Smooth transition to new abode?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 11 months ago by SeaTurtleSwims.

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- 01/01/2017 at 7:39 AM
  Koffee559
  Participant
  17 posts
  Hi, I’m new here and I need some advice please. Poppet has lived with me for 7 weeks. Before that, she was with someone for 1-2 months. Before that, she was in a rescue shelter for 1-2 months. Before that, I believe that she lived in the same place for 2 years but I don’t know any more than the fact that she was a house rabbit. I’m sure that she doesn’t know whether she is coming or going! And it may take her a bit of time to realise this is her forever home. When she moved in with me, she came with a hutch that she had lived in for the last 1-2 months. I thought that this might help the transition. However, it is a homemade job, which looks very untidy in my flat. I have, therefore bought her a brand-new condo. Does anyone have any tips for moving her into the new condo? I want her to think it is her choice to live there! I don’t want to just lock her in it as though being there is a punishment. In particular, how can I get her to use a litter tray in a different place? Over how much time should I make this transition? Or am I just over-complicating it?!
  
  Any advice gratefully received!
- 01/01/2017 at 9:34 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  I would just open up the new condo and wait for her to venture in. Maybe put treats and foods in there so she associates it with something positive. I wouldn’t lock her in there but then I don’t think rabbits should ever be locked away anyway.
  
  For the litter trays you could always put one in the new condo with some of her soiled litter and then maybe keep the one in her old hutch so that she has two options. You could then gradually move the old one closer to the new condo, a few inches per day until it’s right up to the condo and then just take it away. By then hopefully she’ll be using the one in the condo.
- 01/01/2017 at 12:08 PM
  SeaTurtleSwims
  Participant
  162 posts
  My bun has a couple hand towels he likes to snuggle with and throw around. If you ‘donate’ one to her you could help move her scent in addition to the litter box by moving it back and forth between the two cages as well.
  
  Tasty treats are usually an excellent motivator haha
  
  Good luck!
- 01/01/2017 at 12:50 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  That’s a great idea ^ ^
- 01/01/2017 at 2:46 PM
  Koffee559
  Participant
  17 posts
  Thank you both for your tips! I started putting food in the new condo a couple of days ago and she now seems to head there to find food.
  Today I put a litter tray in both abodes and she has used both.
  I close her in her hutch at night. She has only been freely coming and going from her new condo for 2 days. Is it too soon to close her in it tonight?
- 01/01/2017 at 3:25 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By Koffee559 on 1/01/2017 2:46 PM
  
  Thank you both for your tips! I started putting food in the new condo a couple of days ago and she now seems to head there to find food.
  Today I put a litter tray in both abodes and she has used both.
  I close her in her hutch at night. She has only been freely coming and going from her new condo for 2 days. Is it too soon to close her in it tonight?
  
  I’d say it’s probably fine to consider that her main home now so yes close her in for the night in the new condo. Just be sure her toys and stuff from her old hutch is in the new one
- 01/01/2017 at 4:30 PM
  SeaTurtleSwims
  Participant
  162 posts
  Sounds like you’re doing an awesome job letting the bun acclimate Good work!!
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