Bunny fights to go back in cage

[Izabella]

My Bunny Izabella is about 10 weeks old, and she is pretty good about being picked up, unless she thinks you are going to put her back in her cage.  Then she fights, kicks and throws her body in every direction she can to get lose.  It is very difficult to hold her firm without her trying to claw you.  She is a very affectioned bunny, will jump up on your lap for back rubs.  As long as she does not think you are going to put her back in her cage.  Last night, she jump out of my arms as I was putting her in her cage and she hit her head on her cage pretty hard.  I was so worried for the rest of the night and greatly relieved to see she was acting perfectly normally last night and this morning.  Any idea’s how I can calm her down? I try to give her treats and hay when I put her  back into her cage, so its a good thing.  But over the past 2 days she has gotten worse. 

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Izabella’s Mommie!

 

[Harmonee]

How big is the cage? What kind of cage is it? If it’s like a pen then maybe you can get in with her, and then put her down. That will probably calm her down a little. If not, then I would suggest you keep giving her small treats and hay, and then staying by the cage for a couple of minutes after you put her in. She’s very young, and most young bunnies behave like that. I don’t know if this will help at all, since I just got my first rabbit and she’s pretty calm ( she’s a year old ). I’m just going by what I’ve read, seen in videos, and the info that I’ve gotten from vets and shelter staff. Hopefully someone else that has more info or dealt with a similar problem can offer some more help.

By the way, I noticed it was your first post. Welcome!

[Monkeybun]

First, welcome to BB

Second… most bunnies hate being picked up, especially if it means play time is over :p You might start just giving her treats in the cage when play time is over, so she learns that if she goes home, she gets nommies. You can also start training her to recognise commands. Like, for instance, say “Home” every time you put her in her cage. That way, she will associate the word with her cage, so later on as she gets older, when you say it she may just run to the cage for her treat

[Deleted User]

Rabbits are smart. Right now, your rabbit associates being picked up with having to go back into lock-up, at least sometimes. I would use treats to make her voluntarily hop into her cage.

[Deleted User]

Also… welcome to BB! We’d love to see a photo of your rabbit!

[Izabella]

Izabella is getting better some days, and other days like last night she sank her claws into my chest and I look I went rounds with a rake and lost! My husband wants to have her declawed! I just think she needs more time. Sometimes I transport her in her litterpan, and she does well in that. I get her out at least 2 x’s a day for her to run, and play and sometimes she wants crawl around on us and be petted in her bed. Other times she chews up boxes and runs around. But I am working on the “home” theory and giving her treats and telling her how good she is, but is seems to be a off and on progress.

How in the world will we cut her nails? She is way too wild to hold for that!
Thanks for all the help.
Gin

[Sarita]

Oh dear, do NOT have her declawed that would be beyond cruel. Rabbits truly hate to be picked up, it scares them. Definitely give her more time and be patient.

Try to get her back into her home without having to pick her up.

[LoveChaCha]

Bunnies should not be declawed

What I do is, I go behind my rabbit and say “Time to go in” or “Time for me to go to bed.” She understands and hops back into her pen area.

How are you picking her up? Bunnies like to have their feet on the ground.
I was very nervous bout trimming my bunny’s nails at first, but now it is very easy for me. I have a second person hold her while I trim.

[Izabella]

I would never ever have little Izabella declawed. My husband’s bark is much bigger than his bite I have to say, Izabella is much happier now. I happen to be going through some of the photos of the bunnies housing on this site and I noticed most people have their cage on the floor. I had izabella’s on a table, we had to pick her up to put her back in her cage. So, I put her cage on the floor and poof! I have not been scratched since! My husband on the other hand has! he, he, he. … he is trying to control Izabella. I am trying to work with Izabella. Guiding her into her home, when its time to go back. But also, letting her run in and out of it while she is out playing. Letting her come of it her cage on her own and not fighting with her so much. She is so much happier, and we have been able to let her out in the family again. She has been much more well behaved. Less accidents (poos we get,the pee’s are the one’s we do not want) and not chewing on things she is not allowed.

Thank you all for you help. I am enjoying Izabella more and she is clearly happier! Oh, I am using much less litter! thank you!
Gin

[Beka27]

I doubt you’d even be able to find a vet that would agree to declaw a rabbit. Many vets are not even declawing cats any longer because it’s been deemed cruel and unnecessary, so there’s no way it would be done on a rabbit.

I’m glad you figured out that her housing has to be on the ground level. It’s important that bunnies be able to go in and out on their own. Housing should be a “safe place” for them to retreat too, and it helps for them to have access to their food, water, and litterbox at all times.

What has worked for many people, is planning “dinnertime” around when bunny needs to go to bed. Very often, the bunny will hop into the cage, condo, or pen herself because she knows that it’s time to eat. You can then feed and close her up for the night.

[jennyrabbit]

yup I have Jennys food, water and hay all located in her cage, and she only gets her veggies at bedtime, so I have no trouble getting her in her cage at night..I come down with veggies in my hand and she makes a mad dash to her cage! Jenny has a giant(26sq feet, 3 levels) pen, and I left of of the grids as a door, so she goes in and out on her own..her cage her “her” spot.

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