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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Staying in the corner and scared

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    • Scorpio Loz
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        Domino has been with me for about 2 weeks, and is now 12 weeks old. In his cage, he sits in the corner most of the day. I do see him moving around sometimes and I let him out to run around everyday. This he loves by showing me binkies. He is aware of when I am giving his food because as soon as the tin rattles, he’s right up to me sniffing away and pleading! 

        When i do let him out, I have great difficulty in catching him to let him back in the cage again. It usually ends up with me cornering him and grabbing with me being scratched. How do I allow him to let me lift him into cage? And why does he sit in the corner? 

        He he really makes me feel like I’m not looking after him right 🙁 he has plenty of toys, bedding, chews and hay. He rarely goes to his water which is in bottle and bowl form. He pees in his litter box but doesn’t poo in it, so I’m just gonna let him do that :-/ 

        help 🙁 


      • Sarita
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          Do not chase him back – rattle the bowl in his cage and then entice him back in with a treat or a food pellet – much better than chasing since he’s a prey animal and he will run away.

          I suppose he likes the corner because he feels comfortable and safe.

          Once he is neutered he might be easier to be litter trained.


        • Sindri
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            I have 2 rabbit who both hate to be picked up. I use something they like to get them back into their cages like their pellets or a small piece of banana or apple which they absolutely love. You can try something like that. For my female she is more difficult so I split up her pellets into 2 servings and that’s how I get her back in her cage for the night. As for sitting in the corner. That’s what I see my rabbits doing a lot of the time when they are in their cages. How much time does your rabbit get out to play? Both mine have a bunny room so they get let out during the day and put up at night or brought out into the living room in evenings for supervised playtime. if its during the day he probably is resting. Also as far as pooping outside the litterbox that may clear up once he is neutered but my female still does that. She poops half the time in her box but the best thing is your rabbit is peeing in the box so that’s great. I think you are doing a good job thus far I wouldn’t fret too much. Try using a few pellets or something else he likes and see if he gets into his cage willingly. I hope that helps you out. =)


          • Scorpio Loz
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              His cage is off the floor so he can’t get in himself


            • Sarita
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                Is there a way to put his cage on the floor? That would be ideal.


              • Scorpio Loz
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                  Not really, looks like I’ll have to continue getting scratched when grabbing him. His claws are lethal and apparently not long enough for a cut yet!? Imagine them when they are long!
                  He still doesn’t respond to his name, only the rattle of food in the tin. 🙁 am I just being impatient?


                • Jessie1990
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                    Maybe train him to get into something to be lifted into the cage? I use raisins to train mine. You could get a cat carrier to transport him from the ground. Lure him in with a raisin and then let him out without giggling the cage too much and scaring him. I have a SUPER loving rabbit, and even he doesn’t like to be lifted off the ground. It’s a bad thing to them.


                  • kerryx
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                      Maybe get him a ramp? then teach him to climb up it into his cage?
                      If you chase him, he will see you as a predator and this may end up destroying your bond.
                      I had this problem when I got Bilbo, I used to HAVE to pick him up to get him back into the cage, but now that I don’t have to, we’re best of friends.


                    • bunnytowne
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                        a ramp or stool sounds like a good idea.  i got cotton trained to go to bed with craisins.  he goes nuts works great.  find something he goes nuts over.  the rattling of the tin sounds good to him.  a pet carrier is also a great idea too.  you will find something that works.  at first maybe let the bunny go into the carrier itself out of curiosity  and  a treat in there too.  


                      • Deleted User
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                          I no longer have the problem of getting Henry to bed at night, we gave in and he is now 24/7 free range, so not that I am able to offer you any advice, on the chance this may make you chuckle and feel better I’ll let you know how we got Henry to bed (don’t tell anyone, I’m so embarrassed!) and you’ll get why ‘we gave up’! Once we found out Henry went nuts for banana – my hubby (who gets home from work around 10.30pm & isn’t overly fussed on bananas) bought 7 banana’s a week eating one on his way home leaving a small chunk for Henry. Then there’s my man laying on the floor bribing Henry out from under the bed while I stand by with a huge sheet of cardboard. As Henry makes his way to the doorway and down the hall I followed from behind with the cardboard in case he made a quick U turn (especially if he pinched the banana from my hubby) so he couldn’t get back into the bedroom. Giving him a nibble to entice him as we slowly made our way forward, the balance got placed in his house and once he was in the cardboard went up (with a chair to hold it in place)! Two grown up’s trying to put one little bunny to bed – how stupid we must have looked! Night after night for months getting to bed way after 11pm. Now do you get why we gave in! Our new solution? Henry has free run of the house at night, and I have thick pieces of large cardboard up at every doorway (that we walk into or trip over) to keep him out of the lounge and bedrooms. Can you believe that our whole way of home life has changed over one dam little bunny!
                          Good luck Scorpio Loz – and if you ever feel silly, just think about me!


                        • Elrohwen
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                            Is the bottom of the cage plastic? My one rabbit doesn’t like slippery floors and would just sit in the corner of his cage too. He adjusted a little, but mostly improved when I attached an xpen to the cage with a better flooring.

                            For getting him to go back, I would link feeding time with going back to his cage. Mine race for their cage since I feed them dinner when I need to lock them up for the night.

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                        Forum BEHAVIOR Staying in the corner and scared