spooky/skittish bunnies – advice?

[bradforde]

I run a small rabbit rescue in Arkansas – I have had two lionhead brothers since they were about 3-4 months old (got them from a shelter). They have been skittish from the first day I got them – had another brother who was more outgoing and adopted quickly - but still haven’t warmed up to me in the last 5 months (they were neutered about 1 month after i got them). I spend time sitting with them, and they will sniff me/crawl on me for a little bit if I am REALLY still, but whenever I move even to turn a book page, they dart back into their hidey house. I can barely touch them and definitely can’t pick them up. I like to think that I have the patience to win a rabbit over, but now i am really starting to doubt it – how on earth will I ever find a home for bunnies like these? Anyone have any tricks I can try?

thanks,

erin

 

[Sarita]

I have a Dutch pair of rabbits that are about 8 years old and they are the exact same way and always have been. I believe it’s a mother and son couple.

They are not unfriendly or mean just scared of everything – even me sometimes and I’ve had them for about 7 years – I think their saving grace for each other is that they have each other.

I think you will need to find a home that is adults only and rabbit experienced so they don’t have some over inflated expectations of what rabbits “should” be like. A family that will just let them be them. Both my rabbits were young as well – I don’t think Peppermint was even 3 months old, Peaches was old enough to give birth.

What was their circumstances before – they were young even when you got them…mine were strays.

[jerseygirl]

Is it sensitivity to noise perhaps. I wonder if you try run some background noise (like a radio on low volume) for the majority of the time whether this would help them? I remember reading something like this but don’t remember where!
They’re still young, so they might become more settled yet. I’m just throwing ideas out – would them being in a group help? Being bonded with a more laid back bunny?

Do you have other pets in the house that they might be picking up on?

[bradforde]

Thanks Saria, I appreciate the fact that I’m not alone here!

they were dropped off at the shelter by a breeder, not sure why. maybe they weren’t sold fast enough. They were only at the shelter for a couple of weeks, then they were up to be PTS and I got them at that point. Like I said, there were three of them originally, but since they were babies, I was willing to split them up – I had someone who only wanted one, so I adopted out the one who seemed unattached to the others – more confident/independant, and I was left with the two spooky bros.

I don’t have a problem with just saying “these are spooky bunnies, be prepared,” but I think it is unlikely I will find a home for them if they don’t improve – not an abundance of rabbit adopters around here and even the ones who do want bunnies are looking . but even if they did find a home, I worry about how people are supposed to care for them when they need nail trims, checkups, etc.? they don’t need a nail trim right now, but i know eventually they will, and just thinking about having to hold them makes me very nervous : (

[bradforde]

radio, I will try it! 

I can’t bond them with any other bunnies, because i have a policy of not splitting up bonded bunnies, and it’s hard enough to find a home for two!

[jerseygirl]

Oh, I meant in a trio. but that could be a lot of work. And by the sounds, even harder to find home for 3? I applaud you for the policy of keeping them together!

[jerseygirl]

I just remembered this that another member posted recently. It may seem comical but anything’s worth a try right?  *shrugs*

From thread:https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aff/3/aft/113306/afv/topic/Default.aspx “Bunny Bond” i.e. Rabbit to Human

TH004 Posts: 20

12/17/2010 07:30 PM   OK… this will sound weird, but I swear it works! My first rabbit was rescued and she was abused by 2 different families. Understandably, she was very scared of me. My mom told me to put a dirty sock in her cage (not like super gross, just something you wore for a bit and got your smell on). I think she got used to my scent as being non-threatening. It only took 2-3 weeks and she was being held on her back, carried around the house. My new rabbit bonded immediately with my husband and not with me. I was quite sad about it. Without me knowing, my husband put my socks in his cage. I noticed a difference the next day. We’re bonded now! The bunny ignore always helps too, as mentioned above!

[bradforde]

thanks jersey, I’m going to give it a try – will let you know if I see any progress, I am really willing to try anything :&#160

[bradforde]

happy update – these little bunnies went to their new adoptive home this weekend after 6 months as my fosters. I passed along the tricks you all shared and I’m hoping that she has the patience to make friends with these little dudes – they actually let me pet them when I was saying goodbye – brought a little tear to my eye : )

erin

[Sarita]

That’s wonderful. Thank you for the update!

[Author]

Messages