Hi, I rehomed an 18 month old bunny (Thumper) over a week ago. He was living in a hutch outside in his previous home but he is a house rabbit with me. He seems to be settling fine, he is using the litter tray (sometimes), eating and drinking well, and loves being petted (teeth clicking, closing eyes, lying down). But he doesn't want to come out of his cage.
He is a French Lop and weighs five and a half kilos meaning that he is rather large. He has a big cage and has plenty of room but I really want him to venture outside of his cage to get some exercise and play a little. The cage doors are permanently open (unless I leave the house or go to bed) but he doesn't ever come outside. He occasionally sticks his head out but won't venture out, even if there are treats outside the cage. I have wood flooring so have been putting towels and blankets down for him to grip onto but he still doesn't seem interested. I have got him out a few times and he just hops straight back into his cage. He doesn't like being picked up so I haven't handled him for a week now but I want to bond with him and let him explore. He isn't a nervous rabbit and at his old home, he apparently constantly wanted to be out of his hutch and would explore the garden for hours on end.
His reluctance to be handled and stay outside of his cage means that I am having to spot clean his litter and cage whilst he is still in it, which I know you're not supposed to do. He nudges my plastic scoop and nibbles/drags it in disapproval but it seems more distressing for him to try and lift him out of the cage.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. On the first night, I had him on my sofa with me and he loved snuggling into the blankets and seemed very content. The only problem is getting him out as he really doesn't like being handled and won't stay out if he is able to go back into his cage (i.e if I just put him on the floor next to his cage, and not carry him over and put him on the sofa)
He is a French Lop and weighs five and a half kilos meaning that he is rather large. He has a big cage and has plenty of room but I really want him to venture outside of his cage to get some exercise and play a little. The cage doors are permanently open (unless I leave the house or go to bed) but he doesn't ever come outside. He occasionally sticks his head out but won't venture out, even if there are treats outside the cage. I have wood flooring so have been putting towels and blankets down for him to grip onto but he still doesn't seem interested. I have got him out a few times and he just hops straight back into his cage. He doesn't like being picked up so I haven't handled him for a week now but I want to bond with him and let him explore. He isn't a nervous rabbit and at his old home, he apparently constantly wanted to be out of his hutch and would explore the garden for hours on end.
His reluctance to be handled and stay outside of his cage means that I am having to spot clean his litter and cage whilst he is still in it, which I know you're not supposed to do. He nudges my plastic scoop and nibbles/drags it in disapproval but it seems more distressing for him to try and lift him out of the cage.
Any advice would be very much appreciated. On the first night, I had him on my sofa with me and he loved snuggling into the blankets and seemed very content. The only problem is getting him out as he really doesn't like being handled and won't stay out if he is able to go back into his cage (i.e if I just put him on the floor next to his cage, and not carry him over and put him on the sofa)