skiddish rabbit?

Question

i have had my rabbit for a long time but i stoped picking her up because she scratched me alot. she knows who i am and she even knows her name she comes to the cage when i walk in. how do i get her comfertable enough so i can pick her up again?

Answer 1

Rabbits feel very unsafe when they are picked up and why they struggle But they do not scratch except accidentally when their nails are too long-then need to be taken to a exotic animal VET to have their nails trimmed-nails have a vein that if cut terrible pain and will bleed and if cut wrong can split/tear the nail and then infection and a very serious problem. Try usine a towel if you must pick her up-I only pick mine up if i haave to but to interact with her and I do daily i get on the floor with her and she'll snuggle up against me,tuk at my clothes and try to groom me(rabbits groom to socialize) will also run around, dane and kick her heels-before i bunny proofed 1/2 of a room for her (she is litterbox trained-use recycled paper cat litter and hay in a regular litterbox(No self-cleaning) used a Animal Play pen-very sturdy and surrounded her cage(her cage is now in the closet for emergency) left her cage door open with a sturdy heavy carpet remnant on the door so her feet will not get stuck in the rungs so she could go in and out-much healthier for rabbits need exercise-live longer by 5-6 years than caged and a much happier bunny. Give her the spool from papertowels -making sure no paper left on it and boxes(no tacks or tape) for to explore and play in. Used to get in the play pen with her which she loved for rabbits love to hear their human's voice and to interact-are very affectionate for my bunny will kiss/lick my nose Your bunny comes to the cage for she wants your company. I'm sure until you get play area you can find things around the house to make temporary partition so she can't go where not safe for her-electrical wiring and so on while you keep her company. My bunny is happy to just snuggle against me while I read(laying on the floor)write letters,watch TV,talk on the phone---she is very healthy and going on 13 years which is ancient for a rabbit but she is still spry and dances around me when I enter her room. If you open her cage putting a rug or cover ovr the door she will come out on her own for rabbits are also very curious. There is a very good book available at VETS(EXOTIC ANIMALS ONLY) called the House Rabbit- Handbook, How to live with a urban rabbit cost approx $10.00 that has all kinds of plans examples of indoor rabbit runs and so forth,food,how to interact-illustrates how to pick up when one has to,food,care,when to take to vet-just about anything one ever will need to know about ones bunny and more.I use it all the time as a guide. To pick my bunny up I place one hand under her rump to steady her and the other above the front legs to give me a firm hold and to prevent getting loose of she struggles-bunnies have very delicate bones which easily fracture-for if a bunny gets dropped bones too fragile to absorb the shock-bunnies also do not heal fractured bones well and usually requires being put to leep -another reason I do not pick her up unless necessary-even taking her to the vet will put carrier on the floor and then do pick up to put in careful not to catch back legs on side of door. A lot of fractures occur when people pick the bunny up and then hold the bunny to ione side near the shoulder and the bunny jumps over the shoulder with tragic consequences. You can even if nothing else put the bunny while you socialize with her in a play pen made for babies naturally in these temporary play areas can't leave her unattended for any length of time for just one bite on a electrical cord or a quick chew can ruin a piece of furniture. Do socialize though with your bunny-great stress relief and much happier bunny-imagine her sadness(Yes-bunnies just like other animals have emotions)when she comes to the front of her cage when you come in all happy and then if theres no touch interaction(how rabbits communicate) how let down and put aside she then feels.

Answer 2

Maybe of age or in heat. All rabbits get skittish though, its their nature.

Answer 3

I have a rabbit it does that all the time its natural.

Answer 4

calm her give her treats and rub her body/talk to her sooth her body by giving her treats and showing her how fun it can be.

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Answer 5

start off with petting her more often ..when she gets comfortable with you petting her try picking her up ... ( you can cut her fingernails if they get to sharp with a doggy toe nail clipper) also brushing her ( baby brush works good) might also get her more comfortable to you

Answer 6

check out clicker training some say it's great

Answer 7

hand feed her treats so she can no to trust you