We acquired a couple of beautiful 12 week old rabbits about 6 weeks ago. We decided to keep them indoors, and they now have their own room. We also have a cat so the door is kept closed.
I was letting them out of their hutch for a couple of hours in the day, but it wasn't enough so they are now let out in the morning, and they have perked up a lot. However, I like to have them shut in their hutch over night for a few reasons (door not shut properly, damage to furniture, cat etc etc) but they don't like it and it's becoming harder and harder to catch them at bed time. It's resulting in them becoming s bit scared of me as they seem to be associating me with catching them. I was giving them a little rabbit snack treat thingie, but they don't really seem to help, and whilst they like the reward afterwards, it doesn't help with tempting them in to their hutch.
I have three DC, the DS is 3.5, and he loves them quite heavy handedly, which is a bit of a challenge. I simply can not supervise all the time, although I know I am supposed to, but he does know he is not allowed to pick them up.
Ok, so how do I get them back in to their hutch at bed time? Or should I just get my head around them being out overnight?
Also, I was told by the lady giving them to us and the man in the pet shop that they shouldn't have any fresh vegetables until they are 6 months old. It was already too late when I was told this and I had already given them some things. I gather they shouldn't have lettuce, but the man in the pet shop says no cabbage also. They have had loads of cabbage and carrots and raspberry leaves etc etc and they seem fine, and no diarrhoea etc.
Any advice on any aspects of rabbit care or house bunnies would be brilliant.
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Small pets
I think I need a few words of advice about house rabbits
MinkyBorage · 02/10/2012 22:09
I'm on my second house rabbit and I wouldn't be without one, having said that, they are devious things and quite clever. Yours are still only young - rabbits tend to be very silly until they are about 12 - 18 months old when they calm down. It would also help if you get them neutered asap (for health reasons as well as calming them down).
Having house rabbits is like having naughty toddlers around all the time. They will not want to go to bed and they know you want them to go to bed. They will also enjoy the chase. My first bun was awful at bedtime initially - she had us running round for ages after her and I know she enjoyed it as she would wait until we caught her up before dashing off in another direction. When she was one, she calmed down and just went to bed when the TV was turned off. They will learn, you need to persevere and be patient. They are probably not scared of you, just enjoying winding you up 
. I would keep putting them to bed so they get used to it. Sometimes when ours was particularly annoying, I would leave her for a bit and then go back down and try again. I found that eventually, she got tired and would let us catch her. Our current bun is a so and so at bedtime (he's older and should have got over the silly stage but obviously did not read the book) but he has learnt to go to bed when he hears the GP's being fed. They are creatures of habit and will learn a routine eventually.
Is there any way they could get in and out of their hutch themselves (if it's in the same room) as this would make it easier? They would be more likely to go into their hutch for fresh food themselves. BTW you're right about the no lettuce, but very dark green cabbage is okay, as are carrots (and carrot leaves) and broccoli. You may find other things, your rabbits like - ours used to like a bit of apple. But only give veg in small amounts as it can upset them.
If their room is to be your office, make sure you put cable cover on any wires etc as they will chew through them. It doesn't matter how many chew toys you give them, they will still want to chew whatever they shouldn't have.
Sorry for the essay! Good luck with bedtime (rabbits and children)!
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