new bunny question

[kate1973]

hello folks…i have adopted a male satin rabbit he is fixed with papers…we are getting to know each other and things are going great accept when i need him to go back in his cage after play time…i let him free for at least 2 hours a day and he has a blast…but when its time to go back in he is very resistant. i dont want to force him…any tips??

[Tessie]

Have you tried tempting him in with food?

[Ellekke]

Hi there!

Here’s what I do! Maybe it gives you some ideas

I use treats (like a cube of carrot) or pellets to get my bunnies in their cage. I see a lot of people use craisins for treats but that’s more difficult to get here in Belgium. And if you’re going to train on something for a while, I think it’s best to use pellets. So you can train him a bit so he understands that going into the cage means he gets something yummy and that it’s not a punishment.

I use a specific hand gesture that signals them to go in their cage and you can use a command with that. I swoop my hand inside the cage with my index finger stretched. My command is “hop!”.

Lure him inside with a treat – give treat/pellet after he jumps in cage – let him come back out – lure him inside with treat – give treat/pellet after he jumps in cage – Start using command and lure with treat – give treat/pellet after he jumps in cage….

Repeat as much as you need to. If you notice it’s going too quickly just back down a step and perhaps add an extra pellet when he stands in front of the cage

How can you see it’s working? The bunny jumps inside the cage without any indication from you, expecting a treat, lol

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[kate1973]

ok thank you guys for the advice…i will try later with a carrot…boy they can be tricky

[LBJ10]

Yep, food is the most effective method. If they are on a set schedule, you could actually feed them their pellets at the time you want them to go in their cage. I do that with mine. They get their evening ration of pellets at night when I put them away. Usually just putting them in the bowl is enough to get mine to come running. I will say “go to bed” and point to the cage if they don’t come immediately.

[Elrohwen]

Food is definitely the easiest. I just feed my bunnies dinner at the time of day I want them to go in their cage, and they run right in!

[Sindri]

I use food as well. Mine are trained well now that they know when its around time for them to get into their cages for the night. They see me and most of the time jump in before the food is placed.

[kate1973]

wow food works!! i used raisins he went bonkers for them!!!….lol now my next question…how many raisins can he have a day?

and thank you guys so much for your help!!

[kate1973]

sorry for the dumb questions but im a newbie with a rabbit. I just want to provide a loving home that safe.

[CheriB603]

Probably 4 to 6 raisins is good for a small bun. (A few more won’t hurt him, they are just high in sugar). Try lettuce or a veggie he likes…any food he likes will do. Mine goes crazy for craisins – we call them “bunny crack”. He loves any type of fruit – apples, bananas, mango, strawberries, pumpkin… but use the fruit like a treat.

[kate1973]

thanks for all the great advice! me and Loki will be a happy pair!……used the raisins
to go in after play time worked like a charm!

[Linette]

I think mine would learn to speak a foreign language and sing opera for a sprig of cilantro!

[kate1973]

funny i tryed cilantro…he was like no thanks mom…lol

[LBJ10]

That’s okay, mine don’t care for cilantro either. Or *gasp* kale!

[Beka27]

Meadow gets a little kale everyday. If I don’t give any to her, she looks at me like, “You’re kidding, right?!” Lol…

[LongEaredLions]

O_o
Kale and cilantro are my bunnies favorites!

[kate1973]

well i have found that Loki loves parsley and celery…and baby carrots that i only give once in a while as a treat…he is a love…

[kate1973]

well i have found that Loki loves parsley and celery…and baby carrots that i only give once in a while as a treat…he is a love…

[kate1973]

so here is a new
question…at what age does a bunny stop growing? loki is a satin…he is a year and 3 months old.

[LBJ10]

He should be done growing. Depending on the breed, bunnies will grow until they are 6-9 months. Then they fill out more as they approach 1 year. Is your bunny gaining weight? Perhaps it’s a diet issue?

[Ellekke]

Bunnies are awesoooome!!!
Great news Kate, it’s so nice to read about how it’s going
Ps: Loki looks like such a hunk!

[Author]

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