Rabbits afraid of me again?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 2 months ago by .

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- 09/07/2018 at 11:51 PM
  35 posts
  I feel as though I did something wrong… today when I was petting Rigel he hopped quickly away from me to give me the dreaded bunny butt. Normally Rigel likes to be pet, usually demanding it. I will put my hand in his and Edana’s habitat to get them more water and he will sniff my hand then press his head against it. If I don’t pet him or continue to reach for the wayer he will again sniff my hand then nudge it and will keep doing this process until I pet him. (Which I find odd since I had him and Edana for…3? 4? Months now and most people said their rabbits took much longer than this to demand petting, however I am estatic about that! About the petting demand I mean.) Edana is a little more skittish however I am still able to pet her. But today was different with her too. While I was petting her her eyes were larger than normal though she wasn’t panting. As soon as I stopped she ran and hid in her hidey.
  
  I keep telling myself that it was probably from the stress of today. It was cleaning day as well as for my older half-sister to visit. Cleaning usually stresses them out due to still being afraid of my step-father but it was probably more stressful due to my older half-sister trying to grab them and pet them (though she should know better since she has a rabbit herself, however she is trying to rehome him currently. I won’t go any deeper in to family drama.) then getting angry when they ran from her at top speed. She also clapped very loudly and yelled at them for fighting when all they did was face each other then shake their heads like they usually do to fluff up their fur.
  
  Due to everything today I feel like all my hard work and bonding with them is gone. I feel like I failed them. Are they afraid of me again? Did I do something wrong?
- 09/08/2018 at 8:03 AM
  Sofia
  Participant
  348 posts
  Going through kind of the same thing, they might be a bit freaked out by what happened, so give them a day or two to recover a bit. Give us updates
- 09/09/2018 at 4:55 PM
  35 posts
  Posted By I’m with Boo on 9/08/2018 8:03 AM
  
  Going through kind of the same thing, they might be a bit freaked out by what happened, so give them a day or two to recover a bit. Give us updates
  
  Sorry for no updates yesterday. We lost internet. They’re still running and hiding from me. They don’t even want to come out for playtime. They won’t even take their favorite treats from my hand anymore.
- 09/09/2018 at 8:05 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  Rejecting treats can be a serious health sign, as well as a sign of stress. Distrust can also be a cause. I will continue, assuming no health complications are causing this.
  
  Rabbits can be forgiving, but they need it to be at their pace. Give them time to feel secure in their environment again and I would continue trying to hand feed as passively as you can. Just be patient and caring, and they should realize it eventually.
  
  I would advise keeping stressful parties away from them because that presence can be very jarring for rabbits.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 09/10/2018 at 12:31 AM
  35 posts
  Posted By Wick on 9/09/2018 8:05 PM
  
  Rejecting treats can be a serious health sign, as well as a sign of stress. Distrust can also be a cause. I will continue, assuming no health complications are causing this.
  
  Rabbits can be forgiving, but they need it to be at their pace. Give them time to feel secure in their environment again and I would continue trying to hand feed as passively as you can. Just be patient and caring, and they should realize it eventually.
  
  I would advise keeping stressful parties away from them because that presence can be very jarring for rabbits.
  
  Thank you for the advice. I just tried to give them treats one more time before bed. They didn’t take it out of mu hand but did eat it out of their treat bowl as I held it then ran off in to their hidey’s again when they were done. Though it still makes me feel horrible it’s much better than nothing.
- 09/10/2018 at 7:24 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  When Wick goes through a ringworm episode (starts losing fur around mouth and if untreated, travels across his back), I need to use q tips to wet, soap, dry, and apply lotion and topical meds. It lasts probably 20min and he Hayes every moment of it. He’ll lunge at my hands and everything, but! He always forgives.
  
  The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 09/11/2018 at 8:12 PM
  35 posts
  Update! Rigel and Edana came out of their encloser while I was doing homework and Rigel binkied! He ran up to me. Sniffed me. Then binkied away. Edana looked at me so I addressed her as I usually do. “Your Highness.” She ran up to me then looked up at me again then fluffed up her fur as though she was caught being undisguised then laid down next to me.
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