My neighbour and I have taken on her uncle's rabbit who is roughly 2yrs. She has never really been held and was just left to roam the garden, not really seeing people other than to feed her or clean her hutch. We are trying to get her friendly but whenever we pick her up she growls and kicks to get away leaving us with scratches everywhere and confused kids as our other rabbit is so friendly! Are we fighting a losing battle? should we carry on? Any ideas on softening her? please help, she is an albino!
2006-07-21 21:35:26 · 17 answers · asked by toots 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Rabbits are very 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 they're so sensitive and a little insecure - everything looks so big from their viewpoint! The very best way to get closer to a rabbit is to sit on the floor/ground while you let her explore, and she'll eventually come and explore you - and have some food with you, so that when she approaches you, you can show her that you're a friend with this food - a little slice of carrot, or apple, or banana. But don't try to force her, wait until she approachs you. Another thing you can try is laying on your stomach ... 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 she's had plenty of hours and days to explore first! The longer you have her in your company, the more she will become familiar with your room, and then will settle down, sit down and relax, and then you can pet her. Another tip, keep things the same around your room, so that she doesn't have to begin her 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.
Also, here's a few excellent articles on rabbit aggression and behaviour -
http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/aggression.html
http://www.rabbit.org/journal/1/kingdoms.html
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html (this one is SO good - how to translate bunny behaviour and language!)
Very best of luck - give her time and patience, time and patience!
2006-07-22 04:01:07 · answer #1 · answered by Lea 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is really difficult to try and make a rabbit nice. Since he has had such little contact with people it's going to be a challenge. Check out this website and see if you can find out information on what to do. If nothing works please don't just let it live in the garden. It can get fleas, flystrike, face predators, get hypothermia and heat stroke out there. You can try and find a local chapter and see if someone there can help you. You can always give it up to someone with rabbit knowledge.
2006-07-22 10:34:16 · answer #2 · answered by sugarcarat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well i think that i would prob just stop picking her up she is so used to not having any one pick her up. Some bunnies just don't even liked to be picked up. but if you think that you can get her to be friendly then go ahead and try. but she stated off with no one holding her or giving her attention i just got a baby bunny and he is about a month and a half old we give midnight all the attention that we can so that he can grow up to be friendly he already is pretty friendly a little scared when people pick him up but that's only because he is new. anyways...i think personally i would just let her be.
2006-07-22 08:06:22 · answer #3 · answered by Samatha P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes the reason she is like that is because she has never been handling from a young age i have 5 rabbits 3 female and 2 male and i have handling them everyday since young and they need a lot of handling just persevere with it hold her everyday for at least 1 hour just stroking and talking to her calmly and gently wearing a pair of gloves initially but also it will help if she has not been spayed to have her done as this will also calm her down apart from that it is just a lot of love and patience and she will become friendlier
2006-07-21 21:47:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will probably never be able to pick this bunny up as she isn't used to it. i had 2 like that and i was patient but it never happened they were albino too, all rabbits need to be socialised from babies,i have 2 adult rabbits and a baby rabbit now and they are all socialised they don't like being picked up either but will let me after a little persuasion,they are happy after that as they love to be stroked,they never growl or bite me but i just think rabbits are not to keen on being picked up at all.
2006-07-22 10:20:49 · answer #5 · answered by helen r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you sure she`s a she for a start? males have a fiestier temprement ...if you get close reach down and place your hand over its defence mechanism(its ears)gently hold them down ,with the other hand you should be able to pick it up ,remember to keep one hand over those ears overwise your going to get kicked ,do this daily for short periods of a few minutes each time ,within a week the rabbit will be used to being picked up and will relax more when you approach,if it is male get it neutered asap otherwise it will become terrotorial and start spraying you with acidic wee(will bleach clothes!)..but little and often is the answer
2006-07-21 21:55:51 · answer #6 · answered by elite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're probably fighting a losing battle. Most pets need to be socialized with people from an early age or they will revert to their wild ways. At 2 years old, most are too old to begin this process.
2006-07-21 21:49:05 · answer #7 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a netherland dwarf rabbit for years. I was never able to pick it up and pet it. The only time I managed to stroke it when it was half dead and away to the vet's to be put to sleep. That is my personal experience. I wouldn't try to pick her up just now....try to gain her trust and see how it goes....she may never be happy with petting.
2006-07-21 21:45:58 · answer #8 · answered by aliviel27 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would stop trying to pick her up. some rabbits just don't cotton to being picked up. She will probably let you pet her after she associates you with food and water. Give it time and let her acclimate to her new surroundings. just move slow around her and don't force yourself on her. She is use to being the only bunny. She might hang out with your rabbit and watch and see that petting is okay.
2006-07-21 21:45:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't pick her up yet
try to stroke her when feeding her until she gets used to you and gradually let her come to you by sitting close and offering a favourite food until you can get her to take it from you while sitting on you eventually she will let you pick her up to get the food but this could take months and a lot of patience in the meantime explainr to the kids that she is very nervous and they must have patience the same as you
allow them to feed her the same way under your supervision
2006-07-21 22:27:26 · answer #10 · answered by bbh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋