How to pick up a rabbit?

Question

How do i pick up a rabbit. I have 2 rabbits. One of them is so wild and another is so calm. The calm one lets my little brother pick her up. I don't know how. Does anyone know how?

Answer 1

1. Kneel beside your rabbit and place one hand under his chest, between his forelegs. Do not hold his legs; if you do, his legs may break if he struggles and tries to get away.

2. Slide your other hand gently over your rabbit's back toward his rump, then scoop your hand under his rump.

3. Lift your rabbit off the floor and pull him against your chest, so he is lying almost horizontally in front of you.

4. Cradle him against your chest, feet down. Position your arm under his head and against his chest, so that his forelegs hang downward between your arm and your chest. Use the arm that lifted your rabbit's chest; that area of his body is lighter, and you can more easily slide your arm around him while you're still supporting his rump.

5. Sit on the floor or on a sofa, especially if you're just learning how to lift and hold your rabbit. That way, if he jumps out of your arms, he won't fall very far.

6. Hold your rabbit firmly, but don't squeeze him or you may break some of his bones.

7. Use your free hand to gently pet his head and ears and to rub his cheeks. Most rabbits like to have their cheeks rubbed after they get to know and trust you. It's the way they show affection to each other, so it tells them that you care about them.

8. Practice this technique daily until both you and your rabbit are comfortable with it. This will help your rabbit become accustomed to being handled, which will make vet visits and nail trimming easier and less traumatic for both of you.

Answer 2

There are way too many idiots in this world. Pick a rabbit up by the ears?? Let us try picking you up by the "cayunes" and see how you like it, you morons!! Read Island Goddess's comments or Kristy B. They have the best answers. Actually, most rabbits don't really like to be held too often, so don't make a habit of this, especially if you have kids....remember these aren't toys or stuffed animals!! Most rabbits like to be on the ground doing their own thing!! Also, go into Yahoo and look up House Rabbit Society. They have the best information available anywhere. And most important.....keep your rabbits inside always! If this is a problem......get a cat or a dog!!

Answer 3

Put one hand around him behind his front legs and with the other hand gently grab under his bottom and back legs. Hold him against you. They feel safer this way. If you don't support the back end they feel like they are going to fall and they freak out. He still might be a little nervous. But keep doing this every day..it takes time. This is how I learned when I took my rabbits to 4-H. Since then I have had several through the years. Is your rabbit a male? Some males seem to be more wild than females.

Answer 4

To pick up a rabbit properly, you needa scoop one hand under the butt and grab the scruff of the next with the other, then immediately bring the bunny close to your chest so it feels supported.

BUT, it seems like your problem is not how to pick it up, but just getting it to calm down. The only way really is just for the rabbit to get used to you. To realize you're not going to hurt it. This can take a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months depending on the individual rabbit. You just need let it gain your trust (once it does, rabbits can actually bond really closely to their human!).

Do stuff like sit in the middle of the floor with a carrot or piece of romaine lettuce and hold it out for the rabbit. Let him come to you (don't go to grab him). Hold tightly on to the treat so that he's forced to stay near you to eat it. After doing this a few times, you can start to pet him while he eats.

Doing simple stuff like this is what will help your bunny gain your trust and eventually become less skiddish. All it takes is time. :)

Answer 5

When i raised rabbits for 4-H, I was taught to NEVER lift them by their ears or the scruff of the neck. Pick them up the same you might a large cat. Put one hand under their stomach, right up against the front legs and put the other hand under their backside or back feet (if they are calm enough) and pick them up.

Answer 6

I lift my rabbit by the scruff of the neck and then put my hand under his bottom to support it. This is when he doesn't want to be picked up, the rest of the time I put one hand under his front legs and the other under his bottom and lift. The more you handle the the better they are and you could try spending time just stroking the rabbit in its cage so it doesn't think you are going to pick it up every time you approach it.

Answer 7

I'm assuming this is a serious question and that you want a real answer, so I have no idea why the h*** (sorry) all these other people are saying to pick it up by the ears or back of the neck. Everything I've ever read about bunnies and every vet I've ever talked to says to--

NEVER EVER PICK UP A (SMALL) BUNNY BY ITS EARS OR BEHIND ITS NECK. (not yelling here, just emphasizing this since it's so important) Picking up a bunny by its ears will break the blood vessels in its ears. :( Mother rabbits can usually pick up newborn bunnies by the scruff of their neck since they're so small, but this usually isn't a good way to handle a bunny. I agree with sauceygirl...large rabbit breeds such as lops can be picked up with one hand under their butt and the other gently holding the back of its neck. Other bunny breeds are too small to be picked up only by the back of its neck.

Anyway, I'm guessing that most of the people who answered this with "ears" are either jerks and answering like that on purpose or else they just didn't know that it's the wrong way to do it. It's a good way to break blood vessels, cause something to tear in its ears, or even deafness in extreme cases. Plus it's a good way to make the bunny hate your guts by picking it up that way :P

***So here's what you do: if the bunny is scared or jumpy, it might help to pet it for a while to calm it down. Then you can either cup your hands around the sides of your bunny and scoop it up against your chest, or put one hand under its butt and rest the other hand on its back or head as you scoop it up. Either way, you should end up holding the bunny against your chest with one hand under its rear end and the other on its back or head (this way makes it easier to pet its ears while holding it) Don't be afraid to pick it up either; my bunny likes to be petted and stuff but doesn't really care to be picked up. They can somehow "sense" when you're nervous, and my bunny always struggles when I try to pick her up hesitantly, but when I mean business she can tell and lets me pick her up (like when I trim her nails)

Sorry this was so long; hope it helps!

Answer 8

Put your hand under where their armpits would be and hold both arms together. Next, get your other hand under their butt and try to hold their hind legs together. This should prevent them from squirming too much. Be careful not to secure them too hard or you could seriously injure the rabbit. It the rabbit is way too psycho just leave it alone. You should try to develop a relationship with the rabbit to get it to trust you.

I've had my rabbit for 9 years and she was very scared when I first got her but as they become trusting of you they will eventually let you hold them like a baby.

Just give it time.

Answer 9

Same way you would a kitten... Like their mothers do. By the scruff of the neck supporting the back feet and once they are calm and feel secure, then you let go of their neck and they usually relax. Grabbing the skin on the neck paralyzes and calm them temporarily.

Unless of course they don't feel like being held... rabbits do not like heights! and they can get injured if they fall and know it.

HEY YOU UP THERE... A FEW TOOLS ABOVE ME!
NEVER PICK UP A RABBIT BY ITS EARS! WHAT ARE YOU NUTS? How about I pick YOU up by YOUR ears? DUMMY!

Answer 10

Just like you would pick up a cat. Grasp from the sides to pick up and then hold from underneath. Support the legs so the rabbit feels more secure. If they don't like being held, a trick is to pick them up and give them a treat so they soon associate being held with treats.