8 week old netherland dwarf

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 9 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 06/27/2020 at 10:20 AM
  Mxng0q
  Participant
  2 posts
  im sorry for the confusing title, not really sure how to phrase my question lol
  I recently got a 8 week old nd, he’s the sweetest boy and I love him to bits but he can be so absent minded its amazing. Since I got him I tried to get him to drink water from a bowl, I had to hold up the bowl to his face for him to recognise that it’s filled with water. He still prefers his water bottle (I have both a bowl and a bottle so he can pick). Also, he currently lives in a cage (only until I can gather the money to buy him a big play pen, don’t worry he gets a few hours of exercise every day), the cage that I have for him has a staircase. He can’t figure out how it works, he’ll sit on it, hide underneath it, sleep underneath it but he just won’t climb it. I’ve owned rabbits before but none of them have been so confused. His head is just kind of… empty.
  
  TLDR; I have no clue how to teach my rabbit how to drink from a bowl properly and climb up the stairs.
- 06/27/2020 at 3:56 PM
  Louiethebunny
  Participant
  604 posts
  somtimes you gotta help them! My little dude spent the whole first-day w/out going into the litter box and didn’t pee or poop for hours. I ended up picking him up and placing him in there, and right after he was hopping in and out to eat and use the litter box. I also use treats to introduce him to new spots, I want him to know how to get around safely.
- 06/28/2020 at 9:53 AM
  Wilburbunny
  Participant
  72 posts
  I agree with Louie for the stairs, I wouldn’t worry too much about the water though. I’m not sure how long you’ve had him but if he’s used to drinking out of the bottle (because of his old home), that’s what he will do. The water bottle doesn’t allow buns to get the amount of water they need, so soon (probably within the next week) he will realize it’s easier to drink out of the bowl and switch to that. Make sure you don’t take away the bottle to force a switch to the bowl though, we don’t want him get dehydrated. Don’t stress about it, sooner or later he will make the switch!
- 06/29/2020 at 11:10 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9064 posts
  How big are the stairs? Some bunnies do better with ramps. He also might just be too small (he is still a wee baby!).
  
  Agree with others, just keep offering both the bottle and the bowl. As long as he drinks from one of them, don’t stress!
  
  . . . 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.
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