Cecotropes are not feces. They are nutrient-packed dietary items essential to your rabbit's good health. A rabbit usually produces cecotropes at a characteristic time of the day, which may vary from rabbit to rabbit. Some produce cecotropes in the late morning, some in the late afternoon, and some at night.
Average sized bunnies will make 200-300 poops per day. They should be uniform in size and shape which means rounded and pea to garbanzo sized. The size of your bunny won't always predict the size of their poops.
Usually, the rabbit isn't eating the cecotropes because they are producing too many due to an imbalance in their gut health. If too many cecotropes are being produced, your rabbit won't feel the need to eat all of them, so you end up finding them in the litter box (or around the room).
What time of day do rabbits poop? Rabbits usually produce cecotropes at the same time each day, often at night hence they are sometimes called "night droppings", but in pet rabbits, it is dependent on their daily routine and feeding times.
Caecotrophs and bunny health
1) An inappropriate diet can be a reason why your bunny isn't eating their caecotrophs. This is because diets that are low in fibre and high in protein and sugar can prevent your bunny's digestive tract from working properly.
Hard waste feces (what is found on the floor of the cage) which have a high fiber content, are produced for approximately the first four hours after the rabbit eats its food and the cecotropes are produced during the next four hours (therefore not only at night).
The most important part of the treatment of uncomplicated ISC is to feed grass hay to your pet. This should be the only food given until the stools return to normal. You must remove all other food items from the diet including pellets and treats.
(In case you didn't know, the word “crepuscular” is derived from the Latin word crepusculum, which means “twilight”.) Because rabbits are nocturnal, they'll be ready for playtime at night after sleeping for pretty much most of the day. Chances are you'll find your bunny most active around 8:00 PM.
Rabbits are nocturnal animals, so they sleep most of the time during the day. However, they can doze off at any time during the day if the mood strikes them, as they spend the majority of their time awake at night with sometimes significant activity.
Apart from eating these droppings, rabbits are extremely clean animals and like to have their own 'bunny bathrooms' - dedicated areas in their hutch for sleeping, eating and toileting.
Baby rabbits can't produce cecotropes at first, but need them to jump-start their digestive system when they switch from milk to solid foods. Without cecotropes, they don't have the gut flora necessary to digest foods properly, and they die a painful death.
Cecotropes are produced in the cecum, which is a part of the rabbit's digestive tract. The cecum contains a wild concoction of bacteria and fungi that are incredibly beneficial for the rabbit.
Every rabbit's gut has a very delicate balance, and if they eat too many carbohydrates, there is the danger of serious problems. For most rabbits this will cause their caecotrophs to be softer and improperly formed and they won't be eaten, instead they will stick to the bottom and cause problems.
Rabbits and hares beat this problem with a special kind of digestion called hindgut fermentation. In short, they eat their own poop and digest it a second time. Bunnies actually make two different kinds of droppings: little black round ones and softer black ones known as cecotropes that are eaten.
Bunnies don't sleep at night and stay up during the day like humans do, either. They are crepuscular. Yup, there's that word again! It means they're most active at dusk and dawn.
Do rabbits get cold at night? Of course, everyone does! But bunnies have thick fur that can protect them from chilly temperatures. They're fine at 30°F, but if you have outdoor rabbits, keep your hutch at about 100°F during the night.
Rabbits enjoy sleeping on soft and comfortable materials. Consider providing your bunnies with pillows and blankets. Some animals may require extra bedding cover during winter. However, avoid providing your rabbits with too many blankets and pillows because the bunnies can quickly overheat.
Rabbits need a contrast of light and darkness. A rabbit that lives in constant light can experience stress. In addition, their eyes can be damaged, and they'll gain weight. Provide a dark area for your bunny to sleep and relax within.
Rabbits are crepuscular, which means they have the most energy in the hours around sunrise and sunset.
Time of Day: Rabbits are the most active at dawn and dusk. The low light just before morning and evening provides them protection from predators as they venture out in search of food. If hunting with dogs, you can likely find rabbits throughout the day.
This is one way they claim their territory, but it's not as frequent as the myth makes it sound. Once a rabbit has been spayed or neutered, this behavior will often disappear completely. Instead, rabbits will usually poop a number of hours after they have eaten.
You must remove all other food items from the diet including pellets and treats. Provide the grass hay in unlimited amounts and have it available at all times to your pet. In this way your pet will never have to worry about going hungry and will have healthy food to eat.
Believe it or not, rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, just like a cat!
Fill a sink with a few inches of warm water (just enough so that the soiled area will be submerged) and mix in a dollop of pet shampoo (NOT human shampoo). Place your bunny in the bath and wash the soiled area until clean.
The best way to prevent your rabbit from pooping everywhere is to get them spayed or neutered. This will reduce the territorial instincts that cause the rabbit to scatter their droppings. You should also make sure they have a welcoming and easy-to-reach litter box available at all times.