Litter training issues

[yorkshirelamb]

I have a young rabbit--I don't know how young exactly as his former owners didn't either and my vet was only able to tell me that he was young. He was neutered last week. I understand that younger rabbits are harder to train, and I'm hoping once his hormones clear out in the next few months he'll adapt more readily to using his litterbox, but I need some advice!

He is very on-and-off about peeing in his litterbox. All the guides I have read say the same thing--keep them in their cage or small area until they master the box, put it in the area they favor, then gradually give them more freedom. But he pees in his box half the time, and the other half goes in various spots around his cage, so he doesn't show a preference for another corner. I do give him some run time in the kitchen since I don't want to bore him, and he is less prone to peeing outside his box there.

I don't understand what I should do. Confine him for days until he uses his litterbox consistently? I feel like I would have an unhappy, angry or stressed rabbit, and that might affect his litter habits as well.

My ultimate goal is for him to be 100% peeing in his litterbox so he can have full run of our carpeted living room when we are home, but we rent so I can't risk urine stains.

[RainKindle]

It is ok and encouraged to give free time in an area that is easy to clean up urine like the kitchen you mentioned. Rabbits need a minimum of 1 hour run time outside of their cage each day.
You are doing the right things, it might just take a titch more patience.
The neutering will get you very far!
We put 2 litter boxes in with the younger rabbits that I volunteer with. If there is room, the more the merrier!
Do you have timothy hay in the box? That is very helpful if you don't because rabbits eat and "go" at the same time.
Here is my favorite site and gives the most up to date info.
http://rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html

[yorkshirelamb]

Don't worry, I give him lots of time out! I'm just worried that I'm giving him too much freedom and confusing him. I might try a second box, if only because there's a better chance of him peeing in a box than outside it! I put hay in or next to his box, sometimes he gets picky and tosses it out.

[RainKindle]

That's normal, keep putting it in the box, he is just playing/digging in his hay.

[tbowman]

Bunny is now peeing in his litter box. I saw him do it twice today. My little grandaughter had gotten into his cage and I told my daughter that the baby had scared the pee out of the rabbit! He was sitting on his litter box while I was vacuming up his coca puffs. I put hay in his litter box and then dump some of his leavings in there. So far he has not pooped in the box but he is peeing which is a start. Considering this rabbit was kept outdoors in a wire hutch before I got him, he is adjusting well to being inside. He is still very afraid of me and being picked up. I have gotten to laying down beside the cage and talking to him while he eats. He will hop over everyonce and a while to sniff me. He and the cat love each other. He will actually play with her!