Bunny won't eat hay outside

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This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 10 months ago by LunaLove.

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- 06/28/2017 at 10:41 AM
  LunaLove
  Participant
  19 posts
  My bunny has a large hutch she stays in while my husband and I are at work. She has access to unlimited hay in her hutch, but she never eats it. The only time she eats hay is when I bring her inside. I have a container that I put her hay in by her litter box and water. Any idea why she won’t eat it outside? I replace it every few days to make sure it’s fresh, but she still won’t touch it.
- 06/28/2017 at 11:46 AM
  Finnigan!
  Participant
  48 posts
  If she has access to fresh grass she may be filling upon that instead of the hay
- 06/28/2017 at 11:47 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5835 posts
  It could be a variety of factors.
  
  1) Is the hay’s presentation the same as indoors (hay rack vs. pile in a box, in a litter box vs. out in the open)
  2) Does the environment outdoors tend to make the hay less appealing? (humidity changes moisture level of hay, atmosphere may make the hay smell less potent)
  
  — Rabbits like to eat, poop, and sleep in the same area, so it could be the hutch hay isn’t as cozy of a spot. Your rabbit may not feel as comfortable eating hay there as well if the hutch is somewhat exposed to loud noises or your rabbit just does not feel as comfortable to eat as the indoors. It could also be when you put your rabbit in its hutch; perhaps she is already full during the times she’s in the hutch, so she doesn’t really feel the need to eat while in it.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 06/28/2017 at 11:49 AM
  Sunny
  Participant
  68 posts
  i’m certainly no rabbit expert, but my guess is that it could maaaaybe be fear..?
  
  what possible predators for rabbits live in your area? does the rabbit eat greens and/or pellets while she’s out there or does she avoid them too? where did you get your rabbit?
  
  rabbits are prey animals so i’m thinking that maybe she could just be in fear of something she hears, smells, or sees. if she’s not eating anything else while in her hutch, that could be more proof of this, as well as if she’s lived completely indoors all of her life before you got her. maybe she’s not used to being outside.
  
  i’ll say it again, though – i honestly have no clue! those are just my thoughts on what it could be. i’m sure there are other people on this forum who’ve had similar experiences to yours and will have better explanations. my rabbit Sienna has lived in my room with me ever since i got her, so i wouldn’t really know.
  
  edit: i finished submitting and noticed other people responded. whoops. i guess you’ll have more ideas.
- 06/28/2017 at 12:35 PM
  LunaLove
  Participant
  19 posts
  Thanks for all the answers! She does have access to fresh grass, so I’m thinking that may be it. I might try putting hay in different places as well to see if it’s the location that she doesn’t like.
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