Doesn’t want to come out of his cage

[Katie]

Hello!  Last week I obtained a rescued bunny who was quite banged up (something bit off half his ear) but found to be still very healthy by a vet.  He’s now living in a roomy cage and can use the litter box, and he seems to be very comfortable.

But he won’t come out of his cage!  I know it’s important for a bun to exercise so I leave the door open to allow him to come out when he wants (supervised of course), but he just seems not interested.  He’ll sniff at the opening and poke his head out but he won’t do any more.  This also makes it hard to clean up because I know cleaning should be done when he’s out of the cage, but if he won’t come out I don’t really have a choice.

Is it because he’s in a new area?  Will he come around?  Is there anything I can try to entice him?  Help would really be appreciated.

 

Edit: wow, sorry if the title’s all messed up.  I didn’t know the sad face would try to be made into an emote.

[BinkyBunny]

WELCOME!!!!!     I edited your post to delete the strange sad face fluke thing.

How wonderful of you to bring in this poor banged up bunny.  It sounds like he really needs love and patience.  He seems to have been through quite a bit, and his reluctance to come out of his cage is no surprise.   

You can try to put a treat outside of the door.   I know you don’t know what he likes just yet, but maybe put some boxes out in front that he would feel safe to go out of his cage to explore and hide in.

Having him get used to you will also help him trust to come out.  When you have a free moment just sit by his open cage.  Read the paper, work on a laptop, read a book, listen to music, whatever.  Just get him used to you being there without expecting anything from him.  That will help him begin to feel safe too.

My big white bunny, Jack, is a big scaredy cat, and when we moved, it took him two weeks to venture out of his pen, and then another two weeks to venture out of the bunny room and into the rest of the house (and that only happened because I finally picked him up and carried him since it had been over a month total)  I wouldn’t advise doing that just yet with your guy as he really needs the chance to feel safe and get used to you.

You can see Jack’s drama and what we did to solve his "boycott" on venturing out in his blog:

The blog starts with his most recent event, so you may have to go back a few blogs to see the beginning of the "moving" saga.

 

[MooBunnay]

I had a shy bun as well, he also had a bit of trauma before he camr home with me, and he was very skittish for about 2-3 weeks, but slowly he warmed up to me, and now he is just the biggest sweetie EVER, and I’m sure your bun will end up that way as well!

To get him out of the cage I didn’t really try to force the issue too much, I would just give him pets in the corner of the cage where he was attempting to "hide" because he was scared, and after awhile he figured out that I was not, in fact, a giant predator, and he started to warm up to me.  THEN, the night he finally came out of the cage, he thought he was in bun heaven…he ran alllll over my apartment, and even figured out a technique to run across my living room floor and then slide on his bum across the tile in the kitchen…verrry entertaining!

I’m sure your bun will come around, I think its just most important not to force the issue, and let him come out slowly on his own….I wouldn’t worry especially because it has been a short time.

good luck!!

[Katie]

Thank you both! I didn’t know if this was common or not but it seems like it is. I’ll give him time and try your suggestions.

[Gravehearted]

how’s it going? any progress to report?

[Katie]

Actually yes! After I read the replies I put a box with a little bit of treat in it outside of his cage and the silly bun came right out. Now he has no problems going in and out of his cage every day. Uses his litter box like a good boy too

[Gravehearted]

ooo that’s great! i am betting he was so freaked out, that it just took him a lil time to feel safe too. so glad his litter habits are so good!

[Katie]

Yeah, me too XD I was afraid it would take a while but after a few days he got it down pat.

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