My bunny is always terrified and uncomfortable

[BunbunLeo]

Two months ago, I adopted a lionhead bun from a local breeder who said he wasn’t “part of his breeding plans”.

He was with a brother and later when we got home, we noticed he had a scab/wound on his side belly. The breeder also said he and his brother fight so maybe the wound was from his brother? I merely thought at the time ‘wow that must have been terrible for the bunny’. (That scab/wound has since disappeared after a few days)

But he has been consistently hating me for two months and I don’t know what to do…is there a way to warm up to this bunny?

He thumps whenever I walk near the cage, refill their water/food bowl, make a big sound, etc. Also, I’m afraid for his health because 1.he’s constantly in fear and stiff position like he’s uncomfortable 2. he isn’t eating/drinking a lot 3. i see him doze sometimes but I have to walk over to my desk to get something and have to pass by his cage, so he wakes up and thumps and runs away. I feel terrible because I’m unintentionally ruining his sleep schedule?  4. I guess he is only comfortable in his litter box so he only sleeps and stands in the litter box, but isn’t that really bad for his sanitation? He has an inflamed ear which I’m going to the vet for today at 2:30PM, and I think it’s because of this (fact that he spends most of his life standing in his feces ) If I bought a rabbit cushion or hut will he go in there instead?

He looks like he’s uncomfortable, scared, angry(?), alert, stiff 24/7…

I feel like I ruined his life by adopting him…

[BanditCamp]

If this is in relation to your other post regarding your rabbits and bonding after reading this PLEASE SEPARATE THEM, one rabbit is possibly attacking the other and the baby is most likely or seems like hes only safe in his litter box as the older rabbit is dominating the space. I would take the injured rabbit to the vet and HIGHLY suggest looking up videos on bonding as you cant just dump rabbits together and hope they work it out (sometimes it works but most likely it doesn’t)

Please watch this video and read this guide ASAP as i don’t want your rabbit to be harmed and hopefully you will have a better bun:

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmaH-d1LOxc / 101Rabbits Bonding
– https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx / Binky Bunny Bonding Guide

WARNING: NEXT VIDEO SEEMS HARSH BUT THIS IS HOW A WELL KNOWN MOM BONDED HER BUNNIES, DO WHAT SEEMS RIGHT FOR YOU AND THIS IS TO PREVENT INJURY TO YOUR OWN BUNNIES.

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uz-7eEpBEs4 / StormyRabbits Bonding VLOG Day by Day Stress bonding.

[Ampee]

If You truly love/care about the bunny for life, then thats the best thing that could happen to Him. He just don’t know it yet.
Approach him/cage only when You need to change his litter/water/hay. Let him out whenever possible and when he explores just sit down somewhere far away and wait for him to come to You. He will eventually. Patience is the key. Don’t rush it, also don’t touch him the first time he comes to You.
Bunnies tend to relax even in their litter box so that’s not a surprise I think, but You should buy a little hut or something big enought to hide in it/jump on top of it.
Also bunnies really like snack type of foods. You should try to give him a few when he is outside and near You.
We give our little bun this: http://www.petnet.hu/img/big/1405416183.jpg

[Mikey]

You need to separate youre two bunnies, for one. Unfixed rabbits can and will fight to the death. It would also heavily explain this poor bunny’s terrified behavior as hes being used as an aggression toy for your other rabbit from mounting, biting, ect.

[Azerane]

Does he have a hiding box in his cage? It sounds like he doesn’t have a safe space inside his cage. The place he feels the safest is the litter tray which is why he always sits there. Add a hiding box to the cage so that he can hide and rest in there to feel safe, rather than sitting in the tray all the time (make sure to put some hay inside in case he doesn’t feel brave enough to come out for a while). You could also drape a sheet or fleece blanket over the top of the cage to cover 2/3 of it to make it feel more safe and secure. Keep in mind that he may try to chew on it through the bars of the cage which is why a cardboard hiding box in the cage may be better.

[Author]

Messages