Bunny doesn’t like treats?

[JackRabbit]

Do I have an odd bunny or do some bunnies just not like treats?  Two of my bunnies can smell fruit a mile away and get excited, but my little boy (Moshi) turns his head away at banana, strawberry, and carrots (haven’t offered anything else yet)!  All three get pellets, timothy hay (unlimited), and salad every day.  I don’t give many treats (trying to do better with my bunnies than I did with my son!) but I’d like to give a little reward now and then for things like nice bonding sessions, etc. but hate to just be like “Here Kieko, you were such a good girl during bonding, here’s a bite of *banana* for you,” yet turn to my little Moshi with “and here Mosh, you were such a good boy, here’s a piece of plain old lettuce for you.”  Anybody else have such a health-minded bunny?  Any suggestions for treats? (he doesn’t like mint leaves either)  Thanks!

[Isabelle]

Dutchess is quite the picky eater, I have had to work quite hard at getting her introduced to treats. Some she still refuses to eat, she won’t even try some. What I did for her for example take some banana. Mush a little bit on the top of his front paws or right on his lips if he will let you so that he licks it off to groom himself. Then he’ll have at least tasted it. Try it a few times and see if he decides he likes it. Wait a few days, but then what you can do is give him some banana if he does like it and will start eating it, but place another treat like a raisin within some banana, and one with no banana near it perhaps in the spot you give his pellets and other food. Just let it sit there, even for a few hours (a raisin is okay for that long, banana is not, so use discretion!) and see if he tries it. Some bunnies like Dutchess do not favor tarter types of treats, Dutchess will snub a banana that is too old, she likes the greener flavor, she won’t touch a very ripe one. So try different things like that, it might just be your treats are too sweet

[Roberta]

I have one like that too… Every bunny else loves treats, Piglet really has no interest unless it’s a nice fresh disc of carrot…

[JackRabbit]

I didn’t even think about the banana being too ripe and too sweet.  My son won’t touch a banana that has even one brown spot on the peel — maybe Moshi takes after him!  Will definitely try a greener banana.  Thanks!

[rissakai007]

My male Leo doesn’t like anything besides carrots either. He used to eat lettuce. Not anymore. I think i saw him nibble at a banana once but he didn’t finish it. Lettuces no, parsley no, kale no, mint no, apples no, cucumber no, celery no. My female Lola will eat almost any veg/fruit though.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I wouldn’t worry about it! A sweet tooth is harder then no sweet tooth. The only thing I would suggest is figure out what food he can’t resist. That way you can use it as a reward, and to check to see if he’s not feeling well (They can turn their noses up at some food just on odd days, but there must be one irresistible treat you can offer, that they cannot turn down; if you offer that special food and they turn it down, that’s your indication they aren’t feeling well!)

[Deleted User]

Craisins! What tha???? Anyhow after sussing it out from my fellow BBer’s, I had to buy a bag. It took a shop assistant to find it for me at Woolworths, cause I wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for…. Guess what? My boy will either take it from my lips (bunny kiss) or come onto my lap to get it. Trust me, that is huge for Henry – so I swear by it. Give it a go!
PS – it was suggested to me, only 1 a day. Except for Christmas day (he had 3 – naughty me) cause he didn’t get a pressie from Santa.

[JackRabbit]

Are Craisins cranberries that are dried like grapes are to make raisens?  So does that mean Craisens and raisens are safe for bunnies?  I was looking for grapes on the “approved” veggie and fruit lists but haven’t seen them specifically listed.  We usually have grapes on hand, but I’ve been afraid to offer a piece on one.  Do you have to cut the Craisens into little bits?

[Monkeybun]

yes, grapes, raisins, cranberries, and craisins are totally bunny safe.

[Deleted User]

I just grabbed my bag out (now Henry expects one – dam!). Yes, craisins are dried cranberries (as I said above, had no idea what they were either? Just knew they were a ‘super’ treat/bribery food for bunny’s). The craisins I buy (Ocean Spray brand – in Australia) are already in small pieces, so I give Henry one piece a day (my goodnight/bedtime kiss, lol…). Um, the grapes? I don’t buy them so have no idea, sorry! But you’d think it would be ok? being that raisins are dried grapes. I have to be honest (bet I’m gonna get into trouble) but I give my boy anything that we buy for ourselves that I haven’t heard is a ‘NO NO’! For example, Henry had a bit of Mango for his desert last night – he ‘loved’ it! We just take care (that it’s not on the ‘NO NO’ list) and not too much – anything with a high sugar content should be given minimally, not good for bunny’s. Hopefully someone else will know about the grapes? Cheers JackRabbit.

[Deleted User]

You beat me Monkeybun, ha ha hah! – so forget my ‘hopefully someone will know about the grapes’ Lol! Cheers.

[JackRabbit]

Heading to the store tomorrow for Craisins . . . and glad to know I can share when I have grapes!  Thanks everyone! 

[MoveDiagonally]

Just make sure to get the original version of craisins. The “reduced sugar” ones have artificial sweetener in them and that’s not good for bunnies.

[JackRabbit]

Thanks!  Will do!

[Elrohwen]

My boy Otto is picky and won’t eat any fresh fruit, or carrots. If I offer them he looks at me like I’m trying to poison him. Haha. He does love dried fruit like craisins, raisins, or papaya, so I would try those.

[Leese1015]

Our Dexter loves the Oxbow Simple Rewards Veggie Treats, they are pretty much just ground up veggies and hay in a cute little heart shaped treat so they are also a healthy treat. Maybe try those since your bun loves his lettuce and pellets.

[JackRabbit]

Got the Craisins.  The girls loved them but Moshi turned his nose at them.  I also picked up some dried pineapple while I was there but haven’t had a chance to offer it. I also ordered some dried carrots from my favorite hay place but they haven’t come yet.  I’ve tried the Oxbow dried strawberries (Kieko and Marlee go nuts over these but Moshi runs away when he smells them!) and dried bananas (girls love them, Moshi ate a few bites of one piece one time).  I’m going to keep trying things with him, but he may end up just being my green veggie and hay boy!  The good part is that he goes *wild* when he sees salad. Personally, I need cake to have that kind of reaction! 

[Bunnies <3]

I have a picky bun too. He won’t eat strawberries or papaya treats or several of the other treats my girl bunny likes. I find he likes the Oxbow Timothy Simple Rewards Treats… but he does like carrots and bananas, so it sounds like your bun might be even pickier lol. Not sure if yours will like the Timothy treats, but my bunny likes them!

[ichigo mew mew]

i had a bunny for 8 years that was just perfect, now my freinds decided to gift me a rabbit after a year has gone by since my baby died and im having a hard time training this new one because he doesnt like any treats, its hard teaching him its okay to be petted if he doesnt get anything he likes in return, i feel like im not bonding with my bunny and im stressed out because i dont know what to do. My first was very easy going, loved cuddles, treats, responded well to training and my heart still aches for him, with this one everything i do is scary for him, if i even look in his way he runs to hide, i dont know how to confort him and teach him everything is ok :´( anyone knows how i can help him get used to a nice life? hes 9 months and came from a pet shop, i bet he has trauma from being caged so long but without him liking treats i dont know how to help him

[sarahthegemini]

This thread is 3 years old…

Having said that, you don’t need to “teach him it’s okay to be pet” He has to learn to trust you first and foremost and if he still doesn’t want to be pet, well that’s just how it is.

[Bam]

Hi ichigo mew mew!

This thread is 3 years old. We ask our members not to revive old threads. You’ll get more answers if you start a thread of your own on the same topic. You can do that here: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/post/aff/1/Default.aspx

As Sarah says, your new bun needs to learn to trust you. For some rabbits, this can take a very long time. Rabbits have different personalities just like people have different personalities.

I hope you’ll start a new thread so we can learn a bit more about your new rabbit and hopefully offer you some advice on how to get closer to him.

I’m locking this thread now.

[Author]

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