I need help (litter training)

[Barnebyismybaby]

I am a first time bunny owner (a 2 and 1/2 month old dutch), tomorrow I am going to start litter training and have been reading that using hay is the best way which I plan to do but if I use hay in his litter training once he is trained can I never put hay with his food again? Like if I put hay back in his hutch once he's trained will he pee on it?

 

[Preitler]

Welcome

That's not how it works, that's what you would do with a dog, I guess. Rabbits are very different.

You don't really "litter train" rabbits, we just take advantage of a natural behaviour of liking to use a toilet spot. This behaviour emerges when they grow up, wouldn't expect it at 10 weeks.

What "litter training" is about is arranging their environment so that their instincts and our expectations are met, by designing and locating the litterbox where the rabbits will use them. Like, in a corner, or putting a hay rack there, they like to munch'n'poop. Also, the wasted hay becomes the litter, and for soaking up the urine and odor control a layer of wood pellets underneath works great.

You can help him accepting that spot by putting poops and soiled stuff in the box, and clean areas where he isn't supposed to do his business with vingar, or block those spots off. You'll need some patience, puberty can throw some sticks into that proceedure, so it can be "interesting" for months, depending on the individual rabbit.

 

[Blue eyes]

It's a good idea to provide a proper litter box to encourage litter habits. Bear in mind that it is easier to "train" older rabbits. Your rabbit is approaching that hormonal time which can make their potty habits inconsistent, so don't get discouraged. As @Preitler explained, "training" is mostly about providing the right setup to encourage their natural behavior. Here is more info (with photos) of setting up a litterbox with hay and wood pellets:
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/litter-training.html

 

[Barnebyismybaby]

Welcome

That's not how it works, that's what you would do with a dog, I guess. Rabbits are very different.

You don't really "litter train" rabbits, we just take advantage of a natural behaviour of liking to use a toilet spot. This behaviour emerges when they grow up, wouldn't expect it at 10 weeks.

What "litter training" is about is arranging their environment so that their instincts and our expectations are met, by designing and locating the litterbox where the rabbits will use them. Like, in a corner, or putting a hay rack there, they like to munch'n'poop. Also, the wasted hay becomes the litter, and for soaking up the urine and odor control a layer of wood pellets underneath works great.

You can help him accepting that spot by putting poops and soiled stuff in the box, and clean areas where he isn't supposed to do his business with vingar, or block those spots off. You'll need some patience, puberty can throw some sticks into that proceedure, so it can be "interesting" for months, depending on the individual rabbit.

Thank you I did already know this and its what I plan to do I just used litter training as a shorter way of saying it sorry I probably wrote it in a silly way I'm going to put his hay in a spot where he can only reach it while in the litter box to encourage him to be in there and obviously use the other methods you described, my question is when he has been trained and is constantly using the box can I have hay in other places aswell (eg by his food bowl or in a separate hay rack in the room) or will he do his business by there instead of the litter box