Hello!

I wonder if any of you rabbit experts can help....

I have a 15 month (approx) female who is wonderful. Full of character and exceptionally clean and tidy.... God help you of you put a toy or tunnel in the wrong place! She only ever poo's etc in one specific place making it exceptionally easy to clean up. I have researched that this is pretty common.

Then I have two little men, both waiting to be neutered, 13 weeks old. They are so messy to the point where they are even at times pooing in their food bowls.

They are all swept out very regularly and checked for fly strike at least a couple of times a day. But there just seems no end to it.

My question is... Is this just a case of boys being boys, will this change when they are neutered ( they are still a bit too tiny according to the vet) or older or should I do be doing a bit more in the way of training? eg. treating them in the same way you would a dog or a cat?

Could diet be affecting them? They are currently being weaned off the brightly colored rabbit food (which they had been introduced to before I got them) onto pellets and plenty of hay. Along with the odd carrot and piece of broccoli (a huge favorite)


Any advise greatly received
xx

PS. They are Lop's and currently living outdoors

Don't know the answer I'm afraid.In hutches I haven't seen a difference between boys and girls for messiness/cleanliness. I am currently trying to litter train a house bunny(male German lop) and he is making a mess everywhere but we've only been tring for a week. Maybe the boys are slower learners than the girls :)

Have you tried using a grill tray lined with newspaper (with the metal wire mesh bit in) always works for me boy or girl rabbits seem to use it without having to do anything else. Always found that boys like spraying on each other, no problems with poo tho.

claire

try scooping some of their used litter into their tray when you clean them out so they know where you want them to go. It may or may not help. Most rabbits I have had have been very clean in their hutch but I have had some in the past that liked to make a mess!! :)

Not noticed them spraying Whippety... I will watch out for that! And I will try that too Sezbetz... Anything is worth a shot! Thank you very much

I have a house bunny who was litter trained a few weeks ago. I kept putting her in her litter tray everytime I saw her poo. Then eventually she stop doing it on the floor. Strangly enough though this last week she has started going everywhere again so I am not sure what to do or why she is doin this. Maybe its something to do with hormones. I think in your case it probably down to hormones and marking their teratory. When are they being neutered?

I have a male bunny who used to poo every where but i have trained him to use a litter tray, I just kept putting his poo in the tray and he started using it he has been neutered but if i remeber rightly he was litter trained before he was neutered, he is now 6 years old living out doors and freely using his litter tray.