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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR So frustrated

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    • MuffinMama
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        Hey all. I’m getting so frustrated. I’ve had my boy Muffin for a week now. He’s a 9 week old Holland Lop. I have tried everything to get him to warm up to me. Some days he is fine and allows me to reach in the cage to pet him (although he still seems timid), but at other times he hides in his hutch whenever I’m around. It seems to correlate with when I clean his cage, but I don’t know what else to do. My room is bunny-proofed but he has still been too shy to come out and explore. So that leaves me no choice but to spot clean his cage while he’s in it. I sit with him for at least 1-2 hours every day, if not more, and do homework. I talk to him, pet him when he will allow it (rarely), and feed him dried apple from my hand. However, he still doesn’t like me! I know it can take a while but any tips would be appreciated as I actually feel like he’s getting more scared instead of less


      • Dface
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          A week is a very short amount of time, your rabbit is probably still very unsure of where he is and who you are. First things first though, he needs to learn that it’s his home and he needs to be safe there. How often have you cleaned his cage since you’ve only had him a week-that is a fairly unsettling thing for my rabbits even now-they have to remark everything so they know it’s theirs again, maybe try leaving it a little while longer so that there is actually his smell in it.

          Rabbits do not form an immediate bond, it took me and one of mine nearly 6 months to get where we are, and long after your rabbit is close to you they will still be scared of certain “new” things you do. Right now everything is terrifying to your rabbit, perhaps leave him time to settle into his environment before trying to push him getting to like you. These situations are incredibly overwhelming for small animals


        • sarahthegemini
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            You’ve only had him a week! Your rabbit is a baby, in a new environment, away from his litter mates and around a stranger. It’s going to take time. He needs to settle into his home first before you even try to get him to bond with you. Stop reaching into his cage firstly, that will show him that his home is his and it’s a place he won’t get disturbed. It’s safe for him. When he feels more comfortable, then you can try and encourage him to come out and explore by leaving his cage door open.

            When I got my rabbits, I left their cage door open right from the start (I don’t believe rabbits should be confined to a cage) but it took me a week to realise that they wanted to come out but physically couldn’t (I had to make a ramp) Buttercup came out immediately but she’s more confident, it took Peanut a few days. I tried encouraging him with hay cookies but nothing made him take that last step out. Then when I wasn’t looking, he did it all by himself!


          • bigbunnies
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            67 posts Send Private Message

              I have a few tips for you as I have also just got a holland lop that is 12 weeks old. I have had mine for almost 2 weeks now and we are just now starting to form a bond. All bunnies are different, some bond right away some take a long time! A few things you might want to try that have worked for me!

              1. When you are sitting with him if he comes up to you ignore him. I have put some treats right in front of me or next to me and let my bunny walk up and eat them and turn and leave. I ignored him for probably 3 days while I did this. Then I worked up to him eating out of my hand but no pets again this took probably about 3-4 days. Finally now I can offer treats and get about 2 strokes in! Also it helps to offer irresistible treats. For example I tried to offer veggies as a treat and it was a huge no go. He likes his veggies but it didn’t work for bonding. But when he hears the bag of dried fruit he comes running! Also when I do this I usually lay on the floor so he can hop over me if he wants. It takes a long time to build trust!

              2. I get ready in the morning in my bunnies room. I have a mirror on the floor and do my hair and make up while he has free time out of his cage. He seems to like to explore my makeup bag when he hears me digging in it he has to come check it out. Again he doesn’t get super close, but I let him look it over and then hop away.

              3. Another thing (which maybe its just an odd thing my boy likes) but when I crawl around on my hands and knees he tends to follow me. He also likes to follow me when I walk around the room in fact hes starting to follow me throughout the house.

              4. To start maybe just sit outside his cage with the door closed for a while, let him come up and sniff you through the bars (again just ignore him). When I did this I was just watching bunny videos on youtube about bonding.

              Realize it takes a ton of patience! Its so hard to not pet them but you have to let them get over the “ok maybe the humans wont eat me, maybe im just a pet” phase. Your rabbit is super young so I agree he is probably super scared! It sounds like you are doing a great job so far just keep going! Also (not sure if you do this or not) but at first I was picking my bunny up and moving him out of his cage which cause a lot of mistrust. After realizing that this was his problem with me I have learned that I never pick him up unless absolutely necessary. His breeders before him were picking him up all the time and told me he really liked it (this was in no way true, he hates being picked up) so the first few days were rough for us because he thought I was going to pick him up . I hope this helps!


            • vanessa
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                As the other comments read, it takes more time than a week. A few months might even be considered normal. If you read the bonding threads, think of how long it takes to bond 2 rabbits. Months. Well – you are trying to bond your rabbit with yourself. It’s still a bond, and requires much more time. I have a pair for 3.5 years that are still not bonded with me. I’ve progressed to being able to pet their heads. It doesn’t always take years – but it does take a few months. Rabbits don’t bond the way puppies do. Just keep doing what you are doing, and be patient.


              • Tgbarber
                Participant
                85 posts Send Private Message

                  I agree with all the comments. They are so cute, you just want to pet and hold them but they can’t handle that at first. I attached an ex pen to my cage and he would venture out when no one was around. I let him drive everything, i didn’t try to pet him, pick him up or anything. Took weeks to get him to hop on my lap for a treat. I didn’t know about not reaching into cage or cleaning it while they are in there. I just learned that recently so that may be why my bun poops a lot on my sofa. Lol. He figures if i can invade his space, he’s going to mark mine.

                  Enjoy your bun. They definitely teach us patience.

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              Forum BEHAVIOR So frustrated