Bun 'jumps' when i go near her mouth?

[nicolevins]

Anytime I try to rub my new rabbit she doesn't really like it. If I let her smell me when she goes near my hand she does a little jump or 'twitch' sort of thing. It's weird IDK what it is?!


HELP?!

 

[kirbyultra]

Is it a binky? Like a twisting jump up in the air?

 

[nicolevins]

No, she like moves away :S

 

[elrohwen]

If I touch my bun on the nose or near his mouth he'll also jump away. My guess is that, because they can't see directly in front of them, it scares them when you suddenly touch them in that area. They know your hand is there, but they don't expect it to touch them. I would just avoid touching her on the nose or the mouth and try to approach from the side with your hand so she can see it. Try petting her on the top of the head or the back instead.

 

[nicolevins]

Thanks

 

[tonyshuman]

Simple--bunnies don't like to be touched on the mouth. Some bunnies are "hand shy" meaning they don't like to be touched by hands, frequently because they've been mistreated in the past. My Muffin came to me like that. She was in a bad situation before she got to the shelter I adopted her from--neglect/abuse. After a long time of only approaching her slowly with a hand, and frequently having a treat in that hand, she started to let me come up to her and pet her (took months). Another thing I did was go slowly up to her with my hand, and if she jumped away, follow her, and pet her in a way I know she liked (base of the ears)--that way she couldn't really get away from being petted, and was able to learn that it was a good thing.

 

[missyscove]

Buns have very sensitive whiskers. It's possible that you're bumping into her whiskers first and when she feels that she's moving away.

 

[zyymurgy]

I wouldn't push the issue; if you've only had your bun for a short amount of time - short to me meaning less than 6 months - it's going to be natural for the little rascal to shy away. My bunnies still jump a little and sniff around when I put my hand near their faces, but if I extend a finger to them and just point at their nose, they usually rub all over it.

 

[nicolevins]

I kept my other bun Jenni inside last night on my bed, and she flopped beside my pillow all night when i woke up she gave me lots of kisses and nudges

maybe i wil take oreo(new bunny) in tonight with jenni cuz they are bonded