New bunny, need advice!

[bunnymamma23]

Hi everyone, I’m new here! I just adopted a 2 year old lop from a rescue organization. Today is day 4 of having her home. Anyways, when I picked her out, the lady who was fostering her said she was such a great bunny who was really well litter box trained( she has been spayed) and super sweet. When I was at the adoption event, I picked her up and she didn’t kick at all and she was super calm and just let me pet her. Now I have her living in my room. She has a plastic bottomed cage that she sleeps in with her food/water/toys and a litter box with hay in it. I let her hop out of her cage and explore my room when I’m in there. I have another litter box that I put in an area she peed the first day but she keeps pooping an peeing in other places too. I always sweep up the poops and put them in the litter box and I spray the area she peed on with vinegar and put the paper towel in the litter box as well. I know it may take time for her to learn, but the people said she was very well trained and her area at the event was very clean. Also, she’s terrified of me and only lets me pet her if she’s in her cage and I reach in. If she’s hopping around and I put my hand out to sniff she  runs away to the corner and hides. She mostly just sits/lays in the corner of my room behind a chair. I tried picking her up and she freaked out and hopped away really fast. Basically I’m just wondering if I’m doing anything wrong, I really want her to trust me and let me at least pet her and have her hop up to me in my lap. Also, it’s kinda hard to get her in her cage. I try to coax her in with some food, she follows be for a few feet with it and then gets scared and darts back to the corner. I don’t want to scare her into her cage and make her not want to go in there, but I don’t know how to get her in. Any advice n all of this? How long does it usually take to have your bunny trust you and use their litter box?

[Bam]

I don’t think you are doing anything wrong, but in general, it’s better to let the bunny come to you and explore you without you trying to touch it. You can lie on the floor and let the bunny use you as a jungle-gym. Also see to it that you have some really appetizing treats around so you can reward every attempt att approaching you – it’s important that she associates you with good things. Like a craisin, a raisin, a small piece of banana etc.

Some bunnies need more time before they feel comfortable in a new space than other bunnies. 4 days is in my opinion virtually nothing =) You can make her a hidey-house of a cardboard box that you cut entrance and exit-holes in. Bunnies often like a place that has a roof and if she knows she has a hidey-house to run and hide in, she may feel braver and be more eager to explore.

With the litter-box training I think you are doing it by the book. She may be eager to apply her scent to everything in her new territory. She’s probably a bit stressed out now, since everything is new to her. Is she spayed?

[JackRabbit]

Her whole world has changed again and that’s pretty scary for a bun. Like bam said, sounds like she’s just making the room her own and figuring things out. You’re feeding her, cleaning up after her, and love her, but her instincts tell her that every time you reach toward her you might eat her! Again, like bam said, let her come to you. By being there but waiting for her to come to you, you’re showing her that you aren’t a threat. It may take a while, but she’ll get curious about you and come over to check you out! Just remember, no sudden moves, limited healthy hand-fed treats are great for bonding (hand-fed hay works too!), and let bonding happen at the bunny’s pace.

[bunnymamma23]

@bam @jackrabbit okay thank you guys! She’s starting to use her litter box a little more after I got her wood pellets instead of newspaper. She’s also becoming a bit more comfortable too. I will definitely start letting her come to me and checking me out so she isn’t afraid. Thanks for responding!

[Beka27]

Aw, thank you for rescuing her! Sounds like you are going to be able to give her a stable, loving home! She will come around as she gets used to you and her new home!

[haffy]

My bunny took about two weeks until he began trusting me to go near him and now I spend 80% of my days being constantly licked and cuddled against so don’t worry! They just need to get used to you and know that you’re not going to hurt them. And as for the litter training, just keep doing what you’re doing and you should be okay.

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