Rambling and handling question

[BunnyLass568]

So I’ve had Blossom and Thumper for 6 wonderful weeks now and, personally, I think the progress of bonding with them is pretty good. When I sit or lay on the floor with them they’ll jump on and over the lower parts of my legs and on and over my arms (if they’re stretched out) and will come up to me when I’m standing at my full height (I’m 5 feet 10 inches – 5 feet 11 inches) and Blossom will stand on their hind legs to stiff my hand if I put it down while I’m standing; They haven’t jumped on my lap, back or stomache but they will put their front legs on my thighs, stomache or back and will look like they want to jump up but they turn and run away. They will also take food out of my hand and they didn’t run away from me or became scared when I sang earlier. But there is still something that I do need some help with…. I seen videos on youtube and read articals but I’m still having trouble handling them. It was really hot and humid today so Blossom and Thumper had playtime in my room but even with the AC on the coolest setting it got pretty warm so I had to end playtime earlier than I wanted and picked up Thumper to put in their cage and Thumper kept on wriggling almost out of my arms a few times (for Blossom, out of fear, I cheated by putting the cage on the floor and putting a bowl of pellets inside.). I don’t mind being scratched up (I’m used to it because my dog Hailey has longer, blunter nails so getting scratched is nothing new to me) but I’m really worried that they’ll end up getting hurt one of these days. What do you guys suggest? 

Also, sorry for the long post and for rambling at the begining, I just felt like sharing that and I also felt like it would show what I meant with my question a bit more I guess, if that makes any sense at all. Ok, gonna stop now.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pets-Passed away: Hailey (9 years old, half rat terrier and miniature pincher, Feb-5-2019),Monster (13 years old, mixed breed, Lhasa Apso and some form of terrier, Sep-14-2020), Demon (14 year old Lhasa Apso, Aug-3-2022) Blossom (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-7-2024) Thumper (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-12-2024)💔💔💔💔

[kurottabun]

Which method do you use to pick them up? My previous bunny had no problems when I used the method of putting one hand under the front paws + belly while “scooping” the rear with my other hand (this would mean that their feet are not pressed against anything), but with Kurotta it simply doesn’t work. He would squeak, kick and squirm so hard that it’s impossible to have a firm grip.

So with Kurotta, I scoop him up initially (he would start kicking instantly) but immediately turn him towards me mid-air so that his paws are pressed against my chest. He normally stops kicking then. My left hand would be firmly holding his thighs + cupping his rear while my other hand would be holding his front paws and a bit of his neck/chest area. Sort of like wrapping my fingers around them, if you can picture that. This makes him feel more secure and although he does try to escape after a while, he does stay still long enough for me to transport him usually.

[BunnyLass568]

@kurottabun I used the method when you put your hand under their stomache while scooping them up. Before this I picked them up by quickly scooping them up and had them face/hold them against my chest which they did do better with but not by much. After a short time they wriggle free and try to jump off my shoulder so I try to be quick and gentle to re-hold them so they don’t jump off and get hurt. One time I did that and Thumper squeaked in my ear before being put back in. I never heard of a rabbit squeaking so I looked it up and only found one thing about it. What the article said is that when a rabbit squeaks it means they were in pain so I think I may have hurt Thumper on accident.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pets-Passed away: Hailey (9 years old, half rat terrier and miniature pincher, Feb-5-2019),Monster (13 years old, mixed breed, Lhasa Apso and some form of terrier, Sep-14-2020), Demon (14 year old Lhasa Apso, Aug-3-2022) Blossom (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-7-2024) Thumper (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-12-2024)💔💔💔💔

[Sofia]

I think at the start it doesn’t matter how you hold them, they’re going to try and escape. Maybe they weren’t handled a lot before. with my bunnies I just kind of slowly started getting them used to it. I’d put my arms around them while on the floor, then I’d hold them while sitting, then crouching etc. It also calmed them down a lot when i put my hands over their eyes. I guess you just have to figure out what position they’re most comfortable in.

[kurottabun]

@I’m with Boo I tried that with Kurotta, but it didn’t work lol! He’s always been cool with being touched when he’s lounging (feet, tail, belly, you name it) and we could even lift his upper or lower body off the floor. But the moment all four feet are off the ground, it’s a kicking fiesta. Bunny burritos don’t work on him either.

Make sure the grip is firm and holding the right places. The thighs are what they use most when they try to escape, so hold it firmly just enough to not hurt them. Also, 6 weeks is quite a short time so be patient and pick them up at their pace. Just a few weeks after I got Kurotta, I tried to “condition” him by picking him up and putting him down immediately so he knows it’s not life threatening. Well that didn’t work (I think because he was still uncertain about me), and he stayed in his cage for the next three days even though the door was wide open, because he was too scared.

He still kicks when I lift him these days, but I think he tolerates it now as I don’t hear him squeak anymore. Pretty sure he wasn’t in pain and it was more like squeaking out of fear in the past, but that can be resolved as long as the rabbit feels secure.

[BunnyLass568]

@I’m with Boo: That sounds like a good idea! I’ll try it out and see how it goes, thanks for sharing your expirence!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pets-Passed away: Hailey (9 years old, half rat terrier and miniature pincher, Feb-5-2019),Monster (13 years old, mixed breed, Lhasa Apso and some form of terrier, Sep-14-2020), Demon (14 year old Lhasa Apso, Aug-3-2022) Blossom (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-7-2024) Thumper (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-12-2024)💔💔💔💔

[BunnyLass568]

@kurottabun: Alright, thanks for the advice! Maybe that’s how it was for Thumper? Sqeaking out of fear I mean.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Pets-Passed away: Hailey (9 years old, half rat terrier and miniature pincher, Feb-5-2019),Monster (13 years old, mixed breed, Lhasa Apso and some form of terrier, Sep-14-2020), Demon (14 year old Lhasa Apso, Aug-3-2022) Blossom (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-7-2024) Thumper (6 year old bunny breed(s) unknown, April-12-2024)💔💔💔💔

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