Bunny does not come out of pen

[Irina]

My 3 month old bunnies have ex pens in the house, but also an outdoor run, and a separate hutch outside as well. When I want to transfer them from inside to outside, I used to just go into their pens and get them. I recently read that I should not go into their pens to get them, as it should be their space, and should not intrude. The problem is, if I just wait for them to come out, two will come out relatively quickly, but the third often does not. He runs around in there, he is not hiding or anything, just does not come out of the pen. That means that he does not get to come out and play, and would be left inside all alone. I would like to take him out as he has a lot if fun out there… But don’t know how to do it without going in to get him. When I have gone in the past, he does not run away from me, and is easy to pick up. Advice? Go get him or leave him
Inside?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Can you bribe him out with a treat?

[Elrohwen]

I personally find that picking up my bunnies too often makes them skittish around me, thinking they may be picked up, but if he is ok with it I would continue to do it. He may not want to come out because he knows if he does, you will pick him up.

Also, not all bunnies mind you being in their space. Both of mine have no issue with me reaching into their areas (whether the large pen, or smaller cages or hidey boxes) when they are in there. Some are more territorial about it.

[mijOok]

I went through the same thing with my 3 month old lop and it took him 2 days with the cage door left open to finally come out. But once he did it on his own and realized coming out = play space, he tries to come out every chance he gets now (even when the play space isn’t set up lol). Maybe he just needs a little encouragement without forcing him. My bun was perfectly capable of jumping over the step-through with the door open but I think he wasn’t sure if it was okay until I put a little ramp while he was looking out his cage. He cautiously went on the ramp, came out and then the binkying began! =D

[Irina]

Thank you! Yes, I can bribe him with a piece of apple, although he often tries to grab it and run back into the pen!

I thought I may be picking them up too often (or my 7 and 10 year old may be as well…). We tried not picking them up, just petting them when they come to us, and that seems to have made Butterscotch more comfortable. He is coming out more quickly than he used to, and really enjoys nuzzling up to get love. Perhaps he really did not like being picked up so often. Shadow, my girl, does not seem to mind bring carried around, or having us reach/go into her space. I know they are all different, but it seems they are on opposite extremes.

Could it be that Butterscotch is hormonal (just got fixed today- still pretty stunned…), and Shadow is not there yet?

Having said that, I am going to try the ramp idea and see if it makes a difference.

Thx!

[MoveDiagonally]

Shadow might not be hormonal yet so that could be a big part of it. Baby bunnies usually don’t mind being carried around but after puberty/adulthood they tend to like it less.

[Irina]

Some sites claim that if you pick your bunnies up from a young age, they will get used to it, and won’t mind as they get older. Is this true? Or should I just avoid it?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I think most bunnies do not like being held, whether they are used to it or not. It’s just a very uncomfortable situation for them, considering their instincts as a prey animal. Bunnies also like to have the option to flee if they feel scared and they cannot if they are being restrained.

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