RE: settling a new rabbit that keeps thumping

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RE: settling a new rabbit that keeps thumping

01/27/2017 at 10:24 AM

vanessa

Participant

2212 posts

The poor little dear! She is thumping/squealing/sprinting coz she is aggravated, stressed, and scared.I would not pick her up just yet. Let her get used to her new surroundings. Put her in a safe bunny proofed area, don’t try to hold her or pet her. Just sit near her and offer her yummy veggies. Bribe her. If you try to pick her up and pet her – she will feel threatened and terrified. Once she is used to your presence, and associates you with good things like food and yummy veggies, she will start to approach you. That is when you can pet her wile she is nibbling on a veggie. No rabbit likes to be picked up or cuddled. Keep her off your bed for the moment. Just let her calm down and get used to her new living space, and your presence. Rabbits aren’t sociable with us like dogs are. She will need time to trust you. You need to earn her trust and affection. Go slow. It might take a while – months maybe. Sometimes only a few weeks.
Once your bunny is bonded with you, you will be able to have more interaction. They still don’t like to be picked up – even after bonded. But you will be able to enjoy her running up to you for petting, begging for food, and she will be much calmer around you. Once she is comfortable with you, she’ll start ot act like a normal happy binkying bunny, which is a joy to watch.
Please keep writing and let us know how it is going!