We've had Gizmo home for 3 days now, and I'm learning lots from him already But...I do have some questions. He's a 2 year old male mini lop, he is neutered. I was told he's litter trained.
*I know rabbits are crepuscular, I've noticed that even though we're home in the evening, from about 5PM-10PM, he really doesn't get very active until closer to 10PM when we're going to bed. Will this change with time, will he end up more on a schedule like ours? I'd like to see him more active when we are, instead of when we're going to bed.
* Even though we were told he's litter trained, since we've gotten him home, his litter box habits aren't that great. He's gone a couple of times in the box, but other times not in the box. I read that they should generally go in the same spot in their cage, but he's not doing this. Earlier today, he pooped twice, both in different spots, and tonight he peed in another spot. Should I give him more time? I know he's been through a lot coming home with us strange humans to a new family.
*I tried putting only paper pellets in his litter box, with a hay rack right next to the box, but when I do that I noticed that he doesn't eat the hay from the rack, or use the litter box. The only times he's used the box is when there is hay in the box (paper pellets, with hay on top). For some reason this grosses me out, having the hay he's eating in the box, but maybe I just need to cave and realize this is how bunnies do it, and the hay rack might not be an option?
*So far I've just had fleece down under his hutch, with a rug underneath that. Because he's been peeing on the fleece, and throws hay everywhere, and picked up his litter box and threw it (I've since tied it down), the fleece isn't working, I'm having to change it too often to keep it clean. I'd rather have a hard surface, one that's washable...with blankets that can easily be removed. Can I do this? I was thinking of buying a sheet of vinyl flooring or something, putting that under his hutch, it would be much easier to spot clean, and then if I just had a blanket or rug I could remove that and wash it when it gets dirty. Is this an okay plan?
Sorry for so many questions...kind of learning as we go here!
*I know rabbits are crepuscular, I've noticed that even though we're home in the evening, from about 5PM-10PM, he really doesn't get very active until closer to 10PM when we're going to bed. Will this change with time, will he end up more on a schedule like ours? I'd like to see him more active when we are, instead of when we're going to bed.
* Even though we were told he's litter trained, since we've gotten him home, his litter box habits aren't that great. He's gone a couple of times in the box, but other times not in the box. I read that they should generally go in the same spot in their cage, but he's not doing this. Earlier today, he pooped twice, both in different spots, and tonight he peed in another spot. Should I give him more time? I know he's been through a lot coming home with us strange humans to a new family.
*I tried putting only paper pellets in his litter box, with a hay rack right next to the box, but when I do that I noticed that he doesn't eat the hay from the rack, or use the litter box. The only times he's used the box is when there is hay in the box (paper pellets, with hay on top). For some reason this grosses me out, having the hay he's eating in the box, but maybe I just need to cave and realize this is how bunnies do it, and the hay rack might not be an option?
*So far I've just had fleece down under his hutch, with a rug underneath that. Because he's been peeing on the fleece, and throws hay everywhere, and picked up his litter box and threw it (I've since tied it down), the fleece isn't working, I'm having to change it too often to keep it clean. I'd rather have a hard surface, one that's washable...with blankets that can easily be removed. Can I do this? I was thinking of buying a sheet of vinyl flooring or something, putting that under his hutch, it would be much easier to spot clean, and then if I just had a blanket or rug I could remove that and wash it when it gets dirty. Is this an okay plan?
Sorry for so many questions...kind of learning as we go here!