litter trays

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hi, I have 8 dutch rabbits.  They have all been using litter trays fabulously for the past year or so - but, for the last month or two they have started using their cage floors.  They are kept in 6 separate hutches. I can't understand why they are all doing this.
They are aged from 2yrs and 3 1/2 years.
Answer -
Something has to have changed - the question is finding what it is.  Did you introduce another rabbit recently?  Has there been a new pet somewhere nearby?  Did someone have babies?  Something has changed which may not be obvious to us but is to them.  If you can find out what that is, you can remove it from their environment so they can go back to using their boxes again.

Kim
thanks for that kim,  I think I know what the problenm is now.  We have had field mice running around and obviously in their hutches.  We have tried to be kind to these mice by catching them in a humane mouse trap - then releasing them in a nearby cutting.  Still they come back.  We try not to leave any food around.  Anymore ideas? I am getting desperate.
thanks again.

Answer
Mice and rats are both notoriously hard to get rid of.  You may have to resort to something less humane like traps that will break their necks or glue traps.

Make sure that all the food is in covered bins that the mice can't get into, this includes the hay.  You might even get the bunnies less food for the time being so they eat it all quickly and nothing is left for the mice to get into.

If that fails, you may have to find an exterminator who deals in mice and rats and ask for their advice or have them come over.

Kim