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Advice for a new bunny owner!

xSmeffy123x

Alpha Buck
I just brought home my two female baby bunnies (9weeks old) four days ago and i have only just begun handling them and they are very nervous. Is there anything i can do to help them in their new environment?

Their names are Polly and Matilda, i have noticed that Polly is abit more lively and i am wondering whether it may take Matilda longer to adapt maybe? they are from the same pen at the shop so they have already been socialised.

Any advice for a new bunny owner would be appreciated!:wave:
 
Welcome to the forum :wave:

Are they indoors or outdoors?

Four days is not long at all and you have to remember that they were taken from the breeder to the pet shop at 8 weeks, so sold to only a week later. Two new homes in a week! It is a lot of adapting to do for a baby.

The best thing you can do at this stage is present yourself as no threat to them. Remember they are prey animals and so are naturally cautious and scared of new situations. Don't handle them till they are ready and bear in mind when you do that most rabbits dont like being picked up, and prefer cuddles on the ground.

Spend as much time as you can near them, but not trying to play with them at this stage. Talk to them, say anything, talk about your day, as long as its in a happy soothing voice you can say whatever. They will get used to your presence. Read a book in their run if outside or room if indoors, so they can explore you if they wish, but ignore them till they are not scared of you. You can have food on you, to encourage them to come near and see you as a friend :)
 
Hello! And welcome!

As above really. Also - we got two 8-week old girlies a couple of years ago - one of ours was very inquisitive and lively - we nicknamed her 'Fudge the explorer' as she was always out getting her nose into everything and always licking us too. Truffle, her sister, used to go and hide behind their cage (we didn't know not to use a cage back then) so all we ever saw of her was her ears.

After we had them spayed, they seemed to have a personality transplant! Truffle suddenly became very inquisitive and affectionate - she is now the one who is always out looking to see what you're up to and climbing all over you. Fudge became grumpy and spends most of her time flopped out in their pen, or stamping her feet at us if we don't feed her quickly enough. lol.

It's definitely normal for them to have different personalities, but that's what makes them so interesting to get to know. And as they are young their personalities may still change like ours did. As has already been said just don't force yourself on them - let them come to you as it's vital they learn to trust you. Ours still have one place they can go where we will never touch them, so they have a 'refuge' that is theirs if they don't want any fuss (not that they use it often).

Hope you are enjoying your new rabbits - there's a lot to learn here!
 
Thanks alot for the advice i know it must be alot to handle for a sensitive animal i think they are getting used to me now everytime i bring the food around they are nudging at my hand! i shall take your points into consideration and bore them with my voice for a while hehe.
They are indoor bunnies but i will be booking them in for their injections nonetheless in two weeks

also, i like that name 'fudge the explorer':D ! i named my hamster steve mcqueen because all he did was try and escape - still does! haha

Thanks again!
 
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Yep as you know its important for indoor bunnies to have their vaccinations too, whilst you are there I would get the vet to double-check their sex, as pet shops are notorious for sexing rabbits wrong and they can breed surprisingly young.

Nudging your hand is their way of saying hello :) a small nudge is hello, a big nudge can be 'get out of my way'. Once they get to know you better they will also soon learn that they can nudge your hand to get nose-rubs. They sound very friendly already.

If they are indoor that's great, I think its easier to build a close relationship with indoor bunnies, as you can just stay in the room whilst they are free-ranging and they will soon see you as no threat. I would just spend as much time as possible in that room then and let them hop around you. If you lie on the floor you'll often find they come over to investigate.

As you're a new bunny owner you might want to research bunny proofing, you dont want them hurting themselves or destroying your things. The main thing to protect is wires.
 
yes i had two rabbits when i was really young and they were always trying to get at the wires. the phone wires were their favourite so i bought them lots of toys to help with the boredom. i may do that again :)

Due to me having a dog aswell i was thinking of getting them a hutch to go in the veranda, my staffy is really friendly and has lived around guinea pigs all his life so he does not mind but i am always going to vigilant about that and for the rabbits too so they have a safe place. I guess for now i will try and see if they approach me like you said they are abit reluctanct as of yet.

i will definately ask the vet to sex them then! thanks for that. i am planning to get them neutered later on to avoid health problems

thanks alot
 
I found with Penelope, my indoor bunny, that to get used to me, I would sit on the floor to watch tv and let her sniff around me. Eventually she started to put her paws on my legs and nudge my hand for a rub, on days she felt brave, she jumped onto my lap!
Just wait, they'll get more confident around you, its just fustrating at the beginning when you want to cuddle them and say it's ok, but they don't understand!

On another note, hi :wave: and are you going to post piccys....:p
 
Hiya, yeah i will be posting pics soon they are so cute i will have to!
thank you for the comments and advice. I feel that Polly is brave and will approach me abit more quicker but i am excited. I was so tempted to just hug them and tell them it is ok but as you say they wouldn't understand.
I can't wait to proper cuddle them up though!
 
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