4 month old bunnies- to pick up or not to pick up?

[Irina]

Hello! I would like help regarding the best way to move my bunnies from one place to another. I have three 41/2 month old Bunnies who I have had since they were three weeks old. They were always cuddly and lived to snuggle for hours, with me and with each other. They seemed to like being carried around, and did not try to get free, until about 3 months old, when they started resisting being picked up, or squirming around when they were in my arms. (This only happened fort two boys, Tofu and Butterscotch- Shadow, who is a girl, never protested). Both boys were neutered almost two weeks ago, and Tofu had recovered fine, while Butterscotch had some post surgery issues (stasis, dehydration, renal failure and seizures). Tofu is pretty laid back now, snuggles and easy to pick up, but Buiters itch is very anxious about it. They all have their own are ex pens inside. They have a fenced in hutch outside as well as a grassy run. I used to pick them up to transport them back and forth, but then read that bunnies don’t like to be picked up too much, so started using a carrier to go to and from. That worked ok until my two boys were neutered, and became afraid of their carrier. Now I don’t know which way to go. My other concern is that if I do not handle them quite a bit now, while they are young, they will not be used to it. (This was expressed in a couple of threads I was reading about bonding). So to pick up or not to
Pick up? I am interested in this answer in general, as well as with respect to transferring from pen to outside ect. Any suggestions?

[LittlePuffyTail]

Babies tend to not mind being handled until they hit their hormone time.

My bunnies are both 6 years old and I only pick them up when necessary ie: for grooming, etc. Most bunnies will learn to tolerate but not enjoy being handled.

Could you use a pet carrier to transport them from pen to pen?

[Irina]

Yes- I can. If that is the best thing to do. I just really enjoyed the cuddling, and was hoping to foster it. some people post how cuddly their buns are…. Just wondering how best to encourage that.

[LBJ10]

Do they have access to a sofa or chair that you sit in? Perhaps if you provided a way for them to get up with you, you can encourage them to snuggle on their own terms (i.e. not forcing them by picking them up). We have a dog ramp for our dog to get up on the couch. The rabbits both use it. You can certainly try it, but also be open to the possibility that they won’t ever want to snuggle.

[Irina]

Thank you. They seem to jump up on the two sofas in the room without hesitation. If I go into their pens, where I suppose there is less to explore, they will cuddle, but not so much when they are out roaming about- which makes sense. I realize they just may not end up being cuddle buns, and am ok with that, I just want to make sure I am not doing anything that could discourage them from cuddling.

[LittlePuffyTail]

My Bindi is super snuggly. He loves hugs and snuggles BUT only on the floor/couch/bed. He does not enjoy being picked up and cuddled and will not sit on my lap to cuddle. I think this is the norm for most bunnies.

Your buns are still young and full of energy. They may get more cuddly as they get older.

[bpash89]

It depends on your bunnies’ personalities. While being cuddly is a common baby bunny trait, it misleading to think that you bunny will always be like that. You now have teenager bunnies and they are most likely not going to want to snuggle in the same way as before (being held/sitting on your lap ect). Try to learn their new definition of snuggling and enjoy it.

[Irina]

Thank you. I have found that they are quite happy to snuggle, in fact look for it, on the floor or on the bed- but not in my lap or in my arms- which is perfectly fine with me. I will keep encouraging that!

[tanlover14]

I’m going to be the odd ball and go ahead and say I believe you SHOULD work on them with picking up and handling. I had three babies and followed the advice not to handle them except when necessary… except now I have three Tans that I have a hard time controlling and I have had to spend months working on handling because they became uncontrollable when being held. They bite, scratch, and kick whenever you hold them and I’ve had to really work with them to get them to stop biting (one of them still does) whenever I pick them up and one has even taken to becoming extremely stressed out when held. It’s taken a lot of hard work to reverse what I feel could’ve been worked on much easier when younger. Do I think you should force them to be held if they don’t wanna be? No… but I think you need to be able to handle and work with your bunnies when need be.

Especially when it comes to nail trimmings and giving meds as well as transporting from one area to another successfully. I DO try and make the experience more enjoyable while I’m working with them so I ALWAYS make sure to give them a treat during and after the handling so they will get positive vibes from the handling.

[taija/honeybunny]

My bunny is 4 months old. The first 2 weeks I had her, I held her and carried her around, even to the store (to get her a cage) and she was so new, she just let me hold her all the time.

Now, my (4month old bunny) lets me pick her and handle her, but she doesn’t always like it! She’ll squirm to get free or kick me with her back feet (which scratches my arms and hands ALL up). I still do it, anyways. I need to syringe feed her meds daily and I need to handle her to get her in/out of her cage.

I mean, she doesn’t LIKE it, but she’s fine. She’s just being more and more independent. Just be careful, sometimes she’s kicked out SO HARD that I could have dropped her. I mean, I don’t, I have good reflexes but her back legs are getting to be VERY strong! Fumbling or dropping a bunny can lead to spinal cord injuries that cause death

[bpash89]

Posted By taija/honeybunny on 09/26/2013 03:05 AM
My bunny is 4 months old. The first 2 weeks I had her, I held her and carried her around, even to the store (to get her a cage) and she was so new, she just let me hold her all the time.

Now, my (4month old bunny) lets me pick her and handle her, but she doesn't always like it! She'll squirm to get free or kick me with her back feet (which scratches my arms and hands ALL up). I still do it, anyways. I need to syringe feed her meds daily and I need to handle her to get her in/out of her cage.

I mean, she doesn't LIKE it, but she's fine. She's just being more and more independent. Just be careful, sometimes she's kicked out SO HARD that I could have dropped her. I mean, I don't, I have good reflexes but her back legs are getting to be VERY strong! Fumbling or dropping a bunny can lead to spinal cord injuries that cause death

Fear of dropping them isn't the only concern.  Bunnies can kick their back legs so hard that they can break their own backs.  Yet another reason to avoid picking up your bunny unless absolutely necessary.  

Getting you bunny used to being handled by doing things on the floor/couch with them.  You can let them sit in your lap (food is always a good incentive and reward) and get them used to being touched without picking them up and carrying them around.  It's far less traumatic for them and helps build their trust in you when you do things at their level, on their terms. 

It's best to have a cage that your bunny can get out of all by itself so that you don't have to pick them up constantly.  A cage that opens from the front or putting a box or something for them to jump onto for top open cages.  

 

[Elrohwen]

I only pick mine up when necessary for grooming, nail trims, meds, etc. Even then I usually corral them into a carrier, take them into the kitchen, and pick them up there, rather than chasing them around trying to pick them up in their pen. One of mine generally puts up with being held, the other hates it, but they are both less skittish of me when they don’t think I’m going to randomly pick them up any time I come near them.

[Irina]

Thanks for all the advice. I have been avoiding picking them up unless necessary- but have been doing a lot petting and touching on the floor, which they seem to love and look for. I don’t think any one of them likes to be picked up, but none of them have kicked or bitten to get down. Shadow seems to settle in once she us up, and is laid back about it (but she is a girl and only 4 months, so not hormonal yet…) Tofu will be ok with it for a short time, and then gets squirmy. Butterscotch likes it the least, and squirms most of the time. I haven’t tried giving them treats though once they are up- that may make things more tolerable.

Tanlover- your situation is exactly what I am afraid of. I am now facing the rather daunting task of first nail clipping, and although I have read/watched all kinds of info, I am still nervous. (I have guinea pigs, so know how to cut the nails, holding them in place is what worries me.)

[Irina]

Thanks for all the advice. I have been avoiding picking them up unless necessary- but have been doing a lot petting and touching on the floor, which they seem to love and look for. I don’t think any one of them likes to be picked up, but none of them have kicked or bitten to get down. Shadow seems to settle in once she us up, and is laid back about it (but she is a girl and only 4 months, so not hormonal yet…) Tofu will be ok with it for a short time, and then gets squirmy. Butterscotch likes it the least, and squirms most of the time. I haven’t tried giving them treats though once they are up- that may make things more tolerable.

Tanlover- your situation is exactly what I am afraid of. I am now facing the rather daunting task of first nail clipping, and although I have read/watched all kinds of info, I am still nervous. (I have guinea pigs, so know how to cut the nails, holding them in place is what worries me.)

[LBJ10]

There is nothing wrong with working with your bunny to get them accustomed to being held for necessities. I have done that with my buns, offering them a treat every time they are picked up. However, I don't think you can get a bunny to learn to tolerate being held for the purpose of cuddling. So while I agree with some of the comments made above, I also think finding how they want to be cuddled (on the floor, beside you on the couch/bed, etc) is the best way to do the cuddling thing. I'm glad you have found where they are happy to cuddle with you at. Keep encouraging it!

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