Help me bond with my buns

[Peacester]

Hey everyone so i adopted two bunnies last week and have made no progress or reverses progress on my bond with them. So they have been very scared sense we got them and HATE being picked up. So i have picked them up a coupke times to groom them and i once put them in a exercise pin (they live in a 2’x6′ cage which is on top of the one for my other bunny). And they obviously have taken a hating to it. They currently run away from me if i open the cage and kick/sqwerm if i try and gran them. Cooki has even started to thump at me when i am cleaning the cage. Need some help/tips on what to do. Our other bun absolutely loves us and i want these two to love their new home as well. The other bun bandit will let me pet him on ocassionaly but it is rare and he usually runs to his corner as soon as the door moves.

Any and all help appriciated

[Cocoa]

Maybe you should approach the cage a few times a day and don’t touch them. Just feed them veggies. You can use a treat to lure them into a carrier so you don’t have to pick them up. If you let them hop around a room or pen and just sit there and ignore them it will help. You can read a book or play on your phone but don’t touch them. Let them see you aren’t a threat.

[Peacester]

Posted By Cocoa on 3/09/2018 8:25 PM
Maybe you should approach the cage a few times a day and don’t touch them. Just feed them veggies. You can use a treat to lure them into a carrier so you don’t have to pick them up. If you let them hop around a room or pen and just sit there and ignore them it will help. You can read a book or play on your phone but don’t touch them. Let them see you aren’t a threat.

I tried the veggies and they would eat put of my hand til my finger got closer. Ill keep it up and hopefully see improvement. Ill see if i can lure them in with a treat or something and get their exercise

[Peacester]

These buns confuse me. Okay so a update. Brought their veggies in and both bandit and cookie came smelling my hand and the bowls while I set them down. Then later cooki was chining me but wouldn’t let me pet her. While the whole time this was happening Bandit was hiding in the corner. When the cage door is closed they both roam freely and will lay with their legs kicked out. When I reach in the cage to pet them (before this post) they would sometimes let me pet then and have their heads on the ground like they liked it. Other times they run. And a couple times Bandit will come to me when i stick a finger through the cage and let me pet him or he will chin me. Though last time he grabbed my finger like a toy with his teeth then turned his head upside down chinning my finger.

[Wick & Fable]

Just like how there are some times humans are open to hugs and handshakes, rabbits vary when they’re ok with pets and cuddles. There are times you will try and pet at times they don’t want it, and times you’ll try and they’re ok with it. It’s part of the learning process.

For Wick, I have to use context clues for what mood he’s in. Wick has a so I’ll interaction gauge that once it’s full, he’s over it.

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.

[Peacester]

Okay Update # I have given them a “safe space” as they do not like their actual hidey hole where I won’t touch them unless I am readjusting something that one moved. I’ve seen some improvement with this. Bandit let me pet him a couple times, Cooki let me do this once but ran the rest of the times. Tomorrow I will try luring them into a carry pin one at a time and getting their exercise in with me in there and start bonding with them. Wish me luck

[Author]

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