Have you had him from a younger age? If so, was he more social then?  Also, what does he do in his cage – does he seem active there?
Can he get in and out the cage with ease?

You may have to treat him like a new bunny you’ve just brought home and are beginning to bond with.  This article (though long) has some tips toward the end to build the trust. http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/shybun.html

Sorry for all the questions – just trying to get better picture.  Lastly, is his hearing and vision good?  Just wondered if affected in either sense that could make him seek security of his cage.

Well most rabbits sleep most of the day and night and are active at certain parts of the day and it sounds like your bunny is active and playful in the morning.

My rabbits are much much older than yours but they are not active during the day or at night – usually in the morning and evening – we have a routine that we stick to for cleaning and feeding and they like the routine.

Hi DMB and welcome!

Maybe it’s just his routine. Mine are pretty laid back most of the time. I get up and get ready for work before they’re ready to get up so they basically ignore me feeding and talking to them. I come back home in the evening and they’re still sacked out until about dark.

On the weekends I’ll rotate opening the doors to one of the condos so they can come and go, but they still stick to their routine. They might wander out around 9 am but either go back in the condo for the day or find another spot to sack out all day. In the evenings they’ll get more active and come out.

One couple is very lazy, they wander out but don’t do too much. Another couple zooms out and explores the whole house each time and gets lots of exercise. My older girl used to be very active about coming out, but since she lost her mate she won’t come out on her own. I do get her out for petting and put her down in my bedroom with treats scattered around. This at least gets her moving to find them and her way back to the bunny room.

It does sound as if his cage is his castle. What about if you sit in the bunny room while he’s in the cage – does he then come out after a while? I wonder if doing some training with him might help. Clicker training, teaching him some simple tricks and using some treat rewards. It’s a way to build his confidence, socialise and is bonding time for you both.

*gasp* Is he ever adorable! I can see why you want him to come out and play. I’d be begging him too!

I have a somewhat shy bun.  He skitters off when I lean down to pet him.  I’ve had him 6 months and he is improving but I have to pick the times he allows me to sit and pet him or just interact.  He has picked up the routine that my doe had already established and they both come running now to a whistle that signals treats or meal time.  I can see he is becoming more playful -between them and outdoors but not so with me.

Maybe try establish some games in the morning when he is most active.  After time, he may come out to play them on a cue such as rattling the treat jar or a call you have especially for playtime.

 My other thought is perhaps he’d like a bunny companion….if that fits your lifestyle.

He is cute! I think Jersey has some great ideas – give those a try and see how he responds.

Oh he is adorable! Welcome to BB!!
Jersey has some great ideas I have 2 female holland lops and one is like your little guy. She is shy and scares easily. The other sister is the total opposite. I like the clicker training idea, I might have to try that too!

What is his name?

That is the cutest little bunny! I’m such a sucker for the holland lop faces 🙂

Jersey had some fantastic ideas and I really like the clicker training one. My bun has learned one trick so far, but the important thing is that he really enjoys it. As soon as I kneel down on the floor (especially if I’m holding the clicker) he comes running! Sometimes he hops away when he realizes I just want to pet him 😉 but I love that I have a way to get him excited and moving a little bit and coming to me. He’s also a bit of a shy and aloof bunny and fairly independent, so it gives him a lot of confidence with people interactions. http://www.clickerbunny.com is a great website for learning to clicker train.

Oh what an adorabun! I would like to steal him and make him the 3rd of a trio…Muahaha. Sorry couldn’t resist. I would just be patient. Chubs has days sometimes when he’s fairly antisocial but he always comes back to being his normal self. Have you made any big changes recently? The training thing is a good idea too. I haven’t got a clicker but I have trained Chubs to come when I call him. He thinks he may get a craisin out of it, which he does sometimes. But yep, it can be fun! Good luck!

He is adorableee!

Good luck with getting him to be a bit more sociable! Everyone here has had some great ideas. I do think if you find a bun that he likes that’s a bit more sociable he’d learn from his new buddy and come out to be with you guys some more, but don’t feel that you have to get a second bunny if your situation really doesn’t permit it. It would be better to have one rabbit and to try to work through his issues with some of the other tips than to have two that you can’t properly care for. That being said if you do want to get a second, check out all the articles on this site about bonding and the bonding journals of some of the other members before so you know what you’re getting into.

Some bunnies are more cautions, and explore their new territory in ever-widening circles. They may go back and forth to their cage as they explore farther a field each time they venture out. I would let him discover the rest of the house at his own pace.
Bunnies are curious by nature, so if snooping around you in another room becomes more interesting, he’ll venture over but feel safe and brave as he does it. Just give him time.

Some bunnies are good with stairs, others not so much. Depends ont he bunny. Maybe introduce him and the stairs and if he’s not sure about them, wait til he’s more comfortable with the rest of the house first.

Freya gets up the stairs just fine but has never tried to go down them. Not that she gets much opportunity since the cat is scared to death of her. My husband insists that his cat isn’t afraid of anything, but a cat that hides behind furniture and hisses and runs away looks like a scared cat to me. I keep that cat out of Freya territory so it’s only fair to keep Freya out of cat territory. (I personally think it’s hilarious that his cat is scared of a bunny, especially since Freya is super curious about him and tries to chase him.)

After Freya got her condo she was super skittish and wouldn’t come out. We got a more structured time and when we just opened her door and left it open for an hour every day she eventually learned that if she wanted out she’d have to do it on our terms. She’ll usually pop right out now when we open her door, and if she doesn’t she can nearly always be blackmailed with raisins. I’ve noticed though that some days she’ll come out and run around and binky forever and some days she’ll come out, do a quick patrol and go back and lay in her condo. Whatever makes her happy I guess.

hehe! Don’t we all need a little push to come out of our comfort zones! This is good to hear. Does the flooring change from the bunny room to hallway / or living room to hallway? Does he need a rug to link the areas to make him brave enough to cross. Or a tunnel linking the areas?

Some bunnies don’t deal well with non carpeted areas.  I think some also have issues with changes in colour.  I once had a lost rabbit in my home for 3 days and it wouldn’t go onto the dark floor boards but was ok once I put newspaper over them.  He had low vision I think.

Mine own two do well on non-carpeted areas…but last night something freaked them and both came skittering thru 3 rooms sliding on vinyl.  It was loud!  Both took of in opposite directions of the house and started thumping.

Jerseygirl – yes, most of our house is carpeted. Having seen Mr. Peepers run from carpet to pergo, though, is a good advertisement for why rear-wheel drive is not good in the snow.

LMAO !! Good point hehehe

He is adorable!! So glad he’s come round and becoming more social