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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 Problem Child

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    • Bunny Alan & Stevie
      Participant
      4 posts Send Private Message

        Hi There,

        I have been the pride owner of bunny Alan now for one whole year. Just recently got Alan a friend Stevie (I’m currently following you bonding process and only 3 days in – Alan is not charmed by the lil one so i think it make be a long painful process as everything is with Alan)

        Alan basically potty trained herself from reading you advise page I realize just how clever she is, I also think she loves to please us even though she is defs the big boss in ‘our warren’. she only got neutered 2 weeks ago – i did it so late as i didn’t have the heart to put her through a painful procedure that wasn’t nessary but then we noticed we couldn’t give her the company she needed so wanted to get her a friend. She doesn’t always use her litter box – and it seems she actually waits for us to leave the room to sneak a pee !!! She also sometimes chooses not to use the litter box …. i do clean it regularly ( I was reading somewhere that it can be too clean ? although it doesn’t seem to be a matter of how clean or dirty the litter box is … when it occurs … i have already tried to connected those dots. Also if we don’t share food with her she pees as well – not all food is good for bunnies. This is all before Stevie came on the scene.

        Also Alan can be very aggressive with me … out of no where but maybe I’m reading her wrong. She super loving the one moment and then she turns on me but not with my husband. But when she was a baby she peed on him all the time , also I’m the main caregiver so shouldnt she be more bonded to me? 

        As can be expected i have noticed Alan pee habits getting worse with the new arrival ? what should I do ? Also how do I scoll her if she did the pee when i was out the room and only notice later or when i come back ?

        A lil bit of a backround into Bunny Alan’s life … Okay sometimes i just think i’m a terrible bunny mom 

        Alan is an indoor rabbit but does not have free range of the house. As we can’t put her down to hop on the floor as she is really destructive.  So she has the following area’s… her cage which she sleeps in, our bed which she sits on when we watch tv at night (we have moved out the lounge onto the bed to be with her for company) then the spare bed which we have boxes and tunnel and her litter box, when we away for a night we leave her out on her bed. Then we have a lil garden that Alan has a 40 min sesson every 2/3 days. Although sometimes she does not utilize her freedom and is more concerned about hanging out by the front door (i watch her in the garden at all times so she is safe). I know the next thing im gonna tell you is a big … but her cage has the door at the top (it is so hard to find cages with the door at the bottom in south africa !!!!) is this why maybe she is aggressive ? she sits nice and still to be picked up when she wants to come out… but she does not enjoyed being carries but keeps still while i carry to her to her next destination. 

        I’m planning to make an outside area where the can spend twilight as i know this is when bunnies like to be out in nature. I only want to do this when stevie and her have bonded and it is neither territories and it must be mutual from the get go. As everything is Alan’s and Stevie has nothing.

        I know Alan’s life isn’t the ideal bunny life but i do take a lil comfort that its not all bad and feel sorry for the bunnies ppl buy for their kids and they don’t ever leave their hutch or cage. Please let me know what you think i don’t want to make the same mistakes with Stevie.

        Look forward to your response.

        Thanks,

        Marianne.


      • RabbitPam
        Moderator
        11002 posts Send Private Message

          Hi, Marianne,
          It does sound like you need some help with Alan’s behavior, but it may be a simple solution like using positive reinforcement to get her to use the litter box properly. When she goes in it, tell her she’s a good bunny and give her a small treat, like one pellet. Small, because at first you want to do this when she goes each time you see her do it, so it could add up the first several days or week. When she pees outside the box, mop it up but use one piece of paper towel and put it in her litter box once it’s soaked. That will keep it smelling like her own urine. You can also use a raisin, or a craisin as a treat, but not too many in a day. She is probably marking her scent since there is a new bunny in the house, and she needs 2 more weeks at least for her hormones to settle down completely. There can even be one final surge of bad behavior after the spay, but then it should get better.
          As a house bunny owner, I’m not a fan of outdoor time, since large predators like hawks and crows can take a bunny from you while you’re right there. An enclosed run, or a screen top to a play area when outside, can be safer. Be sure no pesticides are used on your grounds, too.

          A top opening cage isn’t bad if you can reach in to pick her up right. You might also try putting a carrier in with her, let her walk into it, then take it out to transport her out of her habitat. She might feel more comfortable in it, especially if you keep a soft bed and hay in there so she doesn’t ignore it. Can you get a front opening carrier?
          Sounds like you love her a lot, and with some reading up in the forums by other members with similar questions, you should be get some good advice on how to make this new pair get along with each other and you. Oh, some bunnies show one parent more affection and no real reason why. It’s not fair, just fickle bunnies.


        • Bunny Alan & Stevie
          Participant
          4 posts Send Private Message

            Thank you so much for your reply !!!

            Your advise was great, such a clever idea for the cage !!!

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        Forum BEHAVIOR Problem Child