New to house bunnies

[Bat-E]

Hello All,

My daughter (crazy about rabbits) offered a home to a bunny who has been rescued, but did not get on with the new owners other rabbit. She (daughter) then promptly moved to a flat (apartment) leaving me with the bunny!

Harriet is approx 3/4 years old, a short-eared lop with lovely colouring and a sweet nature. She sleeps outside in a large hutch and during the day I have turned the garage into a playroom for her – this works as I have a large garage with double doors at the back that I can open and bock so she is in natural light and can hear the birds, but no cats can get in.

Harriet is keeping her play area pretty clean, she uses the litter tray quite happily. For a short time each day, she is allowed (if she chooses) to come into the kitchen to see what is going on. Here she has decided on a favourite spot to poop – but only if there is vet bed down (I used to have a house guinea pig) and not if there is a litter tray – she goes next to it! I’m hoping she’ll learn.

My main question (of what could be many I fear) is just what should be IN the litter tray? Currently I am using sawdust, but the trouble is that it is getting everywhere she hops … is cat litter suitable to use?

As Winter approaches, I want her to spend more time indoors during the day (I work from home) and am due to be given a children’s playpen for her as I can’t find the suggested shelving not being in the US with Target, Walmart et al and not having much money to spend on this just now. I am hoping that this will work as a ‘safe’ area for her during her time indoors.

Luckily, so far, Harriet does not appear to be a chewer, so for now all my cables seem safe – other than her getting tangled in them!

Any advice for this oldie and newbie would be great.

Bat-E

 

 

[BunnyLiz]

Welcome! youve come to the right place. I dont think saw dust is safe to use, its too dusty lol. It could affect her breathing i believe. I use carefreash bedding but their are tons of different kinds to consider. Carefresh is a bit expensive and doest do much for odor, so im thinking about switching. Yesterdays news can be used, which is recycled paper pellets. horse pellets can work to and someone who knows about that will be along shortly im sure. They are much cheaper i think. As far as being outside goes i would suggest bringing your bunny inside to stay. They do much better as part of the family inside. I would also suggest bun proofing a room or two instead of a pen. there is a section in bunny info about that. Also NIC cubes work great for blocking off fun to chew cords. Hope that helped some!

[Alicia Conklin]

Carefresh is really expensive and as bunnyliz said, it doesn’t keep away odor much at all either.  I use feline pine or another brand that’s the same thing but a bit cheaper.  I tried yesterday’s news but I don’t find that it does a very good job at keeping away odors either. 

I’m not sure where you are at but maybe there is a used exercise pen or large dog crate?  She could be moved into something like that inside.  I believe under the bunny info tab and then “cool habitats” there are some pens that aren’t made out of NIC cubes since you don’t have those around. 

If you bring her into the house full time you’ll see what amazing little animals bunnies are.  Outside is not a good place for rabbits to be as there are so many things that can get to them outside..parasites and such,.not to mention the changes in weather and such. 

[bunnytowne]

cat litter no no no.  Also no to pine and cedar scented shavings.  Usually I find I clean the litterboxes twice a week. I use yesterdays news. Sounds like u have a litterbox for her in the kitchen too.  Hmm maybe she is marking til she gets established in the kitchen area and feels comfy it is her area?  Is she spayed. If not that could be a factor.

[SnuggleBunny]

well, for what its worth i will contribute my super cheap solution!! newspaper and baking soda! of course topped with hay! this way the newspaper absorbs the urine, and the baking soda makes it virtually smell free, while the hay on top gives her something to nibble on while she does her business, since they like to graze during their potty breaks.
if there is a costco or a sam’s club in your area you can get a bag of baking soda thats like 10 lbs or so for less than $5. thats where i got mine and its lasted months and i’m nowhere near the end of it. and just use your newspaper from yesterday and you’re all set. you’re really only paying for hay, which you had to get anyway.
good luck!

[TARM]

I am a horse bedding convert! I used to use Yesterday’s News for my bunnies and ferrets but when it got to be $17 for a 40 lb bag I decided to look into alternatives. I’m happy to report that I have cut my litter cost by about 70%. One 40 lb bag of Equine Fresh lasts a week…and I empty and refull eight litter boxes every two days. One bag of Equine Fresh costs about $6…and it handles the smell really well. Bunnies and ferrets would have to pee and poo A LOT to match the amount of waste a horse puts out. :0)

The only down side is that I have to go out of my way to get it…but I can easily buy a month’s worth for under $35 at a time.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome Bat-E -That’s nice of your daughter to save the rabbit, and very nice of her to ‘gift’ it to you hehe

This is a great place for advice and also to discuss what your bunny does. I’m sure you’ll love it here

[Bat-E]

Thank you all for the welcome!

I am based in the UK (England) and haven’t heard of the horse stuff for the litter tray. I will have to do some searching and see what is available near me or online that I can use.

Interesting that you think I should bring Harriet in full-time as that was my original plan (though her hutch is large, fox-proof and came with her when she was delivered and the previous owner (who I believe had her for 3 months) said she liked to be where she could see out, rather than being in the garage … certainy it would be eaier to have her hutch in the garage.

As for rabbit-proofing a couple of rooms for her, at this stage I’m still trying to persuade my husband that she is a good thing and will be safe, happy and clean … hence taking things fairly slowly! I’ve only had her 10 days so far, so plenty of time yet 

She doesn’t seem that bothered about eating hay – she has some in her play area – though loves fresh vedge and her dried food – maybe it was in short supply before!

I shall keep reading and report back as we progress together.

Bat-E

[bunnytowne]

hmmm with HB I have to change his litter box every other day he pees a whole lot.  It doesn’t begin to smell til the 3rd day.  I did spray the newspaper with odoban.  I quit cause it might bother him I dont’ know.

I forgot about the baking soda.  That should work.  I put newspaper then shredded paper then his hay on top. A little baking soda wouldn’t hurt between his newspaper layers. 

If I use regular bunny litter I would go broke.

I hope your bunny goes indoors soon.  You will really enjoy her.  Can you keep her in the house while hubby is out and when he comes home just leave her inside for an hour  then hubby can see she is good n clean.  They have such darling personalities bunny’s do.

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