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I
JUST BROUGHT MY OUTDOOR BUNNY INSIDE TO LIVE WITH ME AND I HAVE
SOME QUESTIONS!
Is
it normal for a rabbit to poop everywhere—and will he ever stop?
Yes—and yes. Your rabbit is simply doing what comes naturally in
a new area and marking his/her territory. This sort of behavior
is almost completely hormone based (some rabbits will mark any new
area they are introduced to, but this behavior generally subsides
after a few days or so), territorial—and natural for the unaltered
rabbit. Having your rabbit spayed
or neutered will almost entirely stop this behavior and
make him/her much easier to litter
box train.
I
just started feeding my rabbit hay and vegetables and his poop seems
to be too soft, is this okay?
Changing your rabbit's diet can cause a change in the feces, especially
if done too quickly. Generally, adding a low protein grass hay such
as timothy, oat or orchard grass does not cause GI tract upset,
but change is change and sometimes their bodies simply need time
to adjust. To make sure you don't cause your rabbit gut problems
make all dietary changes slowly, as indicated in our
diet
literature, starting out with approximately two tablespoons
of greens and graduating—over a month—to 2-3 cups
per day - per five pound rabbit.
My
rabbit chewed up my television cords, the drapes, the couch and
my ear phones, and I think he tried to eat the cat. Is this normal?
Will it ever change? Chewing is natural, fun—and an important
rabbit behavior that we want to redirect, not stop entirely. But
take heart, there are several things you can do to protect your
bunny—and your house:
-
Bunny
Proof your house! There are many simple, inexpensive
ways to make your house safer for your rabbit—and from your rabbit!
Cover your electrical cords with plastic tubing (slit lengthwise
so you can stuff the cord(s) inside), using plywood strips behind
wall units and under couches are just some of the things you can
do. (Tubing and plywood can be bought at most hardware stores.)
-
Have your rabbit spayed
or neutered.
Unchecked rabbit hormones can cause bunny to act-out in all sorts
of ways, like marking his or her territory with urine and feces,
or chewing up your favorite shoes simply out of sexual frustration.
-
Offer your rabbit a variety of chew and play toys! A rabbit's
teeth grow continuously throughout its life and it must chew on
things to help keep them filed down. If your rabbit is not encouraged
to chew, his or her teeth could grow too long and cause your rabbit
pain, as well as make him unable to eat. Wooden chew toys, cardboard
digging boxes and plastic baby keys are just some of the toys
your bunny may enjoy.
-
Spend time with your rabbit. Be sure she lives in a fairly
busy section of the home, where the family spends the most time.
The more time you spend with your rabbit, the more the rabbit
will learn and blossom. Teach her right and wrong, talk to her,
let her know—by voice or by the use of baby gates and barriers—where
he can and cannot go. Don't just bring bunny in, plop her down,
expect all to go well and then be disappointed in the rabbit if
she makes a mess of things! Puppies, kitties and children need
training, time and patience—and they get it without question—why
offer anything less to your rabbit?
Remember
that bringing your bunny inside is a new and exciting experience.
Rabbits are very curious and love to investigate, so until you know
your rabbit's habits - short, frequent, well-observed play times
will make it a happy learning experience for everyone.
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