Litter training a rabbit before letting out of cage?

[tengu]

Hi, 

I recently adopted a Flemish Giant mix, and he is around 6-7 months, he was abandoned on a hiking track and a couple rescued him in August. He has been with them for 5 weeks and he was litter trained with them and had free roam. I adopted him two days ago and he is sort of litter trained as he does poop on the ground if I clean the litterbox or when I visited him this morning there was poop all over the ground. I did let him out of the cage yesterday to exercise and he had pooed in two corners of the room and I was debating on waiting til he is fully litter trained to let him out of his 6’4’x4′ cage, and I wanted everyone’s opinion. Also, at the foster home all he did was lie down and never really cared if they open the cage, but when I get to the door he would stand up or try to fit his face to get out of the cage and was wondering if he will stop doing this or if he is doing this because he is new to the house?

[babblingbuns]

Many people tend to keep their rabbits in a smaller area for the first few days, and gradually introduce them to more space after bringing them home, for a smoother transition. Ultimately, it’s personal decision. Do you know if he was fully litter trained with them, or did he still make accidents around their home? To my knowledge, litter training rabbits will not necessarily be spot-on unless they’re neutered/spayed. The pooping amongst the area can potentially be territorial droppings, which is mainly seen in rabbits who are not neutered/spayed. If he’s neutered, maybe try blocking off the corners or placing another litter box in those corners, to see if he will use it. My bunny has always smushed his face against the cage/stood up when I’m about to let him out for the day, so I’m unsure if he will ever stop. It could be from being a younger bunny and/or pure excitement, but I’m not sure. Congratulations on the new bun, and I hope you figure everything out soon!

[Asriel and Bombur]

Do you know if he’s neutered? Cause that could cause some issues as well.
Bunnies tend to do their business in a set corner that they favor. So honestly, the best solution is to stick 2 litter boxes in those corners and fill them with hay, and odds are he’ll be fine.

[sarahthegemini]

If he’s standing up when you go near the cage and putting his face near the door then it’s obviously because he wants to get out. Why would he stop? If he didn’t do that at his previous home it’s probably because he was bored/depressed. Or because they had the cage open during the middle of the day.

You can’t keep him confined to his cage until he is litter trained. You can put a pen around his cage and put tarp down to make clean up easier.

[tengu]

He was fully litter trained with him and he is with me now! It just took 1 day after I posted this for him to be fully litter trained as he is neutered. I let him out today and he didn’t poop anywhere, but when he comes to the front of the cage I’m not sure if he’s greeting me or if he’s excited since I have to unlock two trigger locks, as he stands up he sniffs/licks my hand and walks away sometimes. But other times he will bite the bottom part of the door or scratch it so I am not sure.

[Author]

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