At this point you need to give her a few weeks to get used to her surroundings. She most importantly needs to feel safe and secure.

Also rabbits hate to be held, it scares them. If you want to properly love her, get down on the floor with her and allow her to come to you when she is ready and then you can pet her.

I agree, most rabbits, (though there are exceptions) do not like to be held. You should get her to trust you first by hanging out with her on the floor.

Some will tolerate it better than others which helps with nail clipping, vet visits etc.    Jack hates to be picked up and held. He will bite, but he does tolerate it better as I do have to pick him up twice a week now to give him fluids for a health issue, and Vivian is okay once I hold her, but she prefers to be on the ground.

As Sarita said, she needs time to feel safe.   Later, you can practice picking her up so you also can get used to it and become confident as bunnies can get loose easily and fly out of your hands and injure themselves. I also suggest offering a treat right after or during so it’s not ALL bad.      You may find that she won’t even tolerate it well even with practice and if she ends up just fearing you, then you can join the other bunny slaves of just having to do your best during nail trims, and all other times, it’s “all four on the floor”. 

Nudging is fine. Some of us call it herding, as you can sometimes move to block a direction so she is forced to go another way.

I understand your concern, and I have had two dramatically different experiences so can attest to the fact that it is bunny’s personal preference about being held. My first one, Spockie, was in my arms daily and I could hold him in different positions and walk around with him. Spoiled by him, I had no idea that all rabbits weren’t like that. Until Samantha refused to let me pick her up. Ever. I can count on one hand how many times I have done it. She’s going on 2 years old. She isn’t changing. You and your bunny will find your mutual comfort zone after you get closer.

My rabbit will let me pick him up 95% of the time without any fuss, and even doesn’t struggle if I have to pick him up “improperly” (i.e. the little bugger got in a spot that he can’t get out of and I can only reach in one hand to grab him, though interestingly he seems to know the difference/ I’m helping and would protest if I’m not careful to pick him up butt first for any other reason). BUT. If anyone else tries it, he will absolutely let it be known, “no thank you”. And he still occasionally throws a fit with me, especially if it is for something unsavory like nail trims. So I guess they’re smart enough that it’s not a cut and dry like or dislike.

As for nudging… If I’m in a real hurry I pick him up and set him just outside the cage door. If he still doesn’t go in on his own, I put both hands behind his bum, not “pushing” him in exactly but he gets the idea. I try not to let my hands cross that threshold unless I come bearing food, otherwise he’ll get sassy and shove my hands away. I think he’s just your typical boy – not that hard to get him to do something, you just have to let him think it’s his idea.

Oh, no, if she doesn’t mind you can reach in for pets as long as she likes it. They let you know if they don’t want you in their space. It’s kind of like knocking before entering a room. You just want them to know you respect their space.

Sammy won’t let me pick her up. She just asks for the car keys and says she’ll pick ME up after work. Then goes shopping.

In my experience rabbits are more docile, loving and open to attention once bonded with another bunny. It probably has to do with feeling safer, and if one bunny isn’t alarmed and thumping then the other seems to calm down. If you do decide to try bonding contact your local rabbit shelter and check out their adoptable bunnies, they can probably help you bond your rabbit and if your current bunny isn’t neutered or spayed they can assist in recommending a place to do that before bonding.

I volunteer at a CT shelter (www.hopalonghollow.org) and when our shelter gets full (which is about 99% of the time) we offer free bondings, which involves both bunnies going to one of our bonding experts house and spending 2-3 days with that person (they live in a carrier for a few days, go on car trips, get to play around in fenced off areas, etc.) presenting them with adversity in a neutral territory usually solidifies a bond.

Anyway, other than that the only other thing I have seen where a bunny has changed their preference from not being held to being held is occasionally a male after being neutered will calm down a ton and enjoy a cuddle. That’s pretty rare though.