BINKYBUNNY FORUMS > BEHAVIOR > Is this normal for a 3-4 month old bunny?
Last Post by pippakins at 10/25/2012 03:41 AM (9 Replies)
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User is Offline CharliePebblets
19 posts Send Private Message
10/23/2012 09:12 PM

Hello there!!    I'm kind of having trouble with the litter training.. I'm probably doing TONS of things that are wrong.. I got her from a pet store and I was told the rabbit cage was less money than what it actually was - so I had to get a smaller one - they said it would be ok for her at first (she was about 3 months old) I have a little wooden dome for her to sleep under - a food dish - and a corner litter tray in there.  At first I had NO clue - they said just put all the poop in the box - and eventually she'll start going  there on her own.. I had her on my bed at first - with an old blanket on top - so mine wouldn't get peed or pooped on ... This was just while I was getting to know her and pet her and hold her - watch her - etc.. I would put her back in the cage after the visiting time on the bed) And since then I've moved that blanket upstairs - and her cage - I'd let her run around the living room - blocking off areas that I didn't want her going.. etc.. she really favoured the old blanket - for poops and pees - but really I don't think there was any pattern of where she was going - I'd see some poops in her cage - but not really in the litter tray at all!  (except for the random ones I'd put there) I was leaving the top off her cage so she could come and go in it as she pleases..I've since read that you shouldn't have them in a large area to run around in at first..  Then what I did was I piled up boxes around about a 6 foot by 4 foot area - (her cage bottom and the old blanket for her to run around a bit on - this was after I read they need a smaller area at first - but of course being a smart bunny  she got out numerous times - wiggled through a crack - actually leaping over the top in a certain area - etc.. And I just though it was ridiculous - that was for about 3 days - I took it all down - and now she's just running around the living area again - with certain areas blocked off - (under computer area - behind tv - although she is still finding ways in behind there too!!  - But I think I've finally got it sealed off good - I hope.  She goes in to her cage to eat hay - and drink water - and she'll sit IN her litter tray while she's eating the hay - and I'm happy she's doing that - and most of the poops (pill pebblet things) are on the old blanket - a few here and there around the living area - but not as much as BEFORE..  So could it be that she thinks the blanket is where she should go?  And how would I go about changing that now?  I dont' so much mind - I have kept transfering the poops to the litter tray - but I can't tell when she pees - so I have no idea about how to change that ?? And THIS - I've included these 2 photos - this is what she's done to my poor fiance

She also has done this on the couch - so I don't let her on the couch - except if I'm holding her - How can I stop her from pooping and peeing on PEOPLE?? And the couch for that matter?? Has this happened to anyone else?? 

Thanks for any advice you can give!! Sorry this was SO long - 

User is Offline CharliePebblets
19 posts Send Private Message
10/23/2012 09:38 PM
Hi again - I tried to post the photos - I used the image code links from PhotoBucket - but they're not showing up?? Any ideas? How do you post photos in posts??

EDIT I found out how to fix this - (obviously since the photos are there!!!..)

User is Offline RabbitPam
South Florida
Forum Leader
10036 posts Send Private Message
10/24/2012 02:50 AM
Welcome, CharliePebblets,
I understand you're trying to get used to living with a new baby bunny, and she's trying to adjust as well. Because she's young, she is very adaptable to changes to improve her lifestyle with you, including becoming litter trained. First change I'd make is to switch to a large litter pan with actually rabbit litter in it. I suggest pellet type such as Yesterdays News, Aspen pellets or Feline Pine, Carefresh products (I like the simple original or white), or a few safe shavings, such as Aspen shavings. Do NOT use pine or cedar shavings Ever. They are unsafe. Having the hay in, above or near the litter pan is excellent for getting her to munch and pee in the litter box, so hanging her hay above the litter is a good way to do that.

That said, please go into the Bunny Info. sections and read the info. provided in the drop down menus from the blue strip at the top of this page. It will tell you all the basics you need to know to set up your habitat and house for accommodating a new bunny, plus want you can expect. (like, she is probably marking your bf in the pix.) Now is the time to get a good habitat created for her, establish some routines, and let her learn her basics and explore your home slowly.

I'm sorry you didn't get the bigger cage because she will be growing and need one quite soon. In the long run, a one-time investment is less $ than buying a second one in 6 months or so. Can you exchange the current cage for a larger one, or an x-pen now? It might be worth considering. No wire floors, however.

If you think of a cage as her safe house, not as a cage, you will see why she will enjoy being in it for her basic needs: litter, food, sleep, play and relaxation.
So read through the site and check out threads in the different forums, like the Tech. section for posting pix, etc. and you will find many answers to your questions already.
photo CarrotCrop100x500BBSiggy_zps0f2147e4.jpg Have your people call my people. We'll do carrots.

User is Offline pippakins
24 posts Send Private Message
10/24/2012 03:25 AM
Poor litter habits aren't too uncommon for a younger bun, especially before they are spayed/neutered. As far as peeing on people, is she really scared when she's picked up? Pippa has been protesting quite a bit lately when she's unhappy, as I'm currently having litter box problems myself! haha
It's good that she has the option to come out on her own so you aren't invading her cage too much. My Pippa has always been VERY territorial of her cage, especially before her surgery, and it didn't help that my boyfriend wouldn't listen to me about picking her up all the time poor bun was so scared of him for the longest time. She still runs to a safe place sometimes when he comes up though it isn't as bad as it was.
You're right to limit her space. I've used this and it worked very well for keeping her in a certain area, although when she was the same age as your bun she could squeeze through the bars so we had to keep about a foot covered till she got bigger.
Anyway lol, the poops all over could be linked to what is 'her' space. As far as the pee, it would probably be more helpful to put paper towels with the pee in her litter box than the poops but that is more difficult if you don't know where she's peeing except on you and your poor fiance! Is her hay over the box or just next to it? You might already know that bun's tend to pee and poop where they eat, so that helped me a lot when I was litter training Pippa. I actually had the same problem with her pooping on the blanket we gave her so when she pooped or peed on it it was taken away. There's always a plastic table cloth under her cage too but she may decide to dig on it a bit like Pip (which is why we gave her the blanket in the first place! haha)

User is Offline CharliePebblets
19 posts Send Private Message
10/24/2012 04:39 AM

Thank you guys for your info and thoughts!! As for when she peed on my fiance like in the photos up there - I had been holding her - and he had held her in the past - and she was calm - and all she did was kind of walk from me over to him - on her own - and just sat there for a bit - and then after about a minute - he was rubbing her head and scratching down her back and then suddenly he's " OMG - She's PEEING!!!" and it was LONG - and then she just continued to sit on him -  - it was funny - he was kind of just in amusement/shock - the look on his face in the first pic is funny..  

As for the bigger cage - he's actually getting one made where he works - he works at a place where they manufacture metal appliances etc - so he was going to get a 6 foot by 4 foot enclosure made of plexiglass he said - it's bent and curved so it's not breakable or sharp edges etc - that way she can see through it and we can see her - the top would be open - and it would be probably about 3 feet high - and they'll be a door on it - for us to open or close - depending on if we have to leave for a while.. she can stay in there and still have lots of room - that way her current cage bottom will be her litter tray - 

So I'm hoping that will be better - and yes I've been putting lots of hay IN the litter tray and right beside it too - all around her cage bottom really - so she's kind of got lots of hay to eat and sit in and pee in - as well as the litter called 'fresh and comfy" by living world - it consists of recycled paper and magazine - in pellets - is that close to what you were referring to when you mentioned carefresh?? 

User is Offline Skipper's Mama
Florida
1100 posts Send Private Message
10/24/2012 09:14 AM
I would look into getting your bun spayed. Getting your bun spayed will help with the litter training. Not to mention female rabbits have a 80-85% chance of getting uterine cancer.

User is Offline CharliePebblets
19 posts Send Private Message
10/24/2012 09:23 AM

Yes I've heard about spaying helping with litter training - is there an appropriate time for that though?? And what about if I wanted her to possibly have a litter?  (If i got a male bunny as well) Is it possible to spay after she's had a litter?  I suppose I can look these up in the other sections..  Thanks all!! 

User is Offline Skipper's Mama
Florida
1100 posts Send Private Message
10/24/2012 03:07 PM
I do believe girls can be spayed 4-6 months? Once you find a rabbit savvy vet that you like they will help you with the process. =]

User is Offline Beka27
Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Forum Leader
13998 posts Send Private Message
10/25/2012 02:16 AM
Posted By CharliePebblets on 10/24/2012 12:23 PM

Yes I've heard about spaying helping with litter training - is there an appropriate time for that though?? And what about if I wanted her to possibly have a litter?  (If i got a male bunny as well) Is it possible to spay after she's had a litter?  I suppose I can look these up in the other sections..  Thanks all!! 


I would caution against breeding her, even once.  There are so many homeless rabbits in the world, and there is no way you can guarantee a proper, lifelong home for any of the babies.  Rabbit litters can range anywhere from 1 baby to 10+, and you don't know how many you'll end up with.

As an added note, discussion of intentional breeding is prohibited on this website.  There are other websites you can join online if you do choose to breed her, but that cannot be discussed here.
Meadow..... Photobucket ...... Max

User is Offline pippakins
24 posts Send Private Message
10/25/2012 03:41 AM
We got Pippa when she was 2-3 months and the vet recommended waiting until she was closer to 6 months, though the hormonal process started around 4. So a few months of misery. But that was just our experience, some may be fine with spaying earlier. As an added note, the first vet we called who welcomed 'exotic' animals recommended that we NOT get her fixed unless we got another bun because of the possible complications. I know some poor bun lovers have lost their friends during surgery, but it was a huge red flag for me. Thankfully there was a more competent vet up the road who seemed to know more about rabbits.

My boyfriend talked about her having a litter before she was fixed and I said absolutely no. There are so many buns who need a good loving home in the world.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS > BEHAVIOR > Is this normal for a 3-4 month old bunny?
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