Why won’t they hop back in?

[Three Little Bunnies]

My rabbits have two pens that are separate. One for Eeyore, and one for Shadoe and Bolt. The pens are large, and I let the bunnies out to play in them almost every day. Well, I let Shadoe and Bolt out, but I am still trying to re-litter train Eeyore. Anyways, when I open their hutch, they hop down from it and play around in the pen until dinner time. I have started to leave a bowl of water and some hay, plus a litter box in the pen because they don’t seem to know how to get back in the hutch! They can get out just fine but even though they have a “stool” to get back in I never see them in it during the day. How can I get them to understand how to get back in?

Sorry this post is a little confusing and has a bunch of random info. My siblings are being loud.

[DanaNM]

Hmmm, are you sure they just don’t feel like going back in? If they have food water, and litter box in the pen, then they just might not feel the need to go back in! Especially if they only get a few hours in the pens.

You might try luring them into the hutch with a treat or their greens, just to make sure they know how to hop up into the hutch. If they spend most of their day in the hutch they probably don’t want to be in it when they have access to the pen.

Side question, could you potentially leave the hutch open all the time, so they always have access to the pens? More space is always good for bunnies.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Three Little Bunnies]

Thank you for your reply!

I let the bunnies play in the pen all day. I only put them back inside at night. I leave Eeyore in the cage because he is not fully litter trained. I started leaving food, water and a litter box in the pen because they didn’t seem to be going into the hutch during the day. They would go into the litter box, ravenously eat hay and drink water. I don’t want them to get dehydrated or hungry, so I left hay and water in the pen.

[Lacee]

You could try setting up a bendy bridge so they could get in easier. I would definitely try to luehr the buns into the hutch with treats to see if they are able to do it.

[Three Little Bunnies]

Where can I get a bendy bridge? I will try the treat idea.

[Three Little Bunnies]

Where can I get a bendy bridge? I will try the treat idea.

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