rabbits

[superchick]

hi i have inherited a rabbit from someone that didnt wanted it. i agreed to take it on as the person who had it really didnt want it & i felt sorry for him. (which i am now beggining to regret). he is a cute little bunny &i think he is about 2 years old. the girl who had him house trained him & he has never been in a hutch. however because we are out at work all day i thought there is no way i am letting him run round my house all day. we have had him about 4 weeks & he goes in his hutch in the day &comes out at night when we are here. at first he seemed really good-doing poos & wees in his litter tray(his hutch is huge) but lately he has started dropping odd poo around the house & mor annoying than that he is wee aswell. but when he is picked up or moved off something he kicks his back legs up &sort of sprays wee at you(which is most disgusting). can anyone help me before this lovwly little bunny ends up in a stew!!!

[jules77]

Do you know if he has been neutered, as they are usually easier to house train if they are?

[Cetti]

Keep him in the hutch and let him out in the garden (if that's possible) to have a run round and stretch his legs.

I personally think it's cruel keeping a rabbit indoors as it just isn't natural and it sounds as though this buck is marking his territory in your home, then showing his displeasure when he's removed. He's only doing what he would do in the wild, so he's not being naughty, just acting like a normal rabbit.

During the winter make sure the hutch is elevated and against the house(again, if possible) and away from any draughts. You may have to change position during the summer months as the sun will cook him if directly onto the hutch!

[jules77]

You should also cover the hutch at night, with perhaps an old blanket/fleece.

[superchick]

he stretches his legs-his hutch is massive & he is always out when we are there-so he is not in there all the time! not sure if he has been neutered. someone told me he would kick when i put him in there but he never has so he isnt that bothered about being in there. its just the wee spraying thats really annoying!

[{Dakota}]

Hello,

Your rabbit is trying to be the dominant force in your home, which is why he is pooing and weeing outwith the area he's meant to, he's trying his luck basically. My rabbit has an area in his hutch where he does his business, but I also bought a cat litter tray for when he has free reign. Each time he did a poo, I scooped them up and put them in the tray, it took a few weeks but he eventually 'got it' that this was where he was meant to do it. Also, when he DID start to use the tray I praised him verbally and gave him a choccy button for being a good boy (the bunny safe chocs you get at the pet shop). Bunnies aren't daft, he knew that the reward was great for using the tray.

As for the kicking when he is lifted, as a general rule, bunnies do not like being lifted at all. If you really have to lift him, the best method I find is to use the whole of the inside of my forearm to lift him, making sure that my elbows are effectively locking his hind legs and bum backed into my stomach. This appeases him until I get him to where I need him to be. I hope my description of lifting him makes sense LOL.

If you want to stop the spraying, getting him neutured is the best option for you, he's in and out in a day and will cost around �50/�60, this should help with him trying to be the dominant party too.

I hope this helps and I hope you get to read this reply after so long.