Abused bunny with behavioral problems

[littlebuns]

First off, I used this forum before and the members were very helpful with determining what was wrong with my bunny (he had a hernia). Thank you for that He got the surgery and is all better.

Now, I’ve gotten another bunny and have run into a new problem.

I seen her for free on a buy and sell page and thought nothing of it (all the other rabbits cost at least something), so I said I’d take her and went to pick her up. When I got there I learned that she’s very difficult to pet and pick up, due to how she was treated by a previous owner’s children. She was mishandled and mistreated by them. It took some time before I was finally able to scoot her into the carry bag I had brought.

I’ve had her three days now and she remains the same (not that I expected a big change so quickly lol). She won’t let me pet her unless she’s sitting on the couch, she freaks out (pawing, biting, and “screaming”) when I try to lift her or pet her if she’s elsewhere, and sometimes even freaks out on the other rabbit if he gets too close to her and bites him (though for the most part they’ve gotten along). I was wondering what I can do to help her to realize I’m not going to hurt her/to trust me. So far I’ve been trying to handle her as much as I can throughout my day, hoping she’ll get used to it and see nothing bad will come from being touched or picked up.

Somebody suggested I put her in a bathtub and pet her, and pick her up and down, but I’m not sure if that’s a good idea? 

Any advice would be appreciated

[tobyluv]

I wouldn’t try to pick her up. That’s obviously very upsetting to her. Sit quietly near her on the floor, and see if she will get curious and come to you. You could have some veggies or a small piece of fruit to offer to her. Let her get used to you and her new home. It sounds like she really doesn’t want to be petted either, so respect that. As she comes to know you, that should change. It would probably be best to keep your other rabbit away from her until she has settled in and feels more comfortable in her new environment. Also, limit her space at first, and let her stay near to her pen, some place she can retreat to if she feels the need. If she is being kept in a cage, you could attach an x-pen to it and sit inside the pen, trying to get her used to you.

If she hasn’t been spayed, you should keep them apart anyway, then bond them after her surgery and recuperation. The surgery can be scheduled a little later if she hasn’t been spayed. Again, to let her settle in and feel at home. She sounds like a fearful bunny and she needs to learn how to trust people.

[Gina.Jenny]

I’ve rescued four badly treated girl buns over the years. None of them ever accepted being picked up or cuddled. Chelsea was our first, and was very traumatised after being rescued from a garage living with two cats and umpteen ferrets. For the three years we had her, she always stayed quite aloof, but would sometimes come and take treats and allow a brief head rub. Gina took over 8 months before she even allowed me to stroke her head briefly, and even now, after 20 months with us is still wary of anything more than a brief head rub, and cannot be bribed to with food. Gina was caught living feral, and so was Jenny, who we think is Gina’s sister. Jenny nearly died after we adopted her, and so had to be handled, to give meds and tummy massages etc. She takes head rubs on her terms, if she asks for them and you stop to soon, exit fast, before she attacks your feet. Once settled into a good head rubbing session, she also welcomes her back being stroked. Snickers was scared of everything 6 months ago, but when just left to come out when she was ready, she did, very slowly and gradually increasing how far she’d come and how long for. She has come on a long way, and now welcomes, even demands morning head rubs.

Your new little girl is going to need as much time as she needs, and expect it to be in months, rather than days or even weeks.

Thank you for giving her a better home

[Brambino]

I’m in exactly the same position littlebuns. My new bun, Gandalf, is really aggressive and bites and boxes when cornered or scared. It makes me so sad because Bramble who was an absolute fuss pot has become more aloof since being bonded to Gandalf. We’re just giving him lots of time. I get a few cheeky strokes in when he’s eating but he doesn’t really appreciate it! I think with time he will warm to us but I cannot pick him up without being savaged. He was squeezed a lot in his past so I can’t blame him! Lots of patience and greens I hope we get there.

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