I think you may be out of luck on that one. Lizzy Diva Bunny HATES being picked up. I tried every way of picking her up that I could come up with, and knew she would never actually enjoy it, but figured I could get her to tolerate it…but after 5 weeks I gave up. My boyfriend’s families rabbits also don’t like being picked up, but they don’t hold it against you, either. Lizzy WILL NOT TALK TO ME if I pick her up. And since I’ve stopped, she is a lot friendlier and less aggressive. This does mean I had to bunny-proof more of the house and give her ways to get in and out of her pen, etc… Most rabbits hate being picked up, is my understanding. Some rabbits (like Lizzy) will NOT tolerate it. Willow may be one of those.

I thought you were talking about taking the legs off your hutch so she could get in and out on her own? What happened to that idea? Or build a ramp (my hutch came with a door that opened as a ramp). Just make sure to cover the ramp with carpet or something she can get some traction on so she doesn’t slide all the way down.

How is the baby-search? Probably you want to get Willow to a vet to deal with the pregnancy-scare as your first priority…maybe she doesn’t want to be picked up because she’s pregnant and it’s uncomfortable for her!

Keep trying…no rabbits like to be picked up but even the worst ones can tolerate it; Chuck was really sketchy, he’d lie still and then try to launch himself out of your arms, and really struggle when you put him down; We’re still working on but he’s already calmer being held and put down. Kokanee was a terror who would not tolerate being held for two seconds and in the end would climb on me for cuddles.

What it takes is
Consistency-> Always pick them up, hold them, and put them down properly and safely-if you have to end up bleeding and broken so your rabbit has a proper landing so be it-they need to know you aren’t going to fumble them!

Practice-> Do it every day-small cuddles but pick them up, hold them, and put them down every day

Patience-> Keep at it, don’t give up and you’ll soon see small changes-and then big ones!

Good luck!

i see. i responded to your other thread before this one so i didn’t understand what you were referring to.

i said in the other thread to get a small cardboard box and corner her with it in the hutch and then scoop her up and close the flaps.

you can work on handling later on, for now she needs to be inside where she will be safe and not in the elements. as she sees you caring for her inside, she will hopefully start to come around. right now she does not know you b/c she is outside and you have only had her two days. i am sure she wasn’t handled a lot before either.

until then, wear longs pants and/or a long-sleeve shirt when cleaning up her area.

Meadow kicks too when she is held for longer than she wants. this is normal bunny behavior.

Yes Pepper and Dylan also do this as they hate being handled. As soon as I’m lifting them they kick and usually manage to launch themselves out of my hands. I hope things will get better with practice.

Rabbits as a general rule don’t like to be held. They especially don’t like to be picked up and carried, they instinctually associate it with being eaten. If you need to get Willow inside you can try putting her in a carrier or wrapping her in a towel. Trying to hold her while walking can result in injury or escape, and you don’t want that.

If the bun is a kicker, when you scoop them up with your hand on their backside for support, you can squeeze their feet & backside just a little more securely. Sometimes a bun doesn’t like it because they don’t feel safe.

Maryann is a big ‘no picker uper’ herself so I had to adopt the ‘scruff & scoop’ method where I lift her by the scruff AND by the butt at the same time before immediately putting her to my chest. Many people disapprove of this method but I have seen professional bunny handlers lose her to a 4 foot nose dive onto tile floor because she doesn’t feel safe.

My buns are two different types of picking upers. Dono only likes it if I hold him in the crook of my arm. Maryann only likes it if I hold her against my chest with her head towards mine. If I try the reverse, there’s digging and squirming like crazy

This video shows a ‘football pickup’ that might work better for you. It is the second pickup style. I wouldn’t suggest the first one myself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQDiKmb-LSE