With rabbits you just have to take your time and be patient. Baby bunnies though are just normally going to be more curious – you do need to confine her for awhile and really rabbit proof – rabbits this small can get anywhere and most of the time getting them out of the unwanted place is stressful for owner and bunny.

I think at her age, you should just keep her confined for a bit until she grows up some. Bonding just takes time and will probably happen later after she gets comfortable in her surroundings. Keeping a routine is also important….rabbits like routine and are not comfortable with change.

And one night of stress is not going to strain a relationship – don’t worry.

For the first few weeks of getting to know my bun, I blocked off an entry way where there was no place to hide and slowly expanded it to more space. I provided toys a litter box and and table he could run under to feel more safe if necessary. It was a small area, so he had no choice but to get to know me! I just sat in the area and let him run around and explore until he felt I was safe enough to get closer to. I hand fed treats such as carrot and bunny approved lettuces. If you can make your small area where the cage is, it might be easier to lure her back into her cage with a treat.

Welcome! I was in your situation numerous times having raised bunjamin from being a baby and thinking I was suppose to let him out but when I did he’d get into impossible places and I’d have to chase but not really chase him to get him back in and all that mess. Then I started letting him have short amount of out time in my walk-in closet (bathroom sized) and I kept it shorter times. It was really hard to rally him back up though when he was a baby. I think it’s hard for babies to trust us and bond. But eventually he did calm down and let me pet him and we bonded but it takes time and A LOT of patience. And don’t worry about him being mad at this one event, if you continue to treat him right, he’ll forgive your mistakes

Also, when he gets a little more trusting where you can get him back with a treat, try the sit of the floor and ignore him method. Eventually he’ll come explore you and that’s a good bonding exercise- him seeing you on the floor but you not trying to pick him up or pet him. Maybe even give him a treat when he does come to see you.

Don’t worry, she will get over the “trauma” after awhile. I agree with the others. Let her become comfortable with you before letting her out. When you do start letting her out, keep the space small. Let her come to you. She is probably just overwhelmed right now, but she will eventually warm up to you.

I am working with bonding with my foster bun (really who am i kidding everyone says she will be my fourth!) anyway she is about 8 – 10 week so I just get her on the couch with me, lie back and put her on my chest, i find them hearing your heart beat helps, and then just give her pats. once she gets comfortable she starts to explore my body and last night tucked herself up near my shoulders and went to sleep. This way there is no chasing and she knows that I am a safe place. I did this with Bugz and Anya and they both hate me and are happy to only see me when it is feeding time but if they are out and they get scared (like Bugz did the other day in the garden) they come flying to me and try and climb my leg! This way i know if they freak out they always come find me which is funny and cute.

How tall are those. Some of them aren’t tall enough for those little spiderbuns.

Definitely set up her cage so she can get in and out on her own! Most rabbits hate to be picked up more than anything, so she’ll trust you much more if she can come and go as she pleases. I like to feed dinner at the time I want them back in the cage, so they go back on their own with no chasing.

I do think she definitely needs some out of cage time! My buns have a plastic pet store type cage attached to an exercise pen. It’s really too small as their only exercise space, but it works fantastically as a cage. I’d get a 36″ tall pen meant for dogs – don’t bother with the ones meant for small pets as rabbits can often jump out. The dog ones are sturdy and will last forever. They’re also great if you need to travel with her because they can fold flat in your trunk.

For her exercise time, I’d block off an area of a room or even a whole room if you can bunny proof it well. Mine have always lived in the dining room (in multiple houses) and I find that it’s a nice area without much to get into (no wires, minimal furniture, etc). Something like that or a spare bedroom would be nice. Just don’t suddenly let her have a huge un-bunny proofed area to run around, but a small safe area would be great. Just sit there with her and read a book or something and she’ll come up and check you out and you can offer treats.

Hi welcome The best way to get a rabbit used to you is to ignore them and let them see that you’re okay. After that let everything be on her terms.

I’m excited to hear there were no panic attacks the second time around! I also thought my bunny would want to sit by me a little more than he does, but we have found lots of little games to play. It took me quite a few months to figure out exactly what he liked to do, again practicing more patience. I have lots of toilet paper tubes he likes to pull out of my hand and pile up, a phone book he likes to tear and dig at when I hold a page up, he comes when I call him and lays down next to me to be petted and sometimes we play hide and seek but I always have to be the one hiding! We pretty much have a routine now of when he gets out to play, when he wants his pets and when he gets his greens, he knows it and will let me know if I’m late. I think learning how your bun communicates with you is one of the most interesting parts of being a bun mom! Good luck getting to know Punky!

Sounds like you’re off to a good start. I wouldn’t worry just yet, I’m sure your bunny will come to love you in her own way. Each bunny is different. Mine will come up on the couch with me to check stuff out, but they will scurry off just as quickly as they came. Some bunnies do like to sit with their owners though and that might even be something that comes with age. As far as games to play, you can try handing her things to toss. I like to use sticks or toilet paper tubes. You could also try some interactive toys. Mine like their teach n treat and will “ask” me to put it together for them.

I kept my lop in a cage the first few days, I sat in front of the cage for hours talking to him and would come into the room multiple times and talk and trying to offer him basil and other veggies ( since he never had greens before I was trying to tempt him ) but he wouldn’t take them, but on the 3rd day he took the kale from me! Then the next day i blocked off the kitchen and made sure there was nothing for him to hide behind and opened the cage to let him out, I don’t think he came out until the 4th or 5th day, he was confined to the kitchen for about a month.

Almost a year later and he is my sweetie and loves attention and pets, still wont let me pick him up though but oh well lol