My Blossom gets grotty bot on occasion (not so much now) which means there are times when she must go on her back so I can trim the tricky bits post butt bath… Generally I scoop them up so they are supported over my arm and then I tuck them in close to my body, they do feel more secure if they are upright and would be less prone to struggling in panic…
It should also be noted that a fat happy baby bunny will sleep on their backs with their feet in the air after a good feed if they feel secure.. Blossom still does it on occasion and she is over a year old.

I think if they are “forced” it stresses them. I agree with the vet regarding maintenance, it should be ok. Done probably it won’t hurt them physically.
When Ziggy sleeps on his loveseat (yes it’s his now) he usually sleeps on his back. But jumps up when he hears me take out the camera. So in short, I think it should be ok for nail trimming etc.
As for your avatar I personally don’t see a problem with it. All rabbits are different and I’m sure there’s a few out there that like to be held. I wouldn’t assume anything based on one pic someone has. I have a pic of Ziggy where it looks like I’m squishing him into the couch, but he put himself in that position. lol

One of my bunnies happily sleeps on his back when he’s chilled out. I think it depends on the rabbit, and you will be able to know if your rabbit is feeling distressed. I don’t think you need to worry about it really

Most people feel that putting bunnies on their back to “trance” them is cruel because the bunny goes into a trance as a fear response. This is what they would do if they were caught by a predator. So it’s definitely not a good thing to put your bunny through that emotionally. Most bunnies will trance if you put them on their back. Babies tend to not mind being snuggled on their backs as much. I feel there is danger in holding a bunny on their back because, if they struggle, they could hurt their back.

None of mine really care, except Moose, so we never put him on his back. The other 3 though, when they are on their back, it’s with their heads angled up so they aren’t tranced, and they just wait til nail trims are over, then roll over and get noms. If your bunny DOES get scared, I wouldn’t suggest it, but if they are comfortable with it, I don’t think it’s much of an issue.

When bunnies “trance” it’s because you triggered an instinct that tells them to go totally limp and docile and pretend to be dead when a predator catches them, since sometimes that will cause a predator to release them. Some people trance their rabbits for maintenance, though I personally wouldn’t do that. And not all bunnies will trance, so whether or not it’s something your bun reacts to is up to the bunny. The “instant sleep” or “instant doesn’t move and lets me do whatever to them” is trancing.

Honestly if your bunny is comfortable on his back, I feel there is no issue. I know mine don’t like it so I only use it as necessary restraint -i.e. if I need to get in and do anything. But I did meet a rabbit once who absolutely loved to be on her back-now it’s not completely on her back, it was snuggled in the crook of my arm, and she would maneuver into this position and would make no effort to come out of it. She purred and loved being pet-she wasn’t ‘tranced’ she was snuggling. I imagine they are few and far between because that was the only rabbit I met like that, but certainly I’ve seen it.
She’s your rabbit, so you know if she likes it or not, so go with your gut

Totally!

I know that rabbits in general do not like being picked up or held, it’s a prey thing. However this makes vet exams and maintenance( Nail trims etc) a nightmare. My vet has recounted how upsetting it is to restrain and treat rabbits -who really have it great otherwise, in rabbit terms, they have free range and never get picked up. How nice! But seriously it makes vet stuff and maintenance stuff a nightmare.

Now I don’t pluck mine and cuddle on the couch for hours, but I handle them and they are super used to it, and my vet and her staff have always complimented on how well they behave and how they can tell they are used to handling. This was reaffirmed when we had to see a specialist -a different vet. All the staff gushed over how well behaved he was and nice to handle. What a compliment!

But it’s not about making it easy for the vet-it’s much less stressful for rabbits who are used to being handled to go to the vet, a pet sitter, get nail trims etc. So definitely I’d say start handling her again Go slow, for short periods of time and reward her with out time or veggies or treats after being handled.

Mine aren’t picked up a lot, but are well behaved when they need to be – actually AS LONG as I don’t handle them a lot they are well behaved when they need to be. If I have to handle them often, they start acting out all the time (such as when medicating them) so each rabbit is different. Some will be better with frequent handling (getting them used to it) and some will rebel and lash out over it. It’s always best to go with what works for the individual.

And yes, Henry is adorable in that pic.

I got little Monkey used to being handled by picking her up every day. She used to be little miss No Touchy, but now… I can almost manhandle her however I want Not that I manhandle her, but wow its so much easier to do nail trims and such when she doesn’t think I’m going to eat her. They do get used to it, if thats the routine.

My bun doesn’t really mind being on his back, he even eats upside down in my arms from time to time

This forum made me realize that I should get Ziggy use to being handled for maintenance purposes. I’ve started to pick him up once or twice a day for less than a minute each time. It’s been a week now and I can actually pick him up with no struggling to get down or get away. I’ve been reinforcing this with kisses on his forehead and a craisin. So far so good!! My secret wish is that after he’s neutered he’ll want to actually cuddle, but I’m not holding my breath.

Trick to getting bunny cuddles from a non-cuddly bunny: Hold a bag of craisins above your lap and teach them that laying down and letting you pet them there will get them a craisin, not digging at your hand trying to get the bag.

I don’t know why they are such a hit, but Ziggy will move so fast when he sees I have a craisin for him. lol! He’ll even lick my fingers to get every last taste of them. Sometimes I will chop a couple up into really small pieces are sprinkle them in his hay.

I still don’t know what a craisin is?! Is it an American thing?

Craisins are dehydrated cranberries. They look like raisins but are more red.

I’m not sure how popular they are outside of Canada/USA, but they are usually in the same section as raisins or you can try a healthfood store.

Ohh. IS there a reason everyone seems to use them as a treat instead of raisins? I mean I know both should be given in small quantities as they’re so high in sugar, but do bunnies prefer cranberries or something?

My herd go beserk for them, all except Piglet… They literally throw themselves at me. It one way I am guaranteed to get them into the bungalow when I leave for work.

For humans at least, raisins are better. They have less sugar (most craisins have added sugar). I think that’s they rabbits go crazy for them, the added sugar. Also why you can only give them a very small amount. I only give Ziggy 1 a day. 2 if he’s being extra good.
Side note, raisins also have potassium which craisins do not.

With craisins vs raisins, I find that it’s like most foods with bunnies – they just prefer one over the other, depending on the bunny. Sammy likes raisins, didn’t care much for craisins, and goes bananas for bananas. They have definite tastes, so if you find your bunny doesn’t seem to like one, try the other. They can also change their minds about favorite foods from time to time.

Re the on the back topic: first, don’t worry about your avatar. It is fine.
As for putting a bunny on their back, I agree with K&K regarding holding a bit more upright so the bunny isn’t ‘tranced”. The most important thing, and the reason it is discouraged, is that they can hurt themselves very, very easily when the twist to get out of it, or if they fall, or both. A person will instinctively grab for a bunny that’s struggling to get out of a hold, when the safe thing to do is to get as close to the ground as soon as possible, and let the bunny go so they can gently get out of the back position and not have far to go to land on their feet. They can’t fall from a height like cats – about as high off the ground as your knees is plenty high (chair or couch height is about the same). The twisting/flipping they do is the most potentially harmful. And you won’t want to let go of a squirming bunny, but you must to prevent that kind of harm. That said, it is just never worth putting the average bunny through it. Most bunnies will not tolerate being on their backs for long, and won’t enjoy it.

I also had a rare bunny, Spockie, who allowed me to do a cradle position almost daily, but it was more for seconds. He would turn over himself, then find a position fully supported on my chest looking over my shoulder, with my hands and arms around and under his middle and butt. But I did that long before I ever found binkybunny.com, and might not have tried it. So when I got Sammykins, and found out that she HATED just being picked up, I’ve never done it again. It was such drastically different temperaments from one bunny to the next that it takes subtle attention to your own bunny’s nature to know if it’s even remotely OK. So, better safe than sorry. Since your bunny already tolerates it, you can worry less, but I’d advise you to let it go.

Craisins vs raisins .. my buns just go nuts for craisins like no other food. They will do anything for one. And you can get craisins without sugar if you look carefully. I don’t know why so many buns like them.