Why are my 5 rabbits so afraid of me?

Question

I owe 5 rabbits - 1 female & 4 males. It has been 2 years and since young, they are afraid of me. They always avoid me. Is there a problem? -with me or them?

Answer 1

Your rabbits are just sensitive and feel vulnerable, and as a result want to be very aware of their surroundings. Just lay on the ground for a minute and look at the world from their eyes, and you'll understand better why their so sensitive and a little insecure - everything looks so big from their viewpoint! The very best way to get close to your bunns is to sit on the floor while you let them explore the room, and they'll eventually come and explore you - and have some food with you, so that when they approache you, you can show them that you're a friend with this food - a little slice of carrot, or apple, or banana. But don't try to force them, wait until they approache you. Another thing you can try is laying on your stomach on the floor ... when we do this, our bunn comes right up to my face and sits on the floor in front of me. But this will only happen when they've had plenty of hours and days to explore your room first! The longer you have them out and with you, the more they will become familiar with your room, and then will settle down, sit down and relax, and then you can pet them. Another tip, keep things the same around your room, so that they don't have to begin their explorations from scratch every time. Bunnies need their areas to be the same every day ... this is how they feel safest and become calmest and more interested in you.

Have a read of these great detailed rabbit sites too -
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html (this one is SO good - how to translate bunny behaviour and language!)
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/?once=true&
http://www.tagyerit.com/hopline/cold.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyhouserabbits.html - http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyfood.html - my own site - please have a browse and very, very best of luck!

Answer 2

Try giving them treats. And if possible, try to spend about an hour every day just sticking your hand into the tank and just leaving it there. If they nibble on you, just say ouch or flinch. Over time, they will learn not to fear you and to associate you with treats. And the first few times you pick them up, put them back home straight away. This tells them that your hands will bring them to safe places.

Although all this might not work as your pets are already quite old and may be quite set in their ways. But do try, anyway. Sometimes your love and patience will change even an older, more mature animal.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

could be hair spray perfume and all, rabbits do not like these smells, then focus on one rabbit at a time to Hadlee and yet used to playing with you, then go own with the rest one at a time, you will probably end up with two that will really take a liken to you, good Lucho, and also when u start out with the one rabbit, always have a piece of carrot or sometimg it likes to feed him or her by hand.

Answer 4

Quit singing the "Daddy's gonna make Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit Stew" song every time you see them.

Answer 5

It could be chemical - something in yr sweat. Or it could be behavioral. Rabbits are different from many other animals. If you bathe a rabbit you can kill it!

http://www.2ndchance.info/bunnysop.htm

Answer 6

if u dont spend a lot of time with them they will not know who u are ...and be afraid of you...the more u spend time with them the more they will not be afraid of u and like u...

try spending at least 5 minutes with each one alone each day

Answer 7

Well do you handle them every day? I learned that you might get to be very close if you handle them every day carefully.I learned that with my hamster.He lets me stick my hand in and he won't bite!

Answer 8

theres a problem with you. you are a big geek

Answer 9

if they're new pets, get need time to get used to you.