Bunny poop everywhere - Paw Talk

ninjamini · #1 02-13-2008, 11:18 PM

We were having issues with gracy using the litter box for the first several days that we had her. But now she seems to go pee in there almost all the time. Except for a quarter size pee spot on the rug. But poo abounds. She is making pelets everywhere. We have her cage with a fence surround in our living room. This way she is not stuck to a 4'x2' enclosure. But she is making poo everywhere. We pick it up and put it in the box. Then she does more.

ideas?

**Dragonrain** · #2 02-14-2008, 08:06 AM

It could be because she's in a new place and is marking. They use pellets as a signal to other bunnies, and even do it when other bunnies arn't around. Whenever I clean my rabbits cage really well or take them out in a new area, Zeus has to run around and poop on things. Usually after he gets use to the new area, or the cage change, he'll stop and instead just mark things with his chin. Just give her some more time and hopefully she'll get better - things are still probably pretty new to her.

Good luck!

ninjamini · #3 02-14-2008, 08:12 AM

So could it have been that I picked her up and walked around the house for the first time?

MeggieQC · #4 02-14-2008, 10:43 AM

When you train her to use the litter box, start by a small area. When she gets the idea, gradually enlarge her space

Tessa83 · #5 02-14-2008, 04:03 PM

My bunnies rub their chins on everything in their cage... and the rub their chins on me when I have them in the outside fence and I'm sitting with them... Max will sometimes pee and spray it towards me though... what does that mean?

kathydip · #6 02-14-2008, 04:45 PM

My buns tended to poo outside their box at first. They all got better with time but really showed the most improvement after they were apyed/neutered. There are still occasional poos but not like it was before.
Teddy used to be terrible when I let him hop in the hall. He LOVED to poo outside the other bunny rooms. It was a crazy amount of poo too. Now he is much better and only does about 3 poos.
Some tricks to get her to use the box is to put some hay in the box. Others have said make sure you use a soft litter because they like to go on soft things - but I use wood stove pellets so my buns don't have that luxury.

As for Max - I think he maybe showing his love for you. I am sure others will be able to tell you for sure.

Angelnstuff · #7 02-14-2008, 10:42 PM

here a poo there a poo everywhere a poo poo.. heh.. our rabbit does that too, she will use the little pan for her pee most of the time, but when shes out she will drop little poos everywhere, i think shes marking her area. because of the dogs i guess.. honestly it doesnt bother me much anymore. i just wait to vaccuum until after shes had her run of the house. And Tanner (one of the dogs) cleans up the ones we miss

ninjamini · #8 02-15-2008, 07:20 AM

So I guess so much for litter training.

I watch my cousins dog who is "house trained". Only the dog makes accidents in the house every day. So much for house trained.

kibblesmom · #9 02-20-2008, 01:56 PM

You can keep her in a small area and everytime you see her start to go say a word she associates to the litter box. I use "potty chair" Then when she goes into the potty chair give her a raisin or a treat. I have 3 and right now we are going through bonding so they are everywhere. As soon as I say potty chair though all 3 go to a litter box. I think once she is used to the room she will calm down. Oh and she will let you know when the litter box is not clean enough for her. She will leave pellets right outside of it. Some are faster at learning than others you just have to be patient.

ninjamini · #10 02-21-2008, 07:17 AM

WAIT...Wait...wait...they learn to associate a word with a response. I dont beleive it. I would not have thought they are that smart.

kibblesmom · #11 02-21-2008, 08:02 AM

Oh my gosh. How long have you been a bunny mom? They are extremely smart and know how to manipulate us. My three know their names, they come when they are called and know words like, night night (they go to their pens), Breakfast (they come to eat), no, up, down, bunny kisses (they lick me), mommy kisses (they put their head down for me to kiss them), I'm going to get you (they know I am going to chase them and they do binkies) and more I can't think of. Look at Bunny Video on this board and it will give you a link to you tube. It is a trick I have taught one of my rabbits. I have also taught one of them to sit up, walk (on hind legs), circle all on command.
They are smarter than we are most of the time.

**Dragonrain** · #12 02-21-2008, 12:22 PM

I don't like to think that my bunnies are smarter then I am ...

...But yeah, they're really smart - smarter then most people give them credit for. They can be clicker trained, or trained using voice commands. It can be harder to train them then it would be to train... say a dog, because they don't usually have that same drive to please humans, but I guess it would really depend on the rabbit.

My boys know the words no, down, up, dinner, and bed time (bed time means it's time for them to go back in their cage), they both know their names and will come to me when I call them, and Zeus knows a couple of stupid pet tricks. Barnaby does a few tricks as well, but not as many as Zeus.

Some ppl even teach their bunnies to run in agility courses very similar to those made for dogs.

And I'm pretty sure that ninjamini is a bunny dad, not a bunny mom

kibblesmom · #13 02-21-2008, 12:38 PM

Oh...sorry Ninjamini

FunnyBunny · #14 02-22-2008, 08:06 AM

I'm trying to train my bunny to learn simple commands ... it's proving difficult. I say "back" when I want him to go back in his cage. Maybe it works 50% of the time? And when he does I give him a treat. Then I say "no!" and clap my hands loudly when he does something bad - like try to take a bite out of the carpet. Again, 50% of the time at most. I call him by his name ALL of the time and he looks up but doesn't really come over so often. The thing he's best at is if he's nearby and I make kissing noises he'll put his nose up to mine. Other than raisins, any training tips?

kibblesmom · #15 02-22-2008, 08:51 AM

Be patient. If the commands are working 50% of the time you are on your way. As far as the "no" commands...I found they have to be removed from the situation as well as being told "no". They are like little kids. They will tune you out (or at least mine do) and when they have something on their mind like digging at the carpet you have to remove them from the area otherwise they will ignore you and keep doing it. Then when he understands that you are going to move him when you say no he will automatically do it when he hears you. I have one that gets in trouble just to get attention. He will do something and when I tell him no he shakes his head (this is like laughing) and runs around real fast until I play with him.
I taught mine their name by treats. I would call their name and then a command like "come" then when they did they got a treat. You can start just a few feet away from him and then increase the distance. It is just like teaching a dog their name. They have to hear it a lot. You can try clicker training. I tried this but they just looked at me and tried to eat the clicker. Some people have had good success with it though. It also depends on the age of the rabbit. Just hang in there and he will get it.