Suggestions for foster bun

[mia]

Looking for suggestions on how to interact with my foster bun.

Bun has been with me for a month and will have at least one more month with me. She is super duper shy and I almost never see her out; she has cardboard townhouse that she sits/sleeps in expect during pellet time. She won’t let me pet her except during pellet time. We had to do a lot of work to get to this point; I hand fed every pellet. Currently I just put pellet in toilet paper tubes for her to knock over and hand feed others. She doesn’t come out for veggies; I have to go away and she sneaks out to eat it and sneaks back into townhouse.

I do hear her overnight; don’t have camera so no idea what she’s up to. She’s very well behaved and barely chewed anything. She is in her own room so she shouldn’t be scared and my buns have never even seen her.

All of my buns have been 2-3lbs so that’s my comfort range. I always ask for tiny buns but apparently no one seems to understand and this girl is 5lbs. Much too heavy for me to force pickup; those legs look like they’ll bruise me. I also don’t want to get too close since she’s a foster but they wanted me to work with her to get her more open as she always just hides in the very back at the shelter. Even in her townhouse here, she scoots into the very back corner of the townhouse.

 

[LBJ10]

It sounds like she is still scared. She was at the shelter before and basically shut down. She may still be in the same shut down mode now even though she is in a home setting. It sounds like you’re doing the right things. Some bunnies just take a lot longer than others to open up. Have you tried sitting or laying in her enclosure? With how scared/shy she is, the ignoring trick may not work.

[BrunosMama]

When we first got Arthas from the shelter, he was super terrified and nervous. So, to help him get used to us, I started out by sitting beside his pen and just talking to him. He spent the first couple of months in our bedroom, so at night, my husband and I would lay in bed and talk to him, so that he could get used to our voices.

Next, I would sit in the corner of his pen and just let him come up and sniff and check me out on his own. Sometimes I would give him a treat when he came up to reinforce the fact I wasn’t going to hurt him and good things happen from this human. Eventually, the price of a treat was a pat on the head and we finally got to the point where we could freely pet him. After awhile, he became excited to see us when we came in and did zoomies and binkies when we walked in the room. 🙂

That being said, he is still a very shy and nervous bun and it really doesn’t take much to upset him. So, I think some buns will open up, but may just be hard wired to be extra anxious.

You may also try playing some music or even a TV show in Foster Buns room (not too loud obviously) so she can get accustomed to other sounds and voices and such.

 

[mia]

Yes, I’ve sat inside with her and hand fed pellets. At first I had to extend and lean over to give her the pellet and slowly I withdrew my hand but I haven’t gotten her to put her paws on me. Have to move slowly or she’d bolt.

Recently, I see her out about 1hr before pellet time head binkying when she sees me but it’s all for pellets. She gets pellets 2x/day, morning on a plate and the evening is the toilet paper rolls. She goes to the respective area and is all ready for pellet business. Super playful head binkying knocking down the toilet paper rolls then disappears when over. But, if I make pellet noise during non-pellet time, she’s hiding and won’t come out.

I thought about taking away the townhouse but that seems too mean. There’s other hidey places but she’s only ever in the townhouse.

[mia]

I’m happy to report, 1.5 months in, she’s finally been spotted outside her townhouse during non-pellet time. Ok, maybe it’s partially the summer heat and she can only loaf in townhouse; must come out to lay down. She finally letting me pet her pre and post pellet eating without flinching.

 

Thank for the tip about playing music. Foster Bun’s room is fairly quiet except when I run the washer/dryer so that should help.

[LBJ10]

I’m glad to hear you are making progress!

[BrunosMama]

Yay! That’s awesome! 😀

[Bam]

It really sounds that you’re making great progress! I hope it continues, I think it will 🤞🐰

I always read aloud to new buns. Just sit somewhere where they can hear me, I concentrate on the book, the bun just gets used to my presence and my voice.

[Author]

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