How do I get her in the cage?

[Stone_family3]

Is there an easy way to catch your bunny so you can put her back in the cage?

 

[JimD]

I've had best results bribing them with treats.
Try to get them to associate cage time as a good thing.

 

[Stone_family3]

Today makes the 2nd day of having her, I don't think she quite trusts me yet....lol. I'll try a treat.

 

[ani-lover]

try finding something she likes and putting it in her cage. it could be a small blanket, towel, a chew toy, maybe even buy a few small toys like something she can throw around so she enjoys her cage. i never had that problem before, usually when i bring my buns home they see the cage and run right into it very excitedly, i also decorate and put all kinds of food and treats to make them feel at home and understand that their cage is their space.

 

[Stone_family3]

I think part of the problem was that she spent alot of time in the cage to begin with, In the two days I've had her she has only spent 11 hours if that in her cage. I let her roam and explore, I think she is just like my toddler to excited and having to much fun to want to go to bed...lol.

I'm hopefully going to be making her a stand for her cage. Her cage will sit on top, the box below will be a club house type box for her and there will be a nice wide ramp for her to come and go as she pleases. It will sit on a wooden base so it can all pull apart for easy cleaning. Maybe if she can come and go as she likes she will be more apt to get in it at bed time... *fingers crossed* Hopefully I get started on the mod this weekend.

 

[ani-lover]

thats also very possible is that she's so curious about her new home and surroundings that she doesn't want to go to bed.
she'll eventually like her cage, she's just exploring right now. good luck with the setup and your new bun.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

When I have to put the bins back in the cage, it is usually at bed time and I feed them before I go to bed. They come running for pellets.
If it is not bed time, I have to herd them in. I open the door and gently encourage them into the cage.
You can use a small pen (NIC grids work) so she can't jump over them and it is a bit easier to get her in.

 

[Flashy]

It's really important not to chase her or do anything that could damage the bond tat hasn't even formed yet.

I would suggest just keeping her in a limited amount of space (such as her cage plus a pen) until you know you have a good enough bond that she will come back, and also so that she has learnt that a treat arrives when she goes back. I would say maybe only feed fresh when you want her to go back in, and don't feed any fresh at any other time of the day.

 

[Stone_family3]

Thanks flashy that is a good idea. I was giving her a treat when she gets out of her cage. I will try that. I really want to have a strong bond with her.

 

[Flashy]

Did you read the Bonding with your Bunny article?

 

[kirsterz09]

When Clover used to live indoors, she used to return to her cage when she wished (mainly when she needed the bathroom lol) but if we shut the door, she grab the metal bars with her teeth and rattle the door like she wanted to come back out again lol! We were lucky that she'd 'kinda' go in on her own but once that door closed it was like caging a crazed animal lol the amount of noise she made was crazy! we struggle to watch tv lol!

 

[Amy27]

My buns know what time I feed them at night and they run to their cage to eat. They hear me getting their dinner together and they know that means food in their cage so they run there. In the past I have also used treats. I make sure to be real loud when I get the treats out, shaking the bag and they learned that that noise means treats and treats are only given when they are in their cage. It only took a few times for them to get it.

 

[MikeScone]

Amy27 wrote:

My buns know what time I feed them at night and they run to their cage to eat.

Scone's sort of the opposite, in that he's out all night and (once he succeeds in waking me up and getting me out of bed) he runs into his cage for breakfast.

I trained him to go into his cage when I say "go in" by sitting in front of the cage, getting his attention, pointing in the door and giving the command. When he goes in and jumps up on his balcony, he gets a craisin or banana chip. It didn't take long for him to learn that one.

 

[degrassi]

I also use the feeding trick. I feed my bunny right before bed. I let him out in the evening to play, then when I'm ready for him to go back in the cage I pour his pellets into his dish and he comes running when he hears that noise.

I know the problems with trying to get your bunny into the cage when they dont' want to. If I have to cut playtime short and he isn't ready to end it, he hides under my bed and its impossible to get him out and into the cage. I can get him out from under the bed but then he goes right back once I move away. I think he thinks its a game after a while, lol.

Try to form a routine. Like feeding him at the end of playtime, or giving him treats only when he goes in his cage. He will learn quickly that cage = food/treat and come when he hears you feeding him or getting the treat bag.

 

[Stone_family3]

The only think I leave out for belldandy is some hay and water, all other food is given during cage time.