new bun hates me :(

[Ellen]

I just got winston (a 4-5 month old lop) about 3 months ago and at first he loved me! On the first night I had him he did tons of binkies and even flopped in my lap! Once i got him litter trained ive allowed him to free roam in my room but now he doesn’t seem to like me anymore. He only comes out of his little condo to eat, drink, and use the bathroom and sleeps pretty much all day and night. He doesn’t like for me to pet him anymore, isn’t interested in most of the toys i got him, and only comes up to me for treats then leaves. What do i do!? Hes my first bunny and im concerned :/ Is it normal for babies to sleep this much? How do i get him more interested in coming out! and more importantly more interested in me?! :((

[DanaNM]

Hmmm, it could just be that he’s growing up and transitioning to more adult habits. Babies tend to be super snuggly but can change a bit as they mature. Are his eating and pooping all normal?

Is he neutered?

. . . 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.  

[Ellen]

He poops fine and eats up all the veggies, treats, hay, and pellets i offer! He isnt neutered yet (scheduled his appointment a couple days ago after a talk with the vet). I just don’t know if he’s supposed to be so lazy, I don’t want him to be overweight and definitely don’t want him to be bored.

[Wick & Fable]

A rabbit doesn’t become overweight suddenly, so don’t get preoccupied with that worry right now!

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.

[DanaNM]

What is your daily routine like with him? Sometimes I’ve noticed free-roam bunnies kind of settle into a routine and explore less. I’ve noticed with my own bunnies they are more active when they are penned for part of the day. Then when I let them out they run around and explore, chin everything, etc.

If his diet is OK (not too many treats, etc.) then he probably won’t become overweight, it sounds to me like he is just relaxed in his environment and is settling into adulthood. Some bunnies are more chill than others. 🙂

Some ways to encourage exploration and play are to have tunnels and hide-y houses that you move around and reconfigure, food puzzles, and clicker training. 🙂

When bonding with bunnies, they also tend to respond well if you play “hard to get”. So if you spend time on the floor in his area but don’t try to pet or cuddle him, he might approach you for pets. As buns grow out of their baby phase they tend to stop tolerating being held and may become a little more wary (think the teenage years), but I’m sure you will develop a strong relationship with him. 🙂

. . . 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.  

[Ellen]

Our usual routine is I get up around 6 and feed him half of his daily pellets, i go to school, then when i get back i feed him the other half and then give him his veggies at around 7 because that’s when he gets up. Today and yesterday i tried opening up a new little area in the hallway that’s ONLY for playtime like you suggested and he seems to enjoy it. I open it right after i give him his veggies and he eats and runs around and explores then when he’s done for the night he goes to sleep. thanks for your help 🙂

[DanaNM]

Aww that’s great 🙂

Most adult bunnies are also most active morning and evening, and do sleep a lot of the day. So if you time your playtime with him in those times he will probably be a bit more active.

. . . 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.  

[MooseMouse]

If you want to encourage more activity I recommend putting his kibble/pellets into a treat ball so he has to work for his food and it engages his mind. Same with teaching him tricks for treats. My boys went through a “teenage” phase I call it where they were full of attitude and didn’t want to be around me. I just continued hanging out with them and as they got older they came around and now I have 3 little pals that follow me around the house.

[Author]

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