Bunny spilling hay!

[My Bunny Drake]

Our bunny Drake spills hay everywhere! We don’t use litter box bags. He digs his litter box a lot (yes I know what your thinking but he doesn’t have enough room in his hutch for a digging box). He has a bunch of spilled pieces now.

 

[A & B]

Hay is just one of those things that are going to get everywhere regardless of what we try to do to stop it. I think your main issue is that the hutch isn't very big. If he had space to run around and have a large number of toys, the digging in the litterbox may stop because this behavior is usually done out of boredom. You also have to keep in mind that digging is a rabbit's natural instinct. You can also try and give a taller litterbox to keep the contents inside. How much time is he usually outside of his hutch with playtime? Can you post a picture of the whole hutch?

I'm unsure of what you need help with. Do you need tips on how to stop litterbox digging or keeping hay contained?

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Yes, he gets a hour and a half or more per day. I wake up at 6:00am and let him out until 6:50 and then I go to school and come back around 3:30 and I let him out until 4:30 or 5:00. I do give him toys but he destroys them completely. He is lazy when I am home though. He sleeps a ton and at night he digs. We have a larger litter box but it doesn’t fit in the cage so I have to lift the cage just to change it. I need help with how to keep the hay inside.

 

[Hermelin]

Can you place the litter box somwhere else or give your bun a digging box in the pen, som rabbits love digging. You will always have hay spill but I've notice the more yummy the hay it's less hay spill and my bunnies will often eat everything around. Except if your bun aren't a picky eater, then you will have a lot hay outside the box, no use with hayrack and big litter box.

A hay rack might help but it all depends on the bunny, myself use a bicycle basket as a hay rack, for my picky eater bunny, still get hay spill but it have reduced a lot compared with how it was before.

 

[Blue eyes]

Am I understanding that bunny is normally locked up in the wooden hutch and then his exercise time is when he is allowed in the exercise pen area?

This type of litter box might help contain the hay better (with or without the rack).

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Am I understanding that bunny is normally locked up in the wooden hutch and then his exercise time is when he is allowed in the exercise pen area?

This type of litter box might help contain the hay better (with or without the rack).

Yep. What is the link to that bunny litter box? I use one for cats.

 

[Blue eyes]

It's just a storage tote -- like what you may find in Wal-mart. Then the opening was cut out.

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Oh okay. I also got my litter box at Walmart

 

[A & B]

I also use a storage tote and after using 5+ different types of litterboxes, the storage tote is my favorite. I don't like using hay racks as I believe a rabbit should never have to work for their hay. I also didn't cut a whole in mine. It is deeper so I can go longer without changing it and i gives him some privacy. Mine is also a litterbox digger (as stated above) and the storage tote keeps all hay inside.

 

[My Bunny Drake]

And do I need to keep a rock inside his litter box? He is still not litter trained and will move the litter box.

 

[Blue eyes]

Oh okay. I also got my litter box at Walmart

It doesn't have to be an official "litter box." The blue box in photo is just a storage tote in the storage section. I use a lower version of a storage box. But if spilled hay is an issue (some should be expected) then the larger tote helps (as Alyssa stated).

And do I need to keep a rock inside his litter box? He is still not litter trained and will move the litter box.

If the box is large enough, it shouldn't be able to be moved. But he may be doing so out of boredom. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the hutch itself is woefully small if he doesn't have permanent access to the pen (or at least 5-6 hours per day). A brick set alongside the box can prevent it from being shoved about (and won't have to be cleaned off from being inside the box).

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Any advice on how to reduce boredom? He isn’t free roam and I have school so I can’t be there to supervise him. I can’t bring him inside either because my brother has allergies.

 

[Blue eyes]

I'd suggest expanding his cage. There are a number of ways to add to the current hutch so that he has a larger, secure space. The following link shows a number of nice outdoor (and indoor) set-ups.

http://pinterest.com/catcatxx/rabbit-housing-wall-of-fame/

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Oh thanks! Are there any playpen roof covers we can use? Can we just clip a blanket to the top of the pen and leave the door open all day with no supervision? I might just build a shed or a bigger cage for him during June. For now is there anything I can do to give him free roam time in his play pen without supervision? I’m paranoid that if I leave him alone for a couple minutes a falcon will take him or something. Let me be a bit clear — any cheap affordable options? (0-25$)

 

[Blue eyes]

You are right ot be worried that a bird of prey could swoop down. I would not trust anything like a blanket or sheet on top of the pen to be secure. Building a wood frame with wire between (like chicken wire) could make a safer 'lid' but if you do that, it would be just as easy to create some short walls and attached lid as shown on the above link. I'll see if I can find an example...

https://images.app.goo.gl/bsUBXf4ZXKchHYcEA

(I couldn't get the image to attach but you can see it if you click on the link.

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Thank you!!! I would really prefer to get something ASAP because my bun is energetic and it isn’t fair to him if I don’t have the time to take care of him properly.
(lol he is now eating a banana which I just introduced to him yesterday and he loves)

 

[Blue eyes]

Be sure not to offer more than a 1" slice of banana per day!!

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Yes I give him a little slice (about as big as my thumb) every once and a while. I just want to introduce him to different veggies! I’m checking the internet for playpen covers or extensions... don’t seem to see any...

 

[Blue eyes]

Trying to brainstorm... Maybe those wired closet shelves could be zip-tied together and to the pen to create a 'solid' roof for the pen?

What is he currently eating in the way of greens or veggies? (Fruit, of course, is considered a treat because of the high sugar. That's why they should be limited. )

 

[My Bunny Drake]

Hmm what about these weird oven thingies... though I only have four.... They might not stay on and fall on Drake and I would hate for that to happen.... Any online wire cage cover things? Amazon or Walmart preferably...