Questions! A lot of them!

[bmwools]

Ok so I got my rabbit about a month ago. I bought her from a local breeder and she had about 30 rabbits. My bunny is a White New Zealand and she is 10 months old. She doesn’t seem very friendly and one reason I think so is because the woman had so many and didn’t handle them often. She was with about 4 other rabbits in a big cage so I don’t know if she is lonely. I would love some opinions on it from experiences bunny owners.

2nd she eats normally but when I try lure her and train her with treats she doesn’t seem interested. I have tried carrots, dried fruit, small apple pieces, lettuce, and her rabbit pellets. Does anyone have any ideas for treats that she will be interested in? Is it because we aren’t as close and haven’t bonded yet? This leads into my next question.

How can I get closer and bond with her? I don’t think she minds being pet but I don’t know that for sure. She isn’t mean and really likes to explore. She is out of her cage everyday and I play with her outside in our fenced in yard. I try to give her treats to get her used to me but it doesn’t seem to work. I would love some help with this. Her eating pattern is normal. I feed he three times a day so she know when she is getting food. Thanks!

[Mikey]

You mention you feel she is unfriendly, but dont mention how. Why do you think she isnt friendly?

Train in what sense? Not all rabbits can be bribed with treats. It could also be that shes not used to you yet so she isnt sure if she should take food from you yet

Sit or lay around and let her explore you. Some bunnies take a while (my Bombur took over a year) to become comfortable with their surroundings and whatnot. If you let her explore you, smell you, eat pellets/greens out of your hands, ect, she will slowly warm up to you

Is she spayed?

[bmwools]

She seems scared when I pet or approach her. I guess I dont mean unfriendly but instead unsure. She does relax after I pet her for a while but she doesn’t seem to like people.

I have been trying to hand feed her more and stay low to the ground when I am with her but I haven’t seen any changes in the past week except for her attitude getting worse the past couple of days. Just 15 minutes ago she was hiding behind the bed and I slowly put my hand down in front of her face so she could smell me and I could get her out but instead she pulled back and head butted my hand.
I don’t know what’s made her like this.

She is not spayed only because I plan on breeding in the future.

[Azerane]

Some rabbits don’t like trying new foods, so treats can be very hit and miss with those rabbits. It sounds like she is friendly, just not bonded with you, which takes time As long as you’re spending time out there with her, talking to her, petting her, down at her level etc she will get used to you and start to come up to on her own terms for pets etc.

Also, you mention she is getting fed 3x a day so she’s getting food, but do you have hay available for her at all times?

[bmwools]

I do have an unlimited hay supply for her. She does like hay and I have tried the method of holding one end between your lips to try to get her more comfortable with me.

[BanditCamp]

Sounds like your expecting too much too fast. Bonding is slow, allow her to roam around you to get comfortable read a book or something and they will come to you out of curiousity

[bmwools]

This is what I’ve read but it is difficult because I am one of 13 and there isn’t really anywhere to go with her where it is quiet and where we can spend time together. Do you have any ideas for what I can do I. This situation?

[Author]

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