Returning to hutch

Question
I let my two 14 week old rabbits out of their hutch every day to run around the garden. Although the hutch doors are open to allow access at all times I am having difficulty in coaxing them back in and it usually ends with a frustrating chase around the garden that can go on for ages. Your advice would be welcome.

Answer
Ha... I have the same problem.. They are young and untrained and now is the time to train them.  Believe me I understand your frustration because I go through the same thing every night with my baby mini rex that lives in my house.  He hates going back in for the night.  

Technically babies aren't supposed to get treat food or veggies and fruits until they are 6 months old.  So I am telling you this but please use caution and watch for signs of diarrhea.  Rabbits aren't as easy to train as dogs.  They don't have great memories but do understand some things.  I have done this with every indoor rabbit I have and it works on all of them except the new baby, we are still working with him.

Buy a box of raisins that don't have extra sugar.  If you can get someone to help you catch them then you need to sit right down next to the hutch and hold out your hand flat.  Put 1 raisin in there, no more because they are full of sugar and can really make them sick.  When whoever catches them gets them to you put them down on the ground holding them firmly and let them eat the raisin out of your hand.  Then scoop them up and put them in the hutch.  Eventually they are going to realize that when you come out and sit by their hutch at night and your hand is layed out flat that its treat time.. yipppeeee... they will come running.  It takes time and patience but if you do this every night they should be trained within a few weeks.  Just be careful not to give them more than 1 per day no matter how much they beg.  Also since they are getting a treat at bedtime make sure you don't give them any other sugary treats during the day.

If you have to do this on your own then just sit down with them before you put them in their hutch and let them eat the raisin out of your hand.   Its all just routine.  Rabbits love routine. If you ever noticed they are creatures of habit.  If you move their litter box or food dish or anything they get upset and sometimes will spend the whole day rearranging things back the way they want them.  I have several house rabbits all in different parts of my house.  The one that lives in my bedroom I close him in the bathroom at night.  I straiten up everything before I go to bed and he spends all night putting it back where he wants it.  Its a daily routine and if he didn't do it I would know there was something wrong with him.

Good luck with your chases.  I know how frustrating they are.  Just leave the hutch door open sometimes I get lucky and my little guy will run right back in and I hurry and shut the door.

Thank you

Pam