Tips on grooming a skittish bun?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 8 months ago by FluffyBunny4455.

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- 08/03/2014 at 4:24 PM
  FluffyBunny4455
  Participant
  5 posts
  Hi all! I grew up with many rabbits and after many years without I finally got one yesterday. She is a ten week old English Angora and so far seems to be doing really well. It’s her first day and she is very active and curious. One thing has me worried though…
  
  When I had my previous English Angoras they were both very tame, loved being petted, didn’t mind being picked up… ect. I don’t remember a time when I had trouble catching or grooming them. But this little bunny is very timid of being touched or held. She will come up to me to sniff if I am sitting still but any attempt to touch her and she quickly moves away.
  
  I have had skittish rabbits before, but have always been able to give them a few weeks or months to adjust to me before handling them, but because she is an angora, she HAS to be groomed and thus she must be handled.
  
  I really would like to give her time to get use to me, but because of her breed it sadly is just not possible. The most I can go without grooming her is a week. Does anyone have tips or advice on how not to scare her too badly in these first few weeks of grooming?
- 08/03/2014 at 8:21 PM
  JackRabbit
  Participant
  5451 posts
  Brush her while she’s eating. Mine aren’t angoras, but both of my lops have tons of fur and they shed like crazy (especially Marlee). We brush them every night during salads. When they’re molting, they get oat hay or fresh willow after salads to buy us more brushing time. Kieko loves to sit in my husbands lap after play time and have him pet her head — with her, he pets and I brush.
- 08/04/2014 at 1:54 PM
  khrisangel
  Participant
  113 posts
  As far as clipping nails and such I make a bunny burrito(Wrapping in a soft blanket, like swaddling a baby). They are all snuggled up and never give me any grief. My bf holds bunny burrito and I take out one paw at a time. No fights or kicks
- 08/04/2014 at 1:54 PM
  khrisangel
  Participant
  113 posts
- 08/04/2014 at 4:35 PM
  FluffyBunny4455
  Participant
  5 posts
  Thanks so much for the tips guys! She’s slowly warming up to me, she let me stroke her head for a solid ten seconds this morning before running off. Haha! I figure I’ll give her a few more days before grooming. Thanks again!
- 08/05/2014 at 8:33 AM
  FergsMom
  Participant
  18 posts
  I have French Angoras and a satin/French hybrid, and help our breeder with grooming. Honestly, I find that just making them get used to it works best. Be gentle but firm and let them know that even if they do not like it, they must get used to it. I have yet to find one, kit or adult, that does not learn to love being groomed within a couple weeks.
  
  What I normally do is gently scruff them and quickly get them out of their cage and hold them firmly. Then sit them down on my lap with one hand covering their face and gently brush them. It usually takes only one or two sessions before they start looking forward to it. If the rabbit is older and used to veggies, giving them their veggies while grooming is a great idea as well.
  
  It’s to the point where my two free range buns will come running when they see me getting their brush out, and they both hated it before.
- 08/05/2014 at 3:43 PM
  FluffyBunny4455
  Participant
  5 posts
  That is so good to hear! I look forward to a time when she isn’t scared and can only hope she will enjoy it one day Knowing yours grew to love it really helps ease my worries.
  
  I did a really short easy grooming session today, just trimming up around her face (hair kept getting in her eyes and making them weep!) and managed to turn her over long enough to groom her bottom half. She was SO good, a little curious and unhappy with the flip but I held firm and she calmed down very quickly.
  
  I’m going to use attempt a blower tomorrow. The women I got her from said she has used a blower on her before but I’m going to take it really easy just in case.
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