handling new rabbit

[oneeyemonkeypie]

i just got a rabbit, the thing is getting braverevery day. but it is still rather timid about letting metouch it.

is the best way to get it friendly to people to pick it up and show it that i wont hurt it, or let it come to me?

 

[Bunnys_rule63]

The best thing to do is spend a lot of time nearhim, reading a book or something. Rabbits are naturally curious andhe'll soon come up to you, you can reward him with treats at first sohe associates you with something nice and starts to trust you. You canalso hand feed him his pellets and veggies so that he learns that hehas to be near you to get his food. As he starts to trust you you canstart stroking him, then once he is used to that pick him up, althoughnot many rabbits actually like being picked up so I wouldn't do itunless it was necessary because it might stress him out, althoughhaving a rabbit that is used to being handled is useful if he ever isill and needs to be given medication etc.

 

[maherwoman]

:hello:welcome1

Welcome to the site and congratulations on your new friend!

As far as getting a bunny used to your presence, the thing I do when mybuns are being timid about coming out and joining Family Time is I getdown on the floor on my chest, fully laying on the floor, and get closeto their cage and just talk to them. Usually within a fewminutes, they'll come over in curiousity to see me and get somelove. Mine are quite used to people, so it might take a bitof time if your baby is shy, but I've read in a couple places thatgetting down on their level really helps (helps with cats, too).

My best advice in general is to check out the Rabbit 101section. There is such a wealth of informationthere!

Here's the link to Rabbit 101: http://rabbitsonline.net/view_forum.php?id=17

Here are a couple links that should help:

Here is the link to the Communication and Language section of the Rabbit 101:
http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12051&forum_id=17

Here's a topic about Shy Bunnies: http://rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12060&forum_id=17

Here's another good site (that you'll find many links to on thissite). It's the House Rabbit Society site, and alsohas a good amount of information, especially for newbie bunny owners:
http://rabbit.org/care/index.html

So, browse around! I recommend not only the Rabbit 101section, but the Rabbit Health and Forum Informationsections as well! There's so much information there that,despite my many hours of rabbit research and reading (so many r's!hehe), I still come across things on this site that I'd never readbefore!

Also, feel free to create a Bunny Blog for your new friend!We LOVE seeing bunny pictures and reading about bunny adventures andsuch! In fact, you'll quickly find quite a demand forpictures! Hehe...

Again, welcome to the RO Family! We look forward to chattingwith you and hearing all about your baby! Feelabsolutely free to ask all the questions you like, too...we love beingable to help! This is literally the best group of people I'veever encountered on a forum, so you're guaranteed to have a pleasanttime.

Enjoy!

Rosie*