Who spilled to box of coco puffs all over my floor?

[Mylin]

So today I came home to my little bunbun after another day of work to what looked like an explosion of coco puffs. It seriously looked like Sonny the Cuckoo bird jumped off the walls in my bunbun’s pen and left behind his cherished bowl of cereal. EVERYWHERE. I honestly have no idea how else to explain it. 

A little back story. I am pretty new to bunny ownership. Pistachio is my first little one who I adopted back in October of last year. She is currently five months old and will be due for her visit to the Vet some time next month to get the chopchop. ( You know what I mean ). Now we are currently working on her litter training. I would not call her litter box trained as she still has a habit of pooping wherever she is eating but for the most part, she knows that she needs to sit in her litter box as she eats. Thus while the occasion dropping will end up outside her box and somewhere in her pen, she has never gone on a random dropping spree until now. 

As stated in the introduction, she truly held nothing back. I found droppings in large amounts and piles spread about her pen. She even peed on her blanket in the middle of the larger of piles. I’m concerned about what may have triggered this. Nothing has changed in the immdiate past that I can think of that would cause this. I am slightly concerned as I wonder if she had ingested something that may be upsetting her and thus in an effort to relieve herself of it, is pooping everywhere? I am not sure what it could be exactly. I did build her a NIC cub bunny condo earlier this month but that hasn’t led to any odd behavior prior. Is this a possible health issue or could this be her simply marking?

For the past few days I have started opening her pen up when I get home to provide her running room while I sit in the pen, as I did before, and either watch or pet.  I’m just a bit concerned. I am paranoid to find some health issue. 

I realize this is a bit of a ramble but I am truly  concerned. Plus I’m tired and its bed time but I am still concerned. Any thoughts or ideas would most definity be helpful. I will probably return later tomorrow to read through this jumble again and attempt to write it up in a more sensible means .

[MoveDiagonally]

To me it sounds like she’s getting hormonal/going through puberty. Unfortunately there’s not much to do about marking driven by hormones except spaying/neutering. Since it doesn’t sound like that’s too far off I would just keep trying to re-enforce good habits and try to minimize damage until she’s spayed. After she is altered it could take an additional 4-6 weeks for her to “level out” hormonally. Sometimes bunnies seem to get worse during that time period but it’s usually, thankfully, temporary.

[manic_muncher]

Yep, I’d have to agree sounds totally normal display of hormone driven marking! The only suggestion I can offer is move the dustpan within reaching distance.

It took about a month for Bumpy’s explosions to go from a 4sqft area to about 1sqft… 3 months later and we can almost just count the stray pooballs.. which are almost always within 8inches of the box.

He actually will go sit in his litterbox now to poop, while doing nothing else. I’m guessing he may be looking at tv while doing his business, or meditating. Who knows what goes on inside their minds? lol

[calipa_st]

My guy is pretty good at the litter box, but if he deems he needs his clean and I haven’t gotten to it..he will poop near the shoe rack. And, if he has fruit (usually bananas or apples) he poops like a mad man lol. Blueberries don’t make him poop like crazy, so I tend to stick to them (plus, they’re his favorite)

[LBJ10]

Mwhahahahahaha! I love your description! Er, yes, this sounds very very normal for a hormonal bunny. She is having a poop war with an unknown enemy.

[Mylin]

Thanks everyone for your responses! Definitely put me at ease. I came home tonight and pretty same thing. I guess I should have seen her hitting her “puberty” soon. My baby is growing up. ): I’m actually sitting with her in the pen right now and she’s happily hopping about which makes me happy. I just hate thinking that I’m doing something wrong or being a bad caretaker. (I used to think I was her owner, she quickly made me realize that I was simply the food bringer and poop sweeper. Sigh) But nonetheless very happy with her. I didn’t realize how much work a bunny could be at times but I definitely enjoy the rewards even if it’s wishfully watching her prance about in her pen when she doesn’t want my attention haha.

PS. LBJ10 Sometimes I think she just enjoys watching me clean up after her. 

[bunnluff]

Mine are getting older and reversing their lovely habits. I once had very neat bunnies. Now coco puffs for days.

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