I love your rabbits, they're so cute.
I know they don't like being picked up.. but why does it seem that other people's rabbits don't mind? I often lay with them on the floor but as soon as I put my hand over to stroke them they sniff it and bolt off..
Don't worry about it. Very few people have buns who like to be held. Most of the time it's just having experience with bunnies and other animals that enables people to pick them up.
so are yours! I love fluffiy bunnies hehe! But have to wash the pots - Binky doesn't usually mind.
Thank you
Mine can be like this with being a bit 'bolty' Bailey especially. It's a pain - if I clatter anything in the kitchen against the sink, so metally sounds she HATES it and shoots off into the other room.
I feel guilty
Don't reach out to touch them - just ignore them. That's what I do if I lie down with them - or put my arm out and leave it there etc.
Food is the best way to bribery for cuddles though! hehe! So pellet time should be special I always think. We make a big deal out of pellets.
What are your buns set up etc like - sorry I don't know much about them. Are the indoors/outdoors? in 1 or 2 groups?
I also talk to my rabbits a lot - I like to think they recognise my voice now and know it's me. They hide away when strangers are in the house, but not when I am.
Yeah, they come to me if I have treats!
A lot of bunnies run away when approached, that's not a reflection on you
I mean, they're almost 2 years old now and I have lived in the same room as them their whole lives... They often investigate me, but they've never really been brave. They always bolt if I move. One of them often tries to bite/scratch my hand if I put it close to him.
I can't even catch Buckley let alone get him off the ground
With the litter training, work out where your buns are peeing and put a litter tray there. This will help them to learn to use the tray for wees.
For poos, pick up poos that aren't in the tray and put them in the tray. It can take a while but it'll work out, I'm sure
Also, when first litter training don't change the litter too often as this can confuse them; they could start thinking they aren't allowed to wee or poo in the tray if you change it too often
Yeah, they're quite well litter trained actually..
They're indoor rabbits, they live in my room. I have two that are bonded and one that is on his own.
The one that's not bonded (Pixel) is deaf, and so doesn't respond to my voice, obviously...
I just wish they would show me the tiniest bit of affection, but they don't at all. I think they hate me.
He's got a lovely character, really funny. No, he's the cinnamon butterfly mini lop, the one on the far left is Minun, he's a blue otter nethie. but I have to settle for regularly sneakily checking to make sure she doesnt have them whilst giving her a stroke, and cutting/brushing them out when she gets a knot. Its not ideal but she doesnt like being touched so less stressful this way.
Are they neutered? Unneutered rabbits can be more territorial, which is perhaps when you are being bitten/scratched. Also, as you have unbonded rabbits in the same room I assume they are caged? You dont 'invade' their space and go to stroke them do you, as this could make them nervous, their cage should be their personal space that they arent bothered in. Some rabbits get very funny about 'their' space.
I also found that my nervy bun Annabella grows in confidence around me when she is free-range 24/7, I imagine as she's around me all the time even when I'm asleep (theyre in my bedroom) and as then the room is her cage as such, that she feels more confident in it.
You're not a bad bunny mum, rabbits are prey animals and will act as such. I have only ever met one rabbit that actually liked being picked up, it is really unusual. Most rabbits that allow themselves to be picked up are just tolerating it. But you can do things to make them more interested in you. You can hand-feed all pellets/treats/veg and talk to them whilst you are doing it. Talk to them a lot, interact with them. Also, if you are doing things they dislike like stroking them, if you can reduce that you will gain their trust easier.
Annabelle doesnt much like humans, and would run from me all the time. I stopped trying to get her to accept being touched, if she didnt like it there is no point, and she slowly grew to learn that I could be trusted not to touch her. She learnt to trust me and would come over to say hi and see if I had food then. 10 months down the line and I can give her noserubs now occasionally and she seems to sort of like them, but it took a lot to get to that point. Its really annoying as she is a lionhead and I'd love to brush her as she gets matts
She acts like she hates me, yes, and she wont even go near me today after I took her to the vets earlier, but I know she likes me a bit, because when someone visits they think I only have one rabbit - Annabelle is nowhere to be seen! She hides as soon as anyone else walks in the room, sometimes just when she hears them coming, and yet she stays out around me, so I know she must like me a little. She mainly likes me when I have food :lol:
