i need help

hi guys,

iv just got a baby bunny of 8 weeks old from a pet shop, reason for this is because i went in there and the rabbit had been returned once before because she wont be picked up and is very very very shy and timid. I know the reason for this is because she has had no handling since she was born and she looked very thin and weak. I took her on as id rather have her than a child have her and not be able to give her attention because she wont be picked up.

Shes settled in great and has come out of her shell but she still refuses to be picked up. I am finding it hard as i cant even pick her up tp put her in a run. I know it will take time for her to gain trust and confidence but i was wondering if any of you guys had any tips or advice i could try to help with this process??

I want ti get her vaccinated also but was wondering the age requirements for her to have them? shes 8 weeks old.

Thanks x

Hiya Mollyhop hope you new bunny is settling in okay
Bunnies can have the Myxomatosis vaccine from six weeks, and it is advisable to get this done as soon as you can as even house bunnies are at risk of catching this nasty disease.
The VHD vaccine I think, can be given at 12 (3 months) ideally, but bunnies are sometimes given it early if VHD is in the area, and we have had baby bunnies of around 10 weeks vaccinated against VHD.
A Good Vet will ensure the vaccines have a two week gap between them, and the Myxomatosis is given first.
Hope this helps
Tips for handling..well :roll: :roll: sounds like you are doing a good job already, but I would perhaps pick her up less often to begin with and try this approach instead to gain her trust Try and bring her indoors for an hour a day, then lie or sit on the floor and allow her to come up to you ..she will probably climb all over you and check out whether you are friend or foe :!: :shock: :lol: ..but in time you can extend your hand and stroke her when she gains more trust, and you may be rewarded by her scrambling onto your lap for a snuggle...it is so lovely when they do this for the very first time and of their own free will.
She is very young still so it is a good opportunity to spend time to socialise her and gain your trust now, to set her up for life.
Please let us know how she goes on

My advise would be to stop trying to stroke or pick up your rabbit for a period of a few weeks. During that time try to hand feed your rabbit treats and speak calmly to him. Sit down in its run (or indoors) with a book and ignore it and let it get the confidence to come and visit you. When it is more relaxed start to stoke him whilst he is eating the treat.
If your rabbit will take a treat but won't let you stroke him, you may have to spend longer on the first stage. Once your rabbit will accept stroking (by hand or a brush) increase the time you spend doing this. If you are using a brush, replace with your hand. When they are happy to be stroked then start picking your rabbit up. This should be introduced in daily stages using treats at each level i.e. initially your rabbit can be scooped onto your lap to eat his treat.

To transfer them into the run, it may be less stressful if they will climb into a box / pet carrier and allow you to transfer them that way.

Janice

all good advice given, i know some rabbits just dont like being picked up for no apparent reason, i supose its not natural if we think bk to the wild, but urs sound like it just need to settle in, but she needs to gain ur trust iv had some with little handling but iv sat on the floor in the house or there pen and let them come to u, to show u mean no harm dont try to pick her up just sit quietly and let her come and investigate u only untill she is compleatly relaxed u can start to reach out and stoke her tempting with food too so her will be eating and wont be so bothered with u stoking her. once she i ok with all this u can lift her onto u lap and just take every time in small steps, it could take awhile
becky

Hiya,

My Sophie refuses to be picked up, but she loves fuss and attention ,she will sit next to me all night as long as she is having her ears stroked or nose rubbed :lol: Some bunnies just don't like being picked up. This could be because this is how their prey get them in the wild, they scoop them up :shock: Buns like to have their feet firmly on the ground!

I would have to dissagree and say that u should be picking up ur rabbit very often, the longer u leave it the worse it will get. It carnt be that hard to pick up an 8wk old rabbit. now is the best time ur rabbit is very young and will very quickly get used to being held.Iv had lots of young rabbits come in to rescue and within a week u can pick them up no problem.sometimes u have to be firm they are only protesting because there not used to it they get out of it fast if u pick them up several times a day. U dont need to hold them long just long enough that they relax a bit then put them back and repeat it later. val

taylor v 109 said:

I would have to dissagree and say that u should be picking up ur rabbit very often, the longer u leave it the worse it will get. It carnt be that hard to pick up an 8wk old rabbit. now is the best time ur rabbit is very young and will very quickly get used to being held.Iv had lots of young rabbits come in to rescue and within a week u can pick them up no problem.sometimes u have to be firm they are only protesting because there not used to it they get out of it fast if u pick them up several times a day. U dont need to hold them long just long enough that they relax a bit then put them back and repeat it later. val

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I could easily scoop Sophie up when she was a baby, but the bigger she got, the more she didn't like it! Now I dont pick her up as she really doesn't like it and she will get in a right huff with me when i try :!: :roll:

Iknow it can be hard but u must keep on otherwise she will get worse,i always look like ive been to war as im covered in scratches but its the only way to go lol good luck val

I can see both sides to this and all I can tell you about it my experience. Lavender loves fuss and attention but hates being picked up. When I first got her she kicked up a huge fuss so I started to pick her up every other day, give her a really quick fuss, put her down and give her a treat. To start with I had to follow her to grumpy corner and leave the treat at her feet. Several months later she has stopped kicking me, doesn't struggle hardly any and sits waiting for her treat when I put her down. When I pick her up now I have a quick check of her bottom and look at her teeth.

I am now going to move on to trying to cut the odd claw. :shock:

I think its important to pick the buns up at least once every other day, I v quickly look at their eyes, teeth, mouth for any dribbling, pooey bottom, quick snuggle and put them down. It also makes life easier if you ever need to medicate them for anything.

Mollyhop - once you've got your bun to sit next to you and have fuss then it'll be easier to start trying ot pick her up, just take it slowly and keep going with it, it will get better.