My Baby bunny doesnt Like me

[patricia*star]

Hi, im new here

Ive just got a 8 week old lop rabbit and although i have never had a rabbit before i have done alot of research prior to getting him.

I decided to keep him inside the house because i thought it would be kinder but as it stands im not getting much interaction from him.

I have had him for nearly a week and although i want to litter train him ive decided to wait a while so that he has chance to fully settle down.

The problem is im not sure what to do about getting him out of the cage.  I read somewhere that you should let them come out on their own but after leaving the door open for several hours he just doesnt seem interested.  I want him to get used to human interaction but how do i do this if he wont come out of the cage on his own.  Do i carry him out or just keep doing what i have been doing?

I realise its only early days but its quite disheartening after hearing all these storys about what great companions your rabbits are.

please help! 

[Sarita]

Since he’s pretty young I suspect he may not be too territorial and maybe he’s not sure he’s allowed out of his cage. I would go ahead and bring him out of his cage so he knows he is allowed out. Ideally of course you want him to come and go on his own from his cage but some time the ideals don’t seem to work.

You might also try tempting him out of his cage with a small treat as well – give that a try first.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome to binkybunny!!

It takes lots of time and patience to bond to your rabbit. Don’t get discouraged-when it happens you’ll be very happy!

I’m glad you did lots of research first and kudos for having a ‘house bunny’!

You can certainly feel free to pick him up. Some rabbits’ really don’t like being picked up but since he’s young you can start getting him used to it. If you’re really not comfortable picking him up, Sarita’s suggestion to ‘lure’ him out with treats is a great one.

Also just sit on the floor outside the cage (door open or not) and talk (or read) to him, give treats or hand feed to make friends. Observing you and being with you like that will also work towards bonding you two!

Rabbits love nose/cheek/ear rubs. They think you are grooming them and they love it. Feel for a tooth ‘purr’, gentle grinding of the teeth, that indicates he’s loving it!

[Beka27]

welcome here! i would give him a litterbox now as well. it’s natural for bunnies to want to potty in only one spot, so you can use this to your advantage right away. even if he just hangs out in the box, it’s important to get him used to it. put his hay in the litterbox and a lot of the time they will (at least partially) train themselves.

[rella]

Hi there,
I know exactly how you feel. I got my bunny 3 weeks ago and he was also 7 weeks old at the time. The first few days were pretty much the same as yours but its a lot lot better now.
From the little experience ive had, bunnies need a lot time to adjust to a new enviroment. So try to be patient, give him space and interact with him from the floor where he can actually see you.
Goodluck!!!!

[JK]

It’s not that your bunny doesn’t like you.  I think he feels very secure in his cage and it’s a great big world out there in his eyes.  Edson would not come out either at first and he was about 1 year old.  It took weeks for him to feel safe enough to venture out  and weeks more to come out of the xpen (which was attached to his cage).  To this day he will not cross the doorway to his room.  Please be patient – he’s just a little guy.

[Cassi&Charlie]

My rescue bunny Layla was really really shy at first and it’s been a couple of months now but she’s finally starting to be openly affectionate to me. So don’t give up, be patient and I know they are just SO CUTE, it’s hard to not pick them up & love them I think picking them up in a secure way is good for them because they get used to it. A trick I use with Layla is that I give her treats after I pick her up so she associates being picked up with Happy Food.

[patricia*star]

thanks everyone for all the help

[Lethalfire]

I’m in the same boat, it’s been almost a month with our 2 bunnies and they will check us out and sniff us if we are ignoring them, but they don’t

care or want to be petted yet.  I still pet them from time to time and they will just tolerate it, but I long for the day when they give me a nudge or

ask to be petted.

 

And to think, they are suppose to be my daughter’s lol.

[Balefulregards]

Yeah – it took Coco quite a long while to be affectionate – and I would see videos of bunnies doing binkies and think “she has never done that!”

But five months later and I get a hearty “HEY MOM WAKE UP” in the morning with binkies.

It is a long process, but worth it entirely.

[MooBunnay]

Don’t lose hope patricia*star and Lethalfire – it is very normal for bunnies to by shy in the beginning. I have found that hand feeding treats, like a raisin or a piece of carrot, helps to get the bunnies more comfortable with you. I have a very skittish bunny who will hop up on my lap when I have the raisin bag in my hand! For these first times, try to resist pushing yourself on them, as they may still be scared of you, and you coming at them too quickly can startle them. Instead, letting them come to you is easier for them, and a better way for them to establish trust with you.

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