Hi,
Sorry probably a long post, but just trying to give as much info as i can:
We have 2 male lop eared rabbits that are now around 6 moths old. They have both been neutered. They live in a utch in the garage during the winter. Its a double hutch that stands off the floor. During the evenings when i'm home and during the weekend, they come into the conservatory into a play pen for them to have a bit of a run around.
I did buy another playpen to put around the bottom of their hutch so they could have a little more room when we're at work, however they kept escaping! After securing a net over the top of the cage, it seems they were lifting the bars up and getting underneath. It looks like this, so its easy to move around to any shape you need
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Business-8...23883899997:pla-350424585115&psc=1&th=1&psc=1
When we got the rabbits, they were litter trained. We even took the litter tray they were using in the shop to make sure they continued to use it in their new home. I bought another one to go in their play pen to make life a little easier.
Recently they have stopped using the one in the bottom of their hutch. It hasnt moved, i havent changed the pellets in there, just just dont seem to use it. I was finding that they were tossing it about in the hutch, so i used some velcro to attach it to the bars so it cant move, but its still not used. I think this pretty much tied in time wise as to when i took the external cage away from the bottom of their hutch - although they are secure in the garage if they escape, i dont really want my bike tyres, cabinets, tools, kids toys etc eaten (and they wil eat them)
They now tend to urinate in one corner of the sleeping area of the hutch, which is really annoying as i have to change it pretty much every night. This sleeping area of the hutch is the only area that has woodshavings and hay ,the rest of the hutch has newspaper down, which they destroy every night and i have to replace also
They do however use the one in their playpen no issues. Again they did used to toss it about, so ive secured that one too. 1 of them does tend to just sit in there a lot when theyre just chilling out. I havent seen the other one in there very much but there's no urine on the floor so he must be using it also. I dont believe when theyre in there all day he doesnt go for a wee! This litter tray does get very messy thoughout the day
So my questions are:
1. Do they actually use the sleeping area for sleep? Its not massive, they are a fair size so i cant imagine them both laying in there sleeping?
I do put the microwave snuggle safe thing in this area over night to help provide some heat. Is there a better option here? The bottom of the hutch seems a little expoed to sleep. I do have a big blanket that goes over the to and front of the hutch, and being in the garage there is no wind, however the sides at the bottom of the hutch are bars too, not a wooden panel liek some other hutches.
2. Are they having a strop that i took the extra run area away from them, and having a dirty protest?
3. Should i be concerned?
4. What can i do to encourage them to use it again - ive tried all of the usual stuff (leaving soem soiled pellets in there, it hasnt moved etc)
I think if i move the litter tray to the sleeping area, they'll then just move to urinating at teh bottom of the hutch where it used to be (is now)
They have toys to play with, constand supply of water and hay! Theyre very socialble rabbits and are great with the kids. They are really well bonded (they did start to himp a lot and start to fight a little, but after the neutering they've been fine together, no issues)
Sorry probably a long post, but just trying to give as much info as i can:
We have 2 male lop eared rabbits that are now around 6 moths old. They have both been neutered. They live in a utch in the garage during the winter. Its a double hutch that stands off the floor. During the evenings when i'm home and during the weekend, they come into the conservatory into a play pen for them to have a bit of a run around.
I did buy another playpen to put around the bottom of their hutch so they could have a little more room when we're at work, however they kept escaping! After securing a net over the top of the cage, it seems they were lifting the bars up and getting underneath. It looks like this, so its easy to move around to any shape you need
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Business-8...23883899997:pla-350424585115&psc=1&th=1&psc=1
When we got the rabbits, they were litter trained. We even took the litter tray they were using in the shop to make sure they continued to use it in their new home. I bought another one to go in their play pen to make life a little easier.
Recently they have stopped using the one in the bottom of their hutch. It hasnt moved, i havent changed the pellets in there, just just dont seem to use it. I was finding that they were tossing it about in the hutch, so i used some velcro to attach it to the bars so it cant move, but its still not used. I think this pretty much tied in time wise as to when i took the external cage away from the bottom of their hutch - although they are secure in the garage if they escape, i dont really want my bike tyres, cabinets, tools, kids toys etc eaten (and they wil eat them)
They now tend to urinate in one corner of the sleeping area of the hutch, which is really annoying as i have to change it pretty much every night. This sleeping area of the hutch is the only area that has woodshavings and hay ,the rest of the hutch has newspaper down, which they destroy every night and i have to replace also
They do however use the one in their playpen no issues. Again they did used to toss it about, so ive secured that one too. 1 of them does tend to just sit in there a lot when theyre just chilling out. I havent seen the other one in there very much but there's no urine on the floor so he must be using it also. I dont believe when theyre in there all day he doesnt go for a wee! This litter tray does get very messy thoughout the day
So my questions are:
1. Do they actually use the sleeping area for sleep? Its not massive, they are a fair size so i cant imagine them both laying in there sleeping?
I do put the microwave snuggle safe thing in this area over night to help provide some heat. Is there a better option here? The bottom of the hutch seems a little expoed to sleep. I do have a big blanket that goes over the to and front of the hutch, and being in the garage there is no wind, however the sides at the bottom of the hutch are bars too, not a wooden panel liek some other hutches.
2. Are they having a strop that i took the extra run area away from them, and having a dirty protest?
3. Should i be concerned?
4. What can i do to encourage them to use it again - ive tried all of the usual stuff (leaving soem soiled pellets in there, it hasnt moved etc)
I think if i move the litter tray to the sleeping area, they'll then just move to urinating at teh bottom of the hutch where it used to be (is now)
They have toys to play with, constand supply of water and hay! Theyre very socialble rabbits and are great with the kids. They are really well bonded (they did start to himp a lot and start to fight a little, but after the neutering they've been fine together, no issues)