Bunny nipping and terrified of being picked up :(

[bunnyluv96]

Hello I had a couple questions I was wondering if anyone might be willing to help me with.

1: Does your bun ever nip you, and what does that mean? My bun will lick my hand and then nip me!

2: Is there any way to help a bunny get over being afraid of being picked up? My bun's cage is on top of my entertainment center, there's just no room for it to be put on the floor, it's about 5 feet high. When I get him out to exercise I have to reach in and pick him up so that I can place him down on the floor. He absolutely hates this!! And it makes me feel terrible. I try to be calm and as gentle as possible but he always struggles and kicks, and has scratched me several times. He is smart, and figures out when I'm wanting to get him out, and he'll run out of reach to the top level of his cage and hide. poor baby. So I try to lure him down to me with treats, and scoop him up gently. I hold him to my chest, and support his hind legs, and his poor little heart is racing and he's breathing really fast. I stroke him and talk softly to him and he'll be ok for afew secondsthen start thrashing wildly so I have to immediately put him down. I'm not trying to hold him for any reason other than transporting him to/from his cage/exercise pen, but I feel awful because it seems traumatic for him. He is otherwise super loving to me, he will lick me, and even snuggle up next to me and fall asleep. I can pet him for hours and he is happy as can be, but he can't stand being picked up. Unfortunatley, I see no way around having to pick him up on a daily basis, because he needs his exercise time and the cage is too high up. I am working on buying some new furniture so I can rearrange the bedroom and put his cage on the floor, but in a way I like it up high so that the cats don't bother him too much and he can have his privacy. I dont' want to put him through daily trauma, is there anything I can do to help him be ok with being picked up? How can I make it easier on him and me? Is there a way to help him not be afraid? Thanks so much for the help.

 

[hartleybun]

:wave:my 5 year old doe, roxy reacts in the same way when picked up. many rabbits just dont like their paws off the ground! when i do have to pick her up, i put my left hand under her bottom to support her back legs. my right hand i use to support her chest. i hold her close to stop her kicking out.

some members use the 'bunny burrito' method - check out nail clipping in the library section - very helpful

most of us have worn the 'mark of the bun' at some point! so dont worry. personally, and this is just me!, i wouldnt bother trying to lure him down with treats. i would just calmly - whilst wearing long sleeves- reach in and pick him up. if i had to trim nails or carry out routine bun check i get down on the ground with roxy on my lap.

i see sunny has you under his paw already - you mention rearranging your bedroom for him

good luck

 

[elrohwen]

Unfortunately, very few rabbits tolerate being picked up! Neither of mine would be ok with being picked up to come out and play every day. Can you use something like a carrier or litter box to lift him out of the cage? Many bunnies do much better with a "spaceship" to transport them as they can still keep all feet on a solid surface.

As for the nipping, sounds like he's trying to groom you! Bunnies often throw in little nips when they're grooming each other, but their skin is less sensitive than ours. When he does it, just yelp in a high pitched voice to let him know that what he's done has hurt you. He should start getting the idea. Sometimes it works to walk away and stop giving him attention when he does this - he'll put two and two together that his playmate leaves every time he nips. It's also extremely common in baby buns, and most grow out of it as they learn that humans just don't like to be nibbled at.

 

[bunnyluv96]

LOL a spaceship.. that's adorable, and a good idea! I will try that b/c I put his litterbox in the exercise pen too so he can have it while he plays. Ah so he is grooming me? That's cute, but yes he has sharp little teeth so they hurt!And to hartley bun yes he certainly does have me under his paw! From the moment I brought him home I have been absolutely smitten. I have bunny fever! But I can't resist that precious little face, and that's why it troubles me so much to think he's distressed over being picked up. I don't want him to become afraid of me, but he seems to recover pretty quickly. I know the bunny burrito method, but I dont' think I could manuver that in his cage unfortunately. Thanks so much for the replies!

 

[tonyshuman]

For bunnies, a loving groom can include teeth, because sometimes they use their teeth to clean stuff out of each others' fur, or to scratch in a good way (like having someone scratch your back). Thing is, we don't have fur to protect us, so biting our skin really hurts! It sounds like he just doesn't know that biting isn't ok for humans. Say no and/or make a high pitched squeal when he does this so he knows it hurts.

At the shelter, we have some buns that hate being picked up too, in top cages. I let them sit in their hidey boxes (if they have a solid bottom) or the litter pan and pick that up like Laura said.

Also, when you hold him, make sure he feels as safe and secure as possible. This usually means putting all 4 feet on your body--this makes them feel safe. If that leads to him climbing up your shoulder and making a flying leap, you may have to hold him with one hand under the bum and the other hand by the ribs, but put his back up against your body too so that he doesn't feel like he's dangling from some bird's talon.

 

[bunnyluv96]

Thanks for all the tips!

 

[Amy27]

lol I also use the spaceship method. I usually use the carrier so they can't jump out in route to where I am taking them. The only time I really move them that way is when I take them to the bathtub for meds. Otherwise, their cages are on the floor so I just open their caged areas.