boredom in her pet home as well.

Another possibility is a flea, mite or louse infestation.

 

[Frecs]

I culled a buck last year for perpetual sores on his back legs. He was my favorite buck, too. Such a sweetie...BUT, he kept getting open sores on his hind legs that MAY have been from chewing/pulling his fur. I found no evidence of fleas or mites and I treated it for potential infection to no avail. I wasn't sure what was going on and so, I decided to cull him in case it was something that would pass to his offspring or eventually pass to other rabbits.

 

[LauraNJ]

Yes, I think if a rabbit is continuously getting sore hocks then something isn't right. My mini rexes will only get them when they molt and it doesn't actually get to the sore hock point but you can see that there will be a spot without much fur. It isn't bloody or sore yet, I call it sore hocks but it probably isn't to that point yet. I try to be proactive so it doesn't reach that point.

I add in a piece of cardboard, in addition, to their resting pad and that seems to take care of it. Once the new fur is in we are good. One of my mini rexes isn't crazy about her resting pad, she prefers a piece of cardboard.

If it is all of them and they are chewing then I would say mites or fleas or something like Dood mentioned. They should be itchy on more than just their legs though if they have an infestation.

If no bugs then I would make sure they all had something to chew like an apple branch or mulberry branch. Mine love branches to chew.

 

[a7736100]

It's not being rubbed off as it's like bare drumsticks. I don't think it's bugs cause cage mates don't chew. It's possible it's low protein cause they really like vegetables and eat them before the pellets. I also think it may be from being bullied by cage mates or else genetic. I'll have to make better notes on who does what.

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I had issues with my rabbits (though not fur-chewing) and the issues went away when I cut out veggies entirely. I have since added some "kitchen waste" back into their diets but on a very limited basis.