Litter training
Litter trays come in all shapes and sizes, but the bigger the tray the more hay you can put in to encourage your rabbit to eat hay while they poop. Seed trays and drip trays can be ideal as they do come in big sizes and all kinds of shapes and are cheaper to buy than some actual litter trays.
By using sawdust or Megazorb to line the tray helps absorb more urine and reduces odours too. Cover well with hay.
Use a mix of white wine vinegar and water to clean the trays.
Litter training rabbits can be simple.
Check where your bunny is going to the loo in his accommodation. Then place a litter tray in this area with some soiled hay in the tray. Keep placing soiled hay/droppings into the tray and in no time at all your bunny should get the message that this is their toilet. If they insist on going elsewhere provide them with more than one litter tray and place in the areas they go. Who said a rabbit can’t have more than one loo!
Sometimes you will probably see the odd little pile of droppings in a place you haven’t seen them before or you may come across some around the outside of a room. This can just mean your rabbit is marking his/her territory so don’t assume straight away they need a litter tray there now or that they are failing their litter training.
Bunny proofing
When training your rabbit whether it be indoors or outdoors, please remember that most of the time what your bunny is doing is natural behaviour to them. Never hit or shout at your rabbit. You need to try and discipline them in a firm, calm collective way and not stress them out. It will help to decide beforehand what areas (inside and out) are ok and safe and what areas are to be out of bounds.
Teaching them ‘No’
When teaching them ‘No’ you can clap your hands (not too loudly) and say ‘no’ quite loudly and firmly, don’t shout though. Say their name a lot too. You can use a bell or rattle to get their attention or you can use a plant spray set on mist spray to help discipline them. They do soon learn. Remember to praise them too when they do obey you.
PLEASE NOTE: Never leave them unsupervised when they are exercising free range.
Free range exercise in the garden
Gradually increase the exercise area as this will help your rabbit to know where to go when it’s time to go back in. Never leave your bunny in the garden alone. Always supervise their free range exercise time.
If you have large areas of garden or flower beds that are out of bounds, consider a metal play pen unfolded to separate off this area easily.Puppy pens cover a large area when unfolded but just make sure they are secure and can’t fall over.
Getting them out of no go areas – a long object such as a cane or sweeping brush to guide them out gently comes in handy when you can’t reach them yourself.
Always make sure your garden has nowhere your rabbit could escape to or get into danger:
- Ponds – make sure they are covered.
- Gaps under or at the side of garden gates – Cover with a sheet of galvanised mesh wire and fold into gaps and attach with cable ties.
- Gaps under fencing – place bricks or concrete slabs.
- Toxic plants – corner these areas off.
Time to go back in
When it comes to go back in use the word ‘bedtime’ or ‘bed’ and they will soon associate this word with going back in.
Every day will be different. Some days they will go straight back in and other days will be a challenge as every bunny will give you the runaround at some stage!