(Sorry if you've already seen this introduction, I'm a new bunny owner posting a fair few questions!) So I rehomed 2 sisters from the RSPCA. They are only 4.5 months old and I'm their 3rd person and in that time they've both been spayed as well. They've not been that well handled therefore. I've had them just over a week and I've been stroking them when they get food first of all which they will just about tolerate now. Maddie will just about let me stroke her now without food and yesterday she jumped up on my bum (I'm sure it was a squishy seat!) when I was lay on the floor and sat there for a few minutes, she also flopped down quite close to me too. Millie is less keen although she will come up and see me she usually hops off if I try to stroke her. I convince myself she hates me when she goes off to a corner and looks all grumpy but then she binkies - she rears up like a horse haha and flies round the front room, bouncing off the skirting boards on the corners, bumps into things and jumps up in the air.
I've tried picking Maddie up but she kicked a lot and wiggled free (she was only a few cm from the floor). I'm not very confident with picking them up as I'm new to it, although I get you have to get your hand under their bum to support them I find it difficult when being scratched! My question is should I be picking them up now? Or should I wait until they're happier with being stroked etc? There's conflicting views on the internet! I don't want them to start thinking of me as the horrible lady who picks them up and destroy any bond we might have already. But I know I do need to get them use to being picked up and accept they're never going to be keen on the idea! I have seen them picked up and held them, it seems once they're up they're not that bothered really.
I've tried picking Maddie up but she kicked a lot and wiggled free (she was only a few cm from the floor). I'm not very confident with picking them up as I'm new to it, although I get you have to get your hand under their bum to support them I find it difficult when being scratched! My question is should I be picking them up now? Or should I wait until they're happier with being stroked etc? There's conflicting views on the internet! I don't want them to start thinking of me as the horrible lady who picks them up and destroy any bond we might have already. But I know I do need to get them use to being picked up and accept they're never going to be keen on the idea! I have seen them picked up and held them, it seems once they're up they're not that bothered really.