Human/Bunny Bonding?

[LittleBunnyPaws]

I got my holland lop a week ago, and he is about 10 weeks old. He is adorable, and it’s so amusing to watch him go about his day. I have had him for a week, and have already started bonding. I sit with him, and he will sniff me and continue to eat or whatever. Anyway, he is still really jumpy around me. What should I do? How long will it take for him to be totally used to me?

[MeketatenBun]

When I get new bunnies, I spend time with them, but not in a bothersome way. Sometimes I’ll just get a book or my laptop and sit next to their closed cage so they get used to my presence. Then I may gradually work it up to leaving the cage door open and letting them hop around my room, all while I “ignore” them (keep an eye on them and guide them away from things you don’t want them in, etc.). Maybe stick an arm out across the floor so they can come up and sniff it.

Depending on the bunny, it can take awhile. My first bunny was very sociable and liked to be around me, it only took her a few weeks to start to trust me enough to want to come out. My current bunny Meki was more shy and took a lot longer. She’s four years old and yesterday was the first day she actually laid down with her back up against/ touching my leg. For her to be comfortable with me in the room took maybe a month or so.

What you’re doing is right, just show you’re bunny that you’re not a threat to him! If he’s jumpy, don’t be reaching out to him unnecessarily or especially with quick movements.

[LittleBunnyPaws]

Ok, thank you. That is so helpful! I was worried I was doing something wrong, haha. Btw, Meki is such a cute name for a rabbit

[Flabebe]

So long as youre patient and let him determine youre A-okay then youre fine! It just takes time.
One thing I did was sit near her area and just talk. Sometimes I would talk about my day or just make random sounds (since thats what I do anyway) I didnt scare her or anything but this way she got used to my voice and sound making I would also sing childrens rhymes and the like

[LittleBunnyPaws]

That is such a cool idea, I am so going to start doing that xD I have just been sitting with him and feeding him his daily pellets.

[Flabebe]

hey, thats a start! And I’m certain we have all started thinking “am I doing it right?” You can also try seeing if he will take any pellets from your hand? That, too, is a good way to bond and gauge how good its going so far Does he seem more timid? Curious? Or is he mellow? Eventually he will start wanting snuggles and pets and then you wont be able to get rid of him!

[LittleBunnyPaws]

He will take pellets from my hand, and doesn’t really mind me being around him. He obviously gets startled at loud noises. He is extremely curious though. When he is out of his cage for floor time, and I am sweeping up the poops and hay on the floor of the cage, he will come in to see what’s going on XD. He shows no aggression though

[Flabebe]

That’s good! he sounds like a cute lil guy x)
Just slowly introduce your bun to things you like, too. Like if you like certain, not so scary, more gentle music start playing it softly so he gets used to it.
Or if you like to draw draw near him so he gets used to you and what you like

[LittleBunnyPaws]

Not so scary music xD haha. I draw (and paint) constantly, so he is pretty used to my pencils or paintbrushes falling on the floor.. Oops :/ lol

[Kyrkogrimr]

Admittedly I’m no expert, only having had my little guy home for about 2 weeks, but the one thing I’d say is less advice and more encouragement; don’t worry if it seems to be taking a long time, you’re probably making more progress than you realise. I only realised how comfortable Puck is with me now when our flatmate commented that he doesn’t climb onto her lap much, ie only when there’s something in her hand he shouldn’t be running off with lol Now I think about it, he hops into my lap quite happily – and will stay there – and quite a lot. Even if I just open his cage to put some hay in in the morning while I set up his area to run around (he goes ballistic if he’s not distracted lol), he will come and sit in my lap and sniff at my face before he bounces off to spread the hay everywhere. And until it was pointed out, I hadn’t really noticed.

That’s turned out rather more rambley than I meant… hope it made sense lol

[LittleBunnyPaws]

It made perfect sense, haha. And that’s really cute Midas hasn’t sat on my lap, but I am assuming that it has to do with the fact that I have only had him for one week he does hop across me when I am giving him treats though.

[Kyrkogrimr]

Lol You should have seen the way Puck looked at me when I first got him home! “Seriously, why are you still here? Put the hay down and scram.” Now it’s more like “You have food in your hand, right? I smell food, gimme food. I don’t believe you don’t have food, so I’m sticking my face in your hand until you give me the food, woman. Ok, how about this? I’ll sit on your lap and be cute, and you give me the food that I don’t believe you don’t have. Final offer.”

[LittleBunnyPaws]

Haha, my bun doesn’t mind me.. I assume he is thinking “gimme pellets, pick up the poops, and give me more water” haha.

[Flabebe]

Thats about right xD or… “pet me and dont stop. stop. wait I wanted more pets. Oh boy food.” and then bounces away :p

[LittleBunnyPaws]

Right? Haha, there are times when Midas is all over me, and then later in the day if I reach out to pet him, he hops away.. Haha, but I can always get him to snuggle with food just feed him and pet him. But he is definitely warming up to me..

Because I now hand feed him pellets a lot, every time I walk past his cage he follows me and tries to fit his head through the bars or stand on his hind legs to get some..

Haha, his cuteness always gets me dang, he is just so good at begging.

[LittleBunnyPaws]

Right? Haha, there are times when Midas is all over me, and then later in the day if I reach out to pet him, he hops away.. Haha, but I can always get him to snuggle with food just feed him and pet him. But he is definitely warming up to me..

Because I now hand feed him pellets a lot, every time I walk past his cage he follows me and tries to fit his head through the bars or stand on his hind legs to get some..

Haha, his cuteness always gets me dang, he is just so good at begging for extra treats.

[LittleBunnyPaws]

-.- I don’t know why BinkyBunny hates me sometimes XD sorry for the double post guys

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