i need help with my adopted bunny

[Chinotto_21]

Hello everyone, 

I am reaching out to you as we have recently adopted a bunny from a co-worker who didn’t want her bunny anymore due to her life being too busy to take care of it. She is 6 years old, appears to be a mix of lion head and some other breed and has never been spayed. We bought her the a big cage (as she appears to be overweight) so she could exercise more. We also bought the necessary (rabbit safe litter, litter box, timothy hay, etc…)

We’ve had her one week, and up to now, she has shown very little interest in interacting with us. She spends 80% of her time hiding underneath her dome. She does not nibble on the hay we provide her. She eats and drinks very little. She does, however, eat the fresh veggies that we give her everyday.

I did my homework before adopting this bunny and found out that rabbits can be litter box trained as they generally pee/poop (or on pee?) in one corner of the cage. So far, this bunny is peeing and pooping all over the cage, and mostly right in the middle of the cage. Litter box training does not seem to be feasible right now.

I questioned my co-worker further on the rabbit’s habits/tastes etc, and discovered that she was only taken out of her cage once a week, and that was only to hold her and pet her. She was never allowed to roam free as she would “pee and poop” all over the place. She was only fed unlimited commercial pellets with carrots and water…. no hay or greens.

So I need some help, I don’t know what to expect from this bunny given her past and her age. Will I ever be able to get her out of her cage? Will I ever be able to litter box train her? Will she eventually nibble on hay? Will she eventually open up to us or is it too late? Did I do the right thing to get her a new and bigger cage, or did that cause more stress than anything else?

I am new to bunnies, this is my second pet in my life (my first being a guinea pig as an adolescent), so please don’t judge. I thank you all  in advance for your input.

Thanks

[Roberta]

Congrats on your new bunny… I am sure she will relax in time… A week isn’t very long given her history.
Do you know if she is spayed ? Litter training is usually more successful if they are. That being said some buns do manage it without. The peeing and pooping may have been from fear and not having a place (litter tray) to go in. A standard cat litter tray lined with paper and filled with hay works well. Once she starts to move about take note of the spots she favours and place the tray there. Pick up any stray poops and mop up puddles and put the paper and the poop into the tray so she gets the idea.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I agree with Roberta. She needs time to settle in. She is obviously not used to interacting with humans. The best way to get her used to you is to allow her free time in a bunny proofed room and sit on the floor and ignore her. She will come to you eventually. You can have some small treats to giver her and/or pets if she will allow.

As for litter training, it’s very normal for a bunny, especially an unspayed one (female are super territorial) to want to mark a new area. Roberta gave you some great litter training advice.

I’m sure, in time, she will become a wonderful companion for you. She just needs time to adjust to her new situation.

[Roberta]

Reduce her pellet ration slowly and make sure she has plenty of hay available… Possibly try mixing in some meadow hay… Eventually she will try it… I think you are doing an awesome job researching and trying to find the best way to improve this little bunny’s life.

[Roberta]

For greens I would start with a little sweet basil or cilantro/coriander maybe a quarter of a cup or a few leaves for the first week… Rinse well and serve just moist… Watch for any tummy upset. Once she is use to those you can increase to two varieties, maybe parsley, nasturtiums or mint… Bok choy is also good… I’d hold off on the lettuce (NO Iceberg) until she is starting to get some greens without consequences.

[Author]

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