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Original poster

Rabbit cage - help me keep it clean!

17 replies

bagelbagelbagel · 28/02/2023 17:13

I have two 11 week old mini lops who are absolute huns, destroying everything in their wake.

I noticed they were peeing in the same corner of their cage and put a litter tray down there. They are pretty good at using it for wees but they are still pooing EVERYWHERE.

At present I'm litter box cleaning daily and fully cleaning them out every 3 days or so. I had rabbits when I was younger so I'm reasonably competent. I was adamant I'd use liners and not sawdust but they laid waste to them within hours of arriving so I resorted to the old fashioned sawdust on top of newspaper deal. I've just ordered hemp matting to fit their cage, which I'm hoping they get on ok with.

They have lots of running around time, all over the downstairs of our home, 2 hours minimum but generally more like four. Boy is coming into adolescence and spraying a lot, I think. He will be fixed asap. His sister is being a very good sport and putting up with his antics. I watch them like hawks for fighting etc but so far it's been ok, and their breeder was confident they would be ok together until boy is fixed (and, later, girl) as they are siblings and very bonded to each other.

They will eventually be outside buns in a big Omlet covered run, delays to jabs and super cold weather make me reluctant to let them out until spring, but until then does anybody have any tips for clean and happy indoor buns?

OP posts:
bunnygeek · 01/03/2023 09:40

Rabbits need to be cleaned up after daily, mine have their pee spots cleaned up twice a day and they're a 5 year old pair neutered/spayed rescue pair. You need to be at least spot-cleaning up after them daily as you have been, especially as they're babies and unneutered, therefore messier and smellier!

They're currently in their "baby bond" stage, this may reduce over the next few weeks as they become sexually mature - usually around 4 months for the boy and 4-6 months for the girl. They will really need to be separated as there is a risk they can mate before the deed is done, the boy will also remain fertile for a month post neuter.

Personally I'm not a fan of the Omlet housing, the runs are ok but very expensive compared to other aviaries. Will they have different outdoor housing i.e. a shed? The little plastic tat Omlet makes is far too small.

Original poster
bagelbagelbagel · 01/03/2023 10:50

bunnygeek · 01/03/2023 09:40

Rabbits need to be cleaned up after daily, mine have their pee spots cleaned up twice a day and they're a 5 year old pair neutered/spayed rescue pair. You need to be at least spot-cleaning up after them daily as you have been, especially as they're babies and unneutered, therefore messier and smellier!

They're currently in their "baby bond" stage, this may reduce over the next few weeks as they become sexually mature - usually around 4 months for the boy and 4-6 months for the girl. They will really need to be separated as there is a risk they can mate before the deed is done, the boy will also remain fertile for a month post neuter.

Personally I'm not a fan of the Omlet housing, the runs are ok but very expensive compared to other aviaries. Will they have different outdoor housing i.e. a shed? The little plastic tat Omlet makes is far too small.

Did you not read my OP? I do spot clean them daily 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
bagelbagelbagel · 01/03/2023 10:52

I also have the Omlet housing in place already @bunnygeek as I had hens. I have a huge run attached, completely fox proof. Double insulated.

I rescued rabbits in my twenties so I don't need advice about raising rabbits. I was just asking for cleaning tips.

OP posts:
bunnygeek · 01/03/2023 12:08

I didn't mean to sound arsey :-/ I guess it's the general Mumsnet tone.

Basically there's no magic formula, you have to clean them daily as you have been (I thought I said that anyway). And they're going to be filth monsters as they're babies, proper litter training doesn't happen until they're neutered.

Original poster
bagelbagelbagel · 01/03/2023 12:17

bunnygeek · 01/03/2023 12:08

I didn't mean to sound arsey :-/ I guess it's the general Mumsnet tone.

Basically there's no magic formula, you have to clean them daily as you have been (I thought I said that anyway). And they're going to be filth monsters as they're babies, proper litter training doesn't happen until they're neutered.

They have jabs next week - huge backlog of supply issues meant we had to wait - and I will be booking boy bunny in for his neutering. He will be 12 weeks then. I'm going to weigh him again in a bit and see if he's over a kilo yet.

OP posts:
Original poster
bagelbagelbagel · 01/03/2023 12:18

Girl bunny is an absolute dream, just calm and cuddly and lovely. I'm expecting her to be a bit grumpy when puberty hits though. She might be ok, I've had bunnies that got very nasty and bunnies that didn't really change much at all.

OP posts:
saltrock123 · 01/03/2023 12:40

I use old cut up towels instead of litter plus a corner rabbit loo in their preferred corner. This all gets replaced cleaned daily and seems to be working better. They have free range all day outside and come in at night. Do still have to sweep up outside of course.

Original poster
bagelbagelbagel · 01/03/2023 18:14

Boy bunny is 900g now, I can't get him castrated until he hits 1000g. He is showing signs of puberty but girl bunny isn't yet. I am watching them like a hawk all the time!

OP posts:
concernedyoungersister · 02/03/2023 18:54

House Bunny owner here of 8 years!

I understand your frustration! Bunnies are very naturally clean animals and will prefere one corner to do their loo time.

As your bunnies are very young of course they will poop (and mini wee) in random areas, it's not theirs or your fault I promise!

Best advice I can give you is every day when you spot clean, make sure you put quite a few of their fresh poops right in their wee corner! This will help them associate wee with poop! Make sure their hay is only next to the loo area instead of everywhere! You can also encourage them more by popping little tiny treats there too so they hand around.

I hope this helps you! More than happy to help with anymore bunny questions xx

sociallyawkwardz · 02/03/2023 19:22

concernedyoungersister · 02/03/2023 18:54

House Bunny owner here of 8 years!

I understand your frustration! Bunnies are very naturally clean animals and will prefere one corner to do their loo time.

As your bunnies are very young of course they will poop (and mini wee) in random areas, it's not theirs or your fault I promise!

Best advice I can give you is every day when you spot clean, make sure you put quite a few of their fresh poops right in their wee corner! This will help them associate wee with poop! Make sure their hay is only next to the loo area instead of everywhere! You can also encourage them more by popping little tiny treats there too so they hand around.

I hope this helps you! More than happy to help with anymore bunny questions xx

Thank you! Hay rack is next to loo, and they do poop in there, so hopefully they will get better at it as they get older.

concernedyoungersister · 02/03/2023 19:34

Sorry extra info incoming!!!

That's great and yes they will improve on their current space for sure! As well as a free roam bunny owner I also work at a petting farm where we have 16 buns all paired up in their own outside enclosures! I saw that you said the aim once the weather is better for them to have an outside enclosure!

Outside enclosures allow for rabbits to behave instinctively so they will poop and wee (mainly poop) in their outside space. All of the farm buns have Wendy houses they get locked into over night where they still have litter trays, but where they are all older and have been trained they will only poop and wee in their tray once locked in.

So you will need to spot clean the poops on the grass unfortunately- but at least their inner closed space will but much more easier to sort out. With this in mind though, even if you have lots and lots of clean bedding and saw dust, it's very important that you do a complete clear out and spray down as outside buns can very quickly get poorly with lots of different types of mites that love to hang around in sawdust bedding. Xxxz

Bunnyishotandcross · 02/03/2023 19:38

No dbunny tax?

concernedyoungersister · 02/03/2023 19:39

Bunnyishotandcross · 02/03/2023 19:38

No dbunny tax?

Uh? No bunnies can't pay tax Confused

Bunnyishotandcross · 02/03/2023 19:53

Was to op.

Honeyroar · 02/03/2023 20:00

Bunnyishotandcross · 02/03/2023 19:38

No dbunny tax?

I think they meant pics!😁

I agree with the suggestion of putting any fresh poops in the litter tray and leaving a few in the tray from while - help them recognise it as a litter tray.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 02/03/2023 20:17

I think it's just time, as they are so young. I have two free range house rabbits, who reliably use a litter tray to wee in. They tend to poo in the litter or in their 'home base' (and an occasional patch elsewhere). I spotclean the patches, tidy up the home base three times away and change the litter tray daily.

I think there is a very real risk your female rabbits will be pregnant soon. It would be better to separate them until you can get the boy neutered and the requisite time has passed.

Original poster
bagelbagelbagel · 03/03/2023 10:49

They have jabs Tues so I will speak to nurse then about castration asap

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