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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BEHAVIOR getting bunny back in cage and good treats for bunnies

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    • buttercup86
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        Hello! I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips as to how to get my bunny back in his cage after I let him run around. It is always a hassle as he loves being out of his cage and hates being picked up. This is my first bunny…I adopted him from the humane society. How long does it typically take a bunny to bond with you (if he ever will). I have read that bunnies are social but my bunny mostly wants nothing to do with me so far.

        Also I was wondering what bunnies go crazy over in terms of treats? Are bunnies allowed craisins? I have read about people giving their bunnies craisins.

        Thank you for any help!


      • lmais
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          It will really depend on your rabbit’s personality for how long it takes them to get comfortable with you. Some rabbits are more timid than others, and some will never like being picked up while some grow to like it.

          They can eat craisins but not too often. I usually stick to either natural foods or treats made specifically made for rabbits. Here are a few things Ruby goes nuts over (she’s a little bit of a treat fiend so there’s a lot):

          oxbow barley treats, apples, bananas (dehydrated and not), oxbow strawberry treats, pineapple and cherries. The last two I keep really as a treat to get once in a while as it can upset their stomachs.


        • LBJ10
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            Easiest solution – making going back into the cage feeding time. Mine get their dinner pellets at night. So they will be out and about, but when they see me coming with some food they will literally fly into the cage. Perhaps you can work out a schedule that will work so that he is being fed when it is time to go to bed?


          • bunnygirl
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              All bunnies love their owners, some just express it differently. Make ‘in time’ treat time, or pellet time. Or try to train her to the command ‘Go home’ or something similar.
              Good luck!


            • buttercup86
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                Thank you for the replies! Honestly I have tried the “in time” being “food time” but my bunny has no interest in any foods, its actually a little bit concerning for me. Thats why I asked about treats, I need that one thing my bunny will do anything for! Lately I have just been waiting until he eventually goes in there to hide or get water…but sometimes I would like to leave my house to do groceries or something without a ten minute battle to get back in the cage!


              • LBJ10
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                  What is his feeding schedule like? It helps if he’s actually hungry when it is time to go home.


                • kinggoblin
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                    I use to bribe mine with dried fruit and snapping my fingers. Then he learned to go in his pen if I just snapped my fingers. Now he goes in every time I walk in the kitchen because he thinks if I’m in the kitchen he must be getting fed, haha.


                  • Deleted User
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                      I use going back into the cage as veggie night time feeding time. Skipper comes out twice a day and every time I put her away I give her a cup and 1/2 of veggies. My bf was the one who actually figured out that clicking our tongues gets her attention. It took about a week for her to catch on that she gets veggies before she goes in. Buns are real smart and will learn a routine if you set on up.


                    • LittlePuffyTail
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                        My bunnies go crazy for fresh fruit like banana, pears and peaches. Make sure to only give very small pieces to not get tummy upsets. They also love all the bunny cookies made by Oxbow. Dried papaya is a favorite too.


                      • tanlover14
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                          My go NUTS over craisins. You could get my buns to do ANYTHING for a craisin! That’s the only thing that equals forgiveness at the end of bunny nail trimming time… LOL. Craisins are okay as long as you don’t feed them excessively. Giving him one once a day to get in his house will definitely be perfectly fine. My buns are spoiled and get about two a day. LOL. Or a Nibble Ring. THEY LOVEEEE Nibble Rings. I hate Vitakraft products but they are from them and called Nibble Rings and also, just a treat like a Craisin but they LOVE their Nibble Rings. They are actually quite similar to what they get in their hay.

                          Also, I can’t remember the age of your bun? If he’s still on unlimited pellets the dinner time thing won’t help at all. My buns would turn up there noses at me when they were babies and needed to go back in and hop away with a bratty expression. But if he IS older and on limited pellets you may just haven’t stressed enough his “feeding time”. It took a good month before my buns got used to feeding time and now they will promptly wait at their bowls for dinner around 10-11pm. If I’m late, I get dirty looks. It takes a little time for your buns to get used to the “routine” so maybe he just needs time to realize THATS dinner time. Or maybe you are just giving him too many pellets? If he’s not eating all the pellets you may just be filling him up on pellets and not realizing it! How much do you give him? And how much does he weigh?

                          Also, if he’s not really interested in veggies he MAY just not have been introduced to them.. My one baby boy bun took a whole MONTH before he would even TRY veggies. But I annoyed him so much every day with poking it at the side of his month that finally one day he chomped the cilantro just to get me to leave him alone. Low and beyond — he realized just how yummy it was and wouldn’t stop attaching the bowl of cilantro I had. He may just be picky about the veggies you’re giving him too! My buns really are partial to kale and herbs. And sometimes romaine.


                        • Elrohwen
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                            I think the best way to get bunnies back in their cage is to time meals with when you want them to go back to the cage. Treats can work too, but a hungry bunny ready for dinner will be racing you to get back to his cage for his meal.

                            For treats, I mostly use pellets. They’re not as exciting as other treats, but my bunnies think any food is exciting. lol I also use craisins – I break them into little bits so they only get about one per day. Fresh fruit is good, but only one of my two buns will try it, so I don’t feed it much.


                          • buttercup86
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                              So I am very very tired…my bunny has not ate or drank in 6 hours (not because I denied him access his cage has been open all night) but he JUST WONT GO BACK IN HIS CAGE. I have contained him to the one room where his cage is and turned out a couple lights…I just don’t know what to do I made sure he would be very hungry but he just has no appetite! He is usually back in his cage around this time! I may sound a little frustrated on here but I have been calm and patient with him but I needed an outlet….I need to go to bed! Bah! Lol


                            • buttercup86
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                                SUCCESS! Turning out the lights may be my answer I will try it again the next few nights. I’m going to have to train him to “go home” when I say the words…maybe that will be my weekend project

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                            Forum BEHAVIOR getting bunny back in cage and good treats for bunnies