Newbie needs advice

Hey guys, I'm Kim and I'm a newbie on this forum as well as a newbie owner of two bootiful 9 week old french lops.
I need some advice. As mentioned I have two beauty's one is called Pickle and the other is called peanut. I've had my babies for about 9 days now and I have noticed that Peanut does not like being picked up which is a problem as I'm in the process of worming them, Pickles doesn't seem to mind. Peanut is a boy so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it. I know that they were handled from birth as the breeder was a friend of mine. I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to increase confidence or is it perhaps that actually I've only had them 9 days and in the grand scheme of things that's not very long. It's just odd because he doesn't seem to mind being stroked?
I obviously want them to be super tame. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance x

Welcome to the forum :wave:

In a way, you could liken them to yourself - how would you feel if someone you had known for only nine days picked you up and tried to do weird things to you that you don't understand as they don't speak your language? Rabbits need to build trust and at this early stage, to put it bluntly (but hopefully in a nice way), you're not doing that. Can you worm him on the floor without him being picked up? Give him a treat afterwards to show him that he's been good and that you're not the evil person he might think you are (believe me, they remember :lol: )

The best way to build trust is to sit with them on the floor and ignore them and let them come to you. You can then build the trust up over time by having food around you/eventually offering it out of your hand once they realise you're not a threat.

My two (well, now one) still remember the aunt I rescued them from and run a mile when they see her in case she tries to take them back :lol: It's only been eight years :lol:

Yeah I guess that's true, I hadn't really thought about it like that. Pickles is really quite curious but Peanut is much more reserved, I guess that's just their personalities. I wormed them without picking them up today as they quite like the worming stuff haha

Mrsbee said:

Yeah I guess that's true, I hadn't really thought about it like that. Pickles is really quite curious but Peanut is much more reserved, I guess that's just their personalities. I wormed them without picking them up today as they quite like the worming stuff haha

Click to expand...

It's always good when they like meds :thumb:

They're all so different but that's what makes you love them more for who they are. You will learn as you go along and that's what we're all here for - to learn and do the best for our rabbits

Mrsbee said:

Hey guys, I'm Kim and I'm a newbie on this forum as well as a newbie owner of two bootiful 9 week old french lops.
I need some advice. As mentioned I have two beauty's one is called Pickle and the other is called peanut. I've had my babies for about 9 days now and I have noticed that Peanut does not like being picked up which is a problem as I'm in the process of worming them, Pickles doesn't seem to mind. Peanut is a boy so I'm wondering if that has anything to do with it. I know that they were handled from birth as the breeder was a friend of mine. I'm just wondering if there's anything I can do to increase confidence or is it perhaps that actually I've only had them 9 days and in the grand scheme of things that's not very long. It's just odd because he doesn't seem to mind being stroked?
I obviously want them to be super tame. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance x

Click to expand...

Why are you worming them? Has the breeder got a problem with E.C. in her own rabbits?

MightyMax said:

Why are you worming them? Has the breeder got a problem with E.C. in her own rabbits?

Click to expand...

My vet wouldn't do there Mixxy jab until they had been wormed. She said that if they had worms and she gave them their jab it might make them poorly.

Is your vet an exotics specialist experienced in treating rabbits? None of my rabbits have ever been wormed (as most of us don't worm routinely, only if there is symptoms) but they all get vaccinated and they are fine :thumb: a rabbit savvy vet can be a lifesaver :thumb:

Zoobec said:

Is your vet an exotics specialist experienced in treating rabbits? None of my rabbits have ever been wormed (as most of us don't worm routinely, only if there is symptoms) but they all get vaccinated and they are fine :thumb: a rabbit savvy vet can be a lifesaver :thumb:

Click to expand...

I have no idea. I just presumed as a vet she knew what she was talking about :/ . Don't they actually need it then? Because I wanted to let the bunnies on the grass but I won't do that until they've had the jab, so although there enclosure is big I feel mean that they can't play on the grass yet

Hello and welcome :wave:

Myxi is fatal, worms are unlikely to be. I would certainly prioritise the jab over the wormer especially as it is a 28 day course so you are putting your buns at risk for a very long period of time. I would personally find a rabbit savvy vet and get them vaccinated ASAP.

Rabbits are classes as exotics so do really require a specialist vet. If you post a new thread asking for a good vet in your area someone may be able to recommend one to you

elmoandfern said:

Hello and welcome :wave:

Myxi is fatal, worms are unlikely to be. I would certainly prioritise the jab over the wormer especially as it is a 28 day course so you are putting your buns at risk for a very long period of time. I would personally find a rabbit savvy vet and get them vaccinated ASAP.

Rabbits are classes as exotics so do really require a specialist vet. If you post a new thread asking for a good vet in your area someone may be able to recommend one to you

Click to expand...

Well thank you so much! I knew Mixxy was fatal that's what I wanted it done ASAP. Thank you for the advice on this. Very much appreciated x

Mrsbee said:

Well thank you so much! I knew Mixxy was fatal that's what I wanted it done ASAP. Thank you for the advice on this. Very much appreciated x

Click to expand...

That's ok! It's difficult to make the right decisions sometimes as you think your vet would know best!