I think the old towel (or an old tshirt) could be a good idea. I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard it can work.

Otto was also very timid as a baby – I’m not sure I have any advice other than to spend time with him and he’ll come around. He’ll probably never be a super bold bunny, but he’ll definitely come out of his shell and become comfortable with you over time.

Oops, double post

Old towel/t shirt idea is good.

I think the main things will be time and patience. Just sit (maybe read a book) on the floor and wait for him to start saying hello on his terms – and don’t try to touch him when he does! Keep talking to him quietly too.

Towel/shirt advice, I second

I got Chacha as a baby too! She was 8 weeks old and frightened of me. Just ‘ignore her’ do your own thing and he will become curious of that human that is taking care of him

Babies are very shy but I’m sure he’ll come out of his shell!! It is a big growth in personality from baby to adult

he’ll warm up to you as he gets used to having a new home

Olivia was the same way. I suspect she was abused (or at least neglected) and was very nervous and shy and I would sit on the floor for about an hour with her every night just reading or watching tv. It took quite a while but she would eventually start spending more and more time around me, wondering what I was doing, nibbling on the book, nudging me, etc. Eventually she started climbing all over me and coming up and flattening down so I would pet her nose. You have to let him decide to come to you.

4 days is not a long time at all. If you were saying the same thing in say, 3 weeks, you might need some suggestions. All is perfectly normal at this time.

I want to caution you about the art supplies. Many are toxic, even if not for us. Nibbling on pencils, even pastel dust, is a very bad idea for a bunny, and you want to keep them stored completely closed and out of reach. I had worked on pastels in my bedroom years ago when I had a cat, and he developed kidney failure, which I suspected was added to by the pastel dust he inhaled daily. Or if he tasted some of them. A friend’s father was a professional illustrator who developed lung cancer that they traced to his career using pastels. Newer products are just recently becoming mindful of the harm and changing what is used in products, but basically, you don’t want to take a chomp off of one of your lead pencils or a smudge stick, and neither should bunny.

Otherwise, sitting on the floor and sketching while ignoring him is a great way to be active, in the same room, and allowing him to come over in his own time to explore you. He will be curious. Keep a tasty bunny treat or two in your pocket or hand, so when he sniffs you he gets a happy surprise.

Posted By RabbitPam on 02/01/2011 04:49 AM
 Keep a tasty bunny treat or two in your pocket or hand, so when he sniffs you he gets a happy surprise.

Very good point. I found it a good idea to have raisins about my person when making friends with my bunnies.

banjo was pretty skittish at first when i got her, too. she still is, sometimes, she can be a moody one. so i had the same problems, her not wanting to be petted, running away from me, etc. i have a cage for her during the day and when i first got her she actually seemed more comfortable in the cage than when she was running around free (which made sense as the apartment was probably very unfamiliar to her and she couldn’t know there wasn’t a predator about!) so i took to petting her or feeding her by hand in her cage sometimes, which she seemed to be more comfortable with than being fed snacks or petted when she was running free.

now she’s much more comfortable but she still confuses me sometimes, like when she tugs on me seeming to want attention but then bounds away when i pet her. i think she’s usually hoping i’ll have a snack.