omg, I bet that did scare the daylights out of you.

Have you ever tried a towel? 3 of mine can be picked up and transported, they wiggle and fuss, but not to the extreme. The biggest (Pringles) and the smallest (Simba) are practically impossible to control.

I have a large soft bathtowel that I drop over them and scoop them up in my arms, both to get them out of the condo and put them back if I need to. They might eventually get their head out, but I can usually hold the towel tight enough so that they don’t wiggle out.

They’ve gotten so used to it that when they see me coming, they sit still with a disgusted look on their face like they know the jig’s up. If they find THAT towel on the floor, it’s in for a massive pee’ing!

Sometimes you can carry them with a hand over their eyes. That way they feel if they can’t see you, you can’t see them so they’re safe.

I’ve found with big ol’ Pringles that if when I scoop, I wind up with all four corners in one hand and her kinda resting in my other arm, sounds like the stork carrying the bundle. When she gets rambuncious(sp) I can lift the corners a bit higher and she really can’t get a firm stance, more like in a sling and she quiets right down.

Every bun’s different, she’s such a stronghead diva this is easiest on both of us. Without the towel I swear half of her hair comes out, like she’s shedding it to make herself slippery or something.

Anyway, glad your bun wasn’t hurt and I’m sure you two will find a compromise somewhere.

Whoa that would have scared me too!  I’m always so worried about their backs because I keep reading over and over again how fragile they are!!! Can you coax him with a treat so he hops over to the night cage? When I used to confine Edson I never had a problem with getting him in because he was so easy to lure in with a treat.

Mine is also about 5lbs. I usually carry her cradled in my arms head toward the elbow and give her head pets as I go. My vet showed me on my first visit how they usually carry them – cradled same way but tucking their heads just under the elbow so they can’t see. This is usually pretty effective. I’ve also read bunnies feel more secure if all feet are contacting something – i.e. holding upright against the chest, but I find Jersey will scoot up over my shoulder so this doesn’t work for me!

You could try getting him used to carrying by picking him up while you are kneeling, hold for a bit then put him down – then do it again. He may get used to the sensation more and if he escapes, it’s not so far down to go!

I once had Jersey take a flying leap from my arms . I made the mistake of trying to stop her mid flight and she kinda went up higher -ughhh! She crashed into a bit of wood and scraped the fur off her nose (or bony part between nose and eyes). I thought she’d have a permanent scar but the fur did eventually grow back. I tell you though, I know how you felt!! I felt so guilty and so worried. Hope you’re feeling better about the whole thing!

I used to have this problem with my guinea pig, and my bunny is only okay with the whole going-back-cage ordeal. Animals can be like babies sometimes, and if you hesitate with something they don’t want, they’ll only try harder to make matters difficult. I use the towel technique, but also the band-aid technique: quick! One problem might be that you’re giving Mimzy too much time to stress about going back in his pen. You say “at first he was fine, but at the last minute…”– what about not allowing for any at first/last minute. I try to go as fast as I can, so they can hardly fight, hardly understand what’s happening. And if they get stressed out, calming them down is good, but not necessarily wise– it means they win: less time in cage, and attention from mommy/daddy. Going back in pen/cage isn’t fun for anyone– we don’t like putting them to bed anymore than they like it. But it has to be done– so make it snappy. That’s my best suggestion (and the towel.) I wrap them up in the towel, and press the ends to the cage door so they kind of enter themselves by wiggling out of the blanket. That way I’m not necessarily forcing them, they just don’t have any other option… Hope that helps. Remember: speed!

It sounds like the advice to use a towel and speed is a good combo. The towel blocks his vision, you can get a firm grip on it even if not on him immediately (and you know how easy it is to get a hand under a grocery bag – just make it automatic) and whoosh he’s down again. Probably a medium sized thinner towel, rather than fluffy, will allow an easier grip plus he can mess it up all he wants.

Now is the time to get a new method. I was going to suggest a carrier but you mentioned it. However, if you can get him to learn that in the carrier every night there’s a treat waiting, like a papaya tablet, it may make it worth it. Any chance of him walking in on his own? Does it have to open on top only? You could try training him to go to bed for his nightly treat. He’s young enough to learn a new routine.

And boy, do I know how you feel. Last year when Spockie was losing his mobility but still climbing his ramp to his platform I hadn’t made any drastic changes yet. Well, he took a tumble down the ramp while trying to walk down it and fell into the side of his cage. It looked awful! He was OK, but I still get teary just picturing it. I watched helplessly. I changed his set up right after. Oh, it’s the worst feeling to see them fall or fly. They know it too and the parade of treats starts next. Makes you both feel better really.