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New rabbit

N

nicole

Mama Doe
When getting a new rabbit, do just stick it in it's new home and leave it for a couple of days before handeling it or do you speak to it and pet it straight away?

Just wonderd what you all thought.
 
I reckon you should give him/her lots of love and hugs from the word go :p Mind you, my rabbits are not the cuddley type even now :lol:
 
when I first got mine I left them in their cage for a few days so they could establish a favourite toilet area and with any luck not pee on the carpet - this worked to some extent, have only had a couple of carpet wees and I think they were one-offs as were a few days apart and in different places.
Have only had my newest bunny (frankenstein) 2 weeks - he will come to me if I have nice veggies but he doesn't let me touch him yet
 
The way I think is if you get a new bunny young or old, you should be there with kind and soft words of comfort.
As the bunny is scared anyway, I think it helps with bonding.
If you are there as a friend to reassure your new bunny that everything is ok and no harm will come to it.
I think this helps the bunny to realise that you are friend not foe.

Some people think I'm mad when I tell them this at the shop.

But any way a well known shop has told another of my customers to leave it for a couple of days to settle in. Then to handle it. (felt like saying it's not a fecking toy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
 
Mine were babies when i got them, but I handled them pretty much straight away, i bought a soft brush for grooming them and used this every day to begin with to get them used to being handled :)
 
A lot of people say to leave them to settle for a few days... but I would say to interact (I hate the word "handle", it's so... impersonal. Sounds like you should just chuck it about a bit... :roll: ) with the animal as soon as possible without causing undue stress. Nose rubs and gentle words and all that... unless it's a very timid rabbit I doubt it will object to a nose rub!
 
I think interacting is good. After all, you are a part of their new surroundings, so they need to get used to you as well as the new environment, may as well do it at the same time.
 
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