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Rachel B. asked in PetsOther - Pets · 1 decade ago

What's wrong with my rabbit?!?!?!?

I recently rescued a 3 1/2 month-4 month old Lionhead rabbit on Sat. (10-24-09). When her owners handed her to me, she was very sweet and laid-back. She allowed them to pick her up and hand her over to me so that I could hold her for a long time. However, as each day goes by, she now hates being picked up and held. She always tries to scratch and get away. Last night, I tried picking her up and petting her once she stopped, but she doesn't stop trying to get away for long. After a couple of seconds, and she's trying to get away. So anyways, ever since I had her, I let her out of her big cage into her playpen for about an hour in the morning and a couple of hours at night which she loves (she binkies alot and races around, and loves playing with her toys). Whenever I get the chance, I get in the playpen with her and play and talk to her; and give her one of her favorite treats whenever she sees me. Even after all that, she still scrambles to get away whenever someone tries to hold her. Any advice as to what I can do to get her to like being held by people again would be greatly appreciated, and the time length (hours, days, weeks, months?) required to do each step if listed in steps. Thanks!

Here's what she's living, and playing in----which I bought the very next day after I rescued her.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/ind%E2%80%A6

She has plenty of toys, and a litter tray in the bottom far left corner which she has been using. And and a hand towel on the bottom of her cage which she loves re-arranging.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js%E2%80%A6

This is her playpen that is hooked up to her cage; and I bought the little mat to go underneath the playpen. She has plenty of toys in that too---she's a pretty happy bunny. She loves my dog, and people coming up to her; but, just doesn't like to be held any more. :(

Additional Details

She's not pregnant---at her last home she had no contact with any male rabbit.

Also, she hasn't been drinking much either, but has still been eating alot. She drinking from a water bottle. At her last home, she was drinking and eating alot.

How long does it take for a rabbit to get use to a person's scent? Does it take a day, week, or month? I know with rabbits it takes a while to get them to trust you---so, I feel whenever I try to pick her up each day, then I'm ruining her trust in me. So should I try to pick her up each day, or just keep on petting her and giving her treats for a week or month before trying to pick her up again?

Update:

I had a rabbit when I was a little kid, and whenever I went into pet shops my parents taught me how to hold a rabbit (picking it up underneath, and another hand under her butt/feet area---and cuddle them close to you like that). I do understand that rabbits in general do not like to be held---but, when I first got this rabbit on that day, she was very calm and submissive whenever someone would pick her up. But, after that day, it was like a personality switch---she no longer likes to be held. I did some online research on this breed and it said that this breed usually is extremely friendly and loves to be held and have attention.

I also read somewhere that rabbits are like dogs in that they also have a "pack" mentality. So, they were saying that a rabbit may try to hump or be more aggressive with a person to see if I'm going to be the more dominant (pack leader) in the pack or not--especially at her age, they get more testy. Is that correct or not?

Update 2:

And she hasn't been spayed yet----I did some online research about that, and many places say that it's a very risky operation especially for such a young rabbit. And that most experienced vets probably won't spay a rabbit until she's 6 months old. I'm probably going to go ahead and scedule a vet appointment with a vet that was recommended to me by a rabbit sanctuary----to make sure that the rabbit is healthy, and maybe the vet will give me a time as to when I should spay my rabbit.

8 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I think your rabbit is acting like this because she has been moved to a new place and she has a new owner. She might be a tad homesick.

    I think you should just sit in the playpen with her and wait for her to come to you and carry on petting her.

    You could also try putting her on her lap and grooming her ( brushing her hair).

  • 1 decade ago

    Sounds like every thing is fine. She's letting you pet her and give her treats. Just work on trust and bonding by sitting inside her pen and continuing to talk and pet her.

    Unfortunately rabbits are not "snuggly" pets, and actually become fearful when being held, especially off the ground. Some may learn to tolerate it it without struggling much, but no rabbit likes it. It completely goes against their nature.

    Keep the affection on her terms, with her feet firmly planted on the ground. Try laying on your back and enjoy as she comes up and sniffs at your face; she may even get bold enough to jump on you. Don't do anything. Let her stay in control. Try gently laying your check on her head for snuggles as long as she is easily able to get away. She may or may not like it (rabbit pairs will sit with their heads touching).

    You can and should work on picking her up and holding her safely as her life may depend on it one day, but don't look at it as part of your bonding. Give it a little time, and then just start picking her up for a moment, then letting her go with praise and treats. She may be angry (and will let you know with a well-placed foot thump), but she probably won't hold a grudge for too long.

    As for the drinking - if she's getting sufficient quantities of fresh vegetables, that will provide her with much of her water intake.

  • 1 decade ago

    If she is binkying then there is more than likely nothing physically wrong with her. Try just sitting in her playpen with her while she is playing and totally leave her alone... rabbits are naturally curious animals and she will eventually come to see what you are doing... let her come to you before you go to her... dont try to pick her up for about a week... just let her be with you on her own... also make sure you are picking her up properly as you can easily cause pain to rabbits by picking them up wrong.

    And to "Southern Belle" you don't know what you're talking about when you say that rabbits don't like to held... That might be true with some rabbits but my baby "Pooper" absolutely loves to be held and cradled like a baby. He actually gets depressed if you don't hold him enough. You just have to be patient and let your rabbit trust you.

    Source(s): Holland Lop rabbit owner
  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    To simply reply your query - no. I grew up in an discipline wherein consuming rabbit, squirrels, possum, raccoon, deer (and sure, we did have pork, beef and chickens - I used to be raised on a nation farm). It used to be a culture for me and nonetheless every now and then consume those forms of meat. I have observed that the majority town men and women (who've simplest eaten hoof, fin, or chook) feel that consuming something else (meat) is fallacious, or barbaric and won't even check out it. Do now not push her - simply allow her order what she likes, and also you order the frog legs!

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  • 1 decade ago

    Rabbits DO NOT like to be held in general. Their only instint is to run and when you pick them up you are taking that away the more you try to pick her up and hold her while she is trying to get away the wildier she'll get you can also stress her out and give her a heartattack.

    Source(s): 20+ years rabbit breeder show judge and vet tech
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    It is nothing to be worried about, your probably not with her 24/7 so she may be glugging down water in the small time spaces and gaps you are not present. Even though she may not be pregnant, has she been spayed? You probably may need to adjust her diet a little.. and handle her a little more. Don't worry about it..

    Hope this helps :-)

    Source(s): I had a rabbit a few years back, it was a pesky little bliter :-)
  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    You can't have sex unless your not married

  • 1 decade ago

    Rabbits are prey animals. To them being picked up is a precursor to being eaten ad so they panic.

    I don't pick up my bunnies unless I absolutey have to.

    How do you pick them up? They tend to be happier if they have their feet against something solid. So pick her up and put her up against your chest as quickly as possible. Or have her resting against your arm.

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