They almost have me beat….

[Balefulregards]

So, I caged Coco and Jackson for 2 nights due to their insane marking tirades.  Two nights ago, I left them uncaged to see if the message had been recieved. excellent litter habits. A few random, to be expected poos – and NO Urine. ( which is my bugaboo)

When Coco marks, she uses urine. Very intentional urine.  And then Jackson smells said urine and goes crazy pooing all over the place trying to cover up her scent. He  is not the urinator – that is ALL her.

Last night – after having that first uncaged night successful – I let them be uncaged again. Sweet Suffering Moses. This morning was a pee and poo extravaganza  – She peed in at least 4 spots and he went nuts marking them with poo.

I am insane about cleaning her pee, because I know that if he smells it, that is his trigger.  So another morning was spent stripping throw rugs off the floor to be washed. As a bigger Bun, Jackson pees a storm so the litter does need to be changed daily . I sweep up any random poos during the day and put them right into the litter as well. 

They do not fight when caged. She seems annoyed about being caged, but tolerates. He just makes a heck of a lot of noise as protest.

Do I need to keep them caged longer for the nights? Is this the end of bonding? DId I miss a step somewhere? I’m not sure how many more mornings I can take having to strip and wash everything in sight. This morning was one of those where she knew I wasn’t happy, so took off to her hiding place while goofy Jackson just hung out watching me so he could pee in the fresh litter as soon as it was available. 

Looking at my lovable goof ( who is Just now , two months in letting me give him nose rubs)  I had the fleeting “ Buddy – life was easier before you”  thoughts.

Help?

 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL I’m sure we’ve all had those thoughts-especially when were elbow deep in urine!

I’m just wondering, if they get enough out time during the day and enough play-can you keep them caged at night instead? If they are making a lot of noise, turning a TV/radio and lights on all day to keep them awake can often set them up to sleep at night-as well a sheet over the cage helps too.

It may just be that they cannot be out free roam unsupervised at this time in their bonding/life? Perhaps when they are older-and your floors have no carpet -to answer though-I don’t think you missed any step in bonding because they are marking-that’s pretty natural rabbit behavior

[Balefulregards]

Yeah – KK – They are totally free roam during the day. This war only happens at night. When they were caged it happened in the CAGE where the litter box is.

I may just have to keep them caged at night for a while longer and add the sheet.

[RachelB]

If they are out all day without an issue Id try to keep them caged up at night (or keep them somewhere that pee is easier to clean at night– kitchen, bathroom). My boys are out all day long and dont get into any trouble when I am at work… but once night comes they turn into little terrors. Marking on the couch, terring up the carpet, chewing on the furniture, etc. Little monsters!! During the day everything is fine…. so they are out all day and then a long gate goes up and they have the entire kitchen with most of their toys, tubes, minihaven, food, and water at night from about 11:30-6:30am. They seem to like it just fine- and then I can sleep peacefully not worrying about messes to clean up the next morning!

Also could they be protesting a dirty/or too clean litterbox or more litterboxes?

[Balefulregards]

I’ve wondered that too Rachel – but on the other hand I couldn’t possibly let Jacksons Litter go longer – He pees up a flood and his droppings are like three times the size of Cocos ( making it very easy to tell whose poo is whose)

Previously when she was a single gal, I would change her litter 2ce a week and she was happy with that. But she is small comparatively. Adding Jackson changed the configuration significantly. With him I have to change daily…maybe a day and a half, but that is pushing it. Plus – he uses Both litterboxes and she tends to stick with ONE she likes. I realize she most likely hates the big lug using “her” box ( she still occasionally flees him to get some undisturbed time) but I did give them new litterboxes at the same time when I moved them in together. And when I change them, I wipe them down – but only do a hard disinfect once a week.

Neither seem ready to concede dominance – she still won’t let him mount her ( although he tries as regular as clockwork) and he still doesn’t groom her although she asks and asks. So perhaps this is the way they are waging that war?

But for sure they are being caged tonight for the next week or so. I can’t wake up to ye olde sea of urine tomorrow morning.

[RachelB]

I still feel a pang of guilt when I put the gate up at night. But then I remember how much happier I am to see the boys and how much more time I have to spend with them (rather than cleaning up their messes) when they are just in the kitchen. For us the best solution has been kitchen time at night and the entire house for the rest of the day. The boys love it, I love it, and they are much more active in the morning when they get to race out of the kitchen around the living room!!

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Balefulregards on 09/15/2009 12:55 PM 
Plus – he uses Both litterboxes and she tends to stick with ONE she likes. I realize she most likely hates the big lug using “her” box ( she still occasionally flees him to get some undisturbed time) but I did give them new litterboxes at the same time when I moved them in together. And when I change them, I wipe them down – but only do a hard disinfect once a week.

I remember someone else having similar problem shortly after bonding (Ruffles I think).  She ended up putting a 2nd litter box up higher in a condo for just one bun to use ( the female I think) and it helped alot.  I know you’ve just got 2 new boxes but is it possible to add a Coco only box, small and in a space that Jackson can’t get to? 

[RachelB]

If they are only misbehaving at night maybe they are trying to tell you that they *want* to be penned up at night??

Bunnies are strange creatures with very unique likes and dislikes. Sammy loves to be sprayed by my sink hose, Ivy hates high spots, neither will eat their veggies if I put them in a blue bowl they want them in a green basket…. with my guys I just try new things until they are able to “tell” me what they want. Im sure they just think I am a dumb human slave that can never quite get it right!!

[Balefulregards]

Updating ( not sure if this SHOULD have been with their bonding thread but nonetheless)

We have had two Very successful nights so far – They both hop into the cage with no problems – papaya treat is offered and happily accepted and their evening pellets are placed in the cage.
Not TOO noisy at night, although at 7 a.m. if I am still asleep there is MAJOR bar chewing by Coco. It is clear that she is DONE and will now be LET OUT. During the Day there have been barely any stray poops and zero urination. I also went back exclusively to the YN, cause frankly I can’t take the litter protest right now on top of the bonding.

I plan on caging them for a good week and then try. They may never become free roam night buns the way Coco was – But she used to sleep on the rug next to my side of the bed – my watch-bun.

But so far, so good.

[bunnytowne]

RAchel your rabbits are hilarious.   No blue bowl but green basket only      Silly rabbits

[BinkyBunny]

Though my bunnies do not pee on the in the living room, they do like to pee now on the futon in the bunnyroom at night. I put plastic up on the futon at night. Though I know we say “night” I suspect they are being “naughty” in the very early morning – dawn. This is their most active time. Their vision is best then and so they are going to be more confident exploring. I normally hear my bunnies running and bouncing around in the early morning hours. and active time means doing bunny things – like reconfirming their territory, doing busywork like chewing and exploring.

[Balefulregards]

Its funny Jenn – they both seem to like well defined schedules. On Friday night, I went out to dinner with a girlfriend, so They didn’t get caged at 10:45 like I normally do – Round them up and refresh hay and water and cover the cage with a towel. They hop in – Papaya treat and voila – no pee or poo.

But this night I was late and Holy Tomoly. I got home at 11:30 and Coco had started the pee war – with Jackson doing his predictable cover up poos

I cleaned everything (the next morning) and we’ve had two days of really good litter habits.

But at sunrise – Coco is demanding to be let out – I roll out of bed and let them out so they can run and jump and do their thing in the early morning hours.

I also moved all rugs from anywhere nearby the litterbox. This way the floor remains hardwood and they aren’t tempted to pee in front of the box as their signature move.

I wonder too if the enforced bonding during caged night time ( while a bit irritating to Coco ) is actually helping reinforce their bond – at least I hope it is. And the Caging at night IS helping.

[Scooter]

 I’m excited to hear I’m not the only one who has to have a strict bed time, thanks to my bun!  IF we aren’t in bed, he in his room, and me in mine, by 11 then it’s a madhouse!  I do like the habits it promotes though.  I’ve decided he’s just looking out for my best interests and making sure I get my rest 

[Author]

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