peeing in the hay box

[Chilly's Mom]

Dusty and Chilly have been driving me crazy with their constant peeing in the hay box. Is there a way to curb them of this habit??? I’ve tried putting the hay in a hopper on the side of cage, but Chilly digs is all out so the hay lays on the floor for them to pee on it. I’ve tried putting the hay above their litter box but again they’ll pull all the grass into the box and it’ll be soaked with pee, but at least it’s contained in the litter box! I find that I’m throwing away more hay than they’re eating. I want to know how other bunny owners dispense hay to their buns in a clean/sanitary way.

[Elrohwen]

I would just continue to have the hay rack positioned so that they can only get to it when they’re in the litter box. They’ll probably always pee on it (my bun does this too) but at least it’s contained.

It might help to get something that’s more of a solid box to hang above the litter box, so it’s keeps the hay more contained. A traditional rack will let a lot fall out the bottom. I think Beka has a really nice little plastic box that allows the bunnies to eat in the litter box, but keeps most of the hay from falling out and being wasted.

[Monkeybun]

I always just put it right in their litter boxes… makes it easier for them and me that way lol.

[RabbitPam]

What kind of litter are you using in the litter box? If they prefer the hay, maybe they want a change of litter. That might help when combined with the hay dispenser being suspended above the litter pan.

[Chilly's Mom]

Their litter box is a tupperware box with a cut out grid set inside so their little feet don’t get wet and poop falls through. I’ve done away with clumping litter, newspaper, etc. The clean up is a cinch because I can dump the waste down the disposal as long as there is no grass then rinse the box and grate.They seem to use the litter box, but in addition they eat and pee at the same time. Is this a rabbit trait???

It’s more like ever since I brought Dusty home she’s been influencing Chilly to pee on the hay. Chilly was always a good bunny and peed in the box and never on her hay. Funny how they learn bad habits so quickly.

[Deleted User]

Actually, I think your rabbits are trying to tell you that they aren’t fond of the bare grate. i have several litterboxes for my rabbits, one of which is a grated cage. Unless I load that up with hay they wouldn’t use it, but just go for the regular-absorbing ones that I have. I still like the grated one because the pee drains out and away from them, and it definitely saves on littermaterial. On the downside it is not easy to clean because of the hay getting stuck in it.

It is a rabbit trait, like you suspect, to pee on hay. Hay is partially a littermaterial also.

[Monkeybun]

eating and peeing is definitely a bunny kind of thing to do

[Deleted User]

And digging and peeing go together also.

[Monkeybun]

Man, bunnies are so gross! lol

[Chilly's Mom]

LOL @ monkeybun.

Petzy, I’m just trying to find the best way to have easy litter clean up, but still provide the needed hay. I guess there is no easy solution.

[Deleted User]

The quest for easy clean-up… join the club.
–I find my non-grated litterboxes easier to clean, no kidding. I just have the grated cage because it keeps the hay inside and from scattering and it is a nice size. Plus, I can see the color and consistency of their pee better on the pan underneath.

[Monkeybun]

Moose is so good at eating his hay in his litter box, he eats every scrap of it! He only goes in one back corner of his box, he happily sits there and inhales his hay all day long. His litter box is all he needs. Monkey is pickier, she does eat they hay in her box, but she leaves more of it to waste. Of course, its $10 for a 10lb bag of hay that supports my local bun rescue, so I don’t mind having to buy it more often hehe.

[lashkay]

Where is your litterbox located?  Buddie’s is in  the rear right corner of his pen and he diligently (so far, knock on wood) hops to it when he has to defecate and/or urinate, on the carefresh that’s in there.  His litterbox is an enclosed litterbox to further help him distinguish his litterbox from his haybox.  His haybox on the other hand, is a huge corner hi-backed litterbox I keep filled with timothy, orchard, and love grass and it is located at the very front right corner of his pen, where his food bowls are.  He frequently hops in there to munch but so far, has kept it free of urine or poop ever since I first set hay in there.  Hope this helps.

[lashkay]

I took pictures of Buddie’s enclosed loo and haybox to give you a better idea of what I’m talking about.   So far, they are working out pretty well. Knock, knock lol

[Monkeybun]

Floofy! *snuggle snuggle* Sorry, Buddie’s all floof and I wanted a snuggle

[lashkay]

Monkeybun, you can snuggle snuggle anytime with Buddie, as long as you pay your own transportation over LOL

[Author]

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