What to do about the smell

[bunny34422]

So Timothy's room is a little stinky, and I'm trying to figure out what I can do. I vacuum daily (especially since he's shedding), clean the litterbox every night, but it's still got a smell in the air. And now that it's summer, it's worse since opening the window does nothing, lol. I think I'm going to do some extra cleaning this week because I feel like there may be a pee accident on the mats (which are black so hard to check for pee) or bed that I missed.. He's neutered but his pee still stinks. I use wood pellets, right now I only use a few handfuls on top of a pee pad in his litterbox but I'm thinking maybe I should use a lot more since he's drinking and peeing more in the summer. Or should I switch to tractor supply's pine pellets since I've heard good things about those too?

Next question, air purifiers. With the hay dust & molting season, my brother and I's allergies have been crazy lately. I do brush him several times a day, it feels like it's never enough, lol. I'm thinking a purifier could help with that and hopefully the smell? If so which one would you recommend?

 

[JBun]

You need the wood pellet litter to be 1 - 1.5 inches deep at least. The urine draining to the bottom of the pelleted litter and having unsoaked litter covering that, is what keeps the smell under control. A layer of hay over the litter will help control the smell too. But urine soaked hay should be cleaned out every few days so mold growth doesn't occur.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/odor-free-home.html
If you can see dark soaked spots of urine absorbed into the litter, then you will be able to smell the urine. You don't have to change the whole box out every day if everything is set up just right. For mine, I will spot clean areas of the litter box that are more used than others, when I can see the darker soaked litter spots. Then clean out the whole box when more of the litter has started to show absorbed urine spots.

Diet can sometimes play a part too, in excessive ammonia smell from the urine. What's your rabbits current diet like?

If you can get the smell under control, you may not need a purifier.

 

[bunny34422]

You need the wood pellet litter to be 1 - 1.5 inches deep at least. The urine draining to the bottom of the pelleted litter and having unsoaked litter covering that, is what keeps the smell under control. A layer of hay over the litter will help control the smell too. But urine soaked hay should be cleaned out every few days so mold growth doesn't occur.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/odor-free-home.html
If you can see dark soaked spots of urine absorbed into the litter, then you will be able to smell the urine. You don't have to change the whole box out every day if everything is set up just right. For mine, I will spot clean areas of the litter box that are more used than others, when I can see the darker soaked litter spots. Then clean out the whole box when more of the litter has started to show absorbed urine spots.

Diet can sometimes play a part too, in excessive ammonia smell from the urine. What's your rabbits current diet like?

If you can get the smell under control, you may not need a purifier.

Okay thank you so much! Yes I've only been using a few handfuls so definitely not 1-1.5 inches deep, I'll add a lot more when I change the litterbox tonight. I have a thin layer of hay over it and the rest is in a hay bag. I will stop by the local feed store tomorrow to pick up more wood pellets bags and try that first before getting a purifier.

Every day he gets unlimited oxbow timothy hay, water, 1/8-1/4 cup of oxbow garden select timothy pellets, and a small bowl of veggies/herbs about the size of his head. Usually it's romaine and cilantro, then the other green will be bell pepper, mint, parsley, bok choy, or red/green leaf lettuce. My grandma has a vegetable garden so we can have a variety of greens but some wild rabbits have been munching on them so I haven't picked any yet, lol. Sometimes a small slice of watermelon or banana as a treat. He is a 8/9 month old dutch, around 3.7 lb if that helps

 

[JBun]

It doesn't sound like he's getting too much protein in his diet. Excess protein can cause a stronger ammonia smell to the urine. So I think diet wise your fine. Try the extra wood pellets. I think you'll find that makes a big difference. If you have an option to keep your rabbits room cooler, that can help too. Warmer temps will make the smell stronger.

 

[overhear]

Hmmm, my bunny's cage gets a bit stinky too. I've been using yesterday's news in a thin layer and haven't tried wood pellets. Anyone have recommendations for rabbit safe, affordable wood pellet sources?

 

[Preitler]

Cheapest wood stove pelletrs you can get, here every hardware store and even grocery stores sell them, about 4€/15kg.

 

[JBun]

Wood stove pellets(plain, no additives) at home improvement stores. Equine pelleted bedding at farm stores. Or the most expensive option, feline wood pellet litter at pet stores. I've found wood pellet litter to be the most effective litter option for controlling the urine smell and best at absorption. I prefer the pine/fir pellets instead of hardwood.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/litter-training.html

 

[Deludedbyreality]

You can try looking for pellets that have activated charcoal in them. I get mine from Tractor Supply the brand is called Cozy 'N Fresh...
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/cozy n fresh?When I switched it was a godsend. The regular ones flared up my allergies and caused my buns some sinus issues as well. They would dig out their litterboxes when I used it too. Talk about a mess...
I'd also recommend ditching the pee pads on the bottom of your litter box as it's just holding the urine and the bedding itself should be plenty absorbent to do so and it's unnecessary added expense. You can also add Apple Cider Vinegar to their water to cut down on excessive smell. This helps to prevent bladder sludge, kidney stone formation, and safely breaks down any excessive calcium as well as providing probiotics for their gut too. Pre-mix a tbsp or 2 to 1 gallon of water. I give this mix to my buns on a 3 month on/off rotation. They typically get it during the summer/winter seasons. Also foraging for wild greens like broadleaf plantain and dandelion is always a plus.