Messy Bunny Ignoring Potty

My New Zealand, Zaeo, has very bad 'poop' habits. The floor of his cage is continuously covered in pellets. I put a litter box in the corner, and put some of his pellets in to see if he would 'go' in there. He has completely ignored it, and seems to think that it is a toy, not a toy-let (sorry, randomly making up bad puns runs in the family). What can I do to make him go in there? Am I doing something wrong? This is how I potty trained Moss!

How old is he and how long have you had him? Also, is he neutered?

Those ARE the questions.

I've had him since July 2, 2012. He was 8 wks old when I got him, birthday may 7, 2012. No, he isn't nuetered, because I'm showing him, and a nueter is a disqualification. Moss isn't neutered, but he uses a litter box just fine.

i'd remove the litter box. put bedding everywhere and NOT CLEAN him out for a good week. Let him choose a spot. then fasten a litter box down in that area. Leave dirty litter in it and then hope for the best. is he peeing in the box regularly now?

If it's just poop everywhere he's scent marking way too much and makes you wonder what's up in his brain.

I've tried that, already, ladysown, but he just eats the bedding (wood chips). He has a general area, but when I put the litter box there, he picks it up and throws it around, and/or chooses another place. Anything else I can try?

Another thing, I potty trained Moss when he was very young. I only recently put the litter box in Zaeo's cage. Would that have anything to do with it? I would think it wouldn't make a difference and he would still 'go' in a certian corner...

Even babies that litter train can loose those habits when hormones kick in. So I don't think his not being trained younger is an issue. Some buns don't begin training until after fixing (and so are older).

Since you don't intend to neuter him, perhaps you could try a litterbox that he can't "throw around." I use a large litterbox with wood pellets for litter and then put hay on top.

I suppose you are aware that pine and cedar shavings are not recommended for rabbits (you mentioned wood shavings as bedding). Aspen shavings are ok.

To litter train, though, it can confuse some buns if there is bedding in the cage AND a litter box. Not sure of your set up, but you can try having solid floor with no bedding and then a litterbox set up similar to how I do mine. Maybe that will help.

Yes, I have a solid wood floor with no bedding. The thing is, If I put straw or hay in, he'll just eat it! He might not think it's a litter box!

BTW, is it OK for rabbits to eat straw?

Yes, of course they will eat the hay. They like to go while they are grazing. That is the point of putting the hay in the litter box. The pellets I use absorb the urine, but the bunnies eat the hay. That's why I refresh the hay twice per day. It's also why I put the hay moreso on one side of the box. Their head goes by the hay and their back end is over the pellets.

You WANT them to eat the hay in the litterbox so that they will do their business in there while eating.

Straw has no nutritional value.

Yes, hay is the most important component in a rabbit's diet.

Ooooh, okay. That makes sense now. I'll try it and see if it works. Thanks!