Picking up my rabbit questions

[cbun]

So, I know that 1) in general, rabbits don't like to be picked up because it triggers their prey responses, and 2) there are a large range of personality differences across rabbits, but that being said, I'm interested in people's varied experiences with your rabbits.

Our bun is an adopted lionhead mix (maybe with American fuzzy lop- hard to know for sure, of course) and she is real active kicker and will very much avoid being lifted off the ground, whether by hand or while sitting in her litter box. I'm trying to get myself a bit more comfortable trying to pick her up right now, not because I have interest in picking her up often, but I want to try to get better at it for the times I'll have to transport her for care while on vacation or to the vet, and I'd love for her to get even slightly more relaxed about it. I can generally get a lift around her chest quickly enough, but she instantly starts kicking fiercely and it's really hard to get her butt/ hind legs tucked.

How are your experiences similar or different? Any experience "taming" attitudes toward pickups with buns like mine? She was found abandoned in a park, so no idea if she had previous experiences that would have made her extra-averse to being picked up. She is a lovely bun other than that challenge- she enjoys plenty of pets, gives us licks, takes food from our hands, etc. She isn't a lap bun but will definitely hop over our legs and stuff if we're relaxing on the floor with her.

 

[JBun]

Easiest would be to just train your rabbit to go in a carrier while on the floor. Requires no picking up and stressing bun that way. But there can be times when you may need to pick your rabbit up, so it is good to know how to do it safely and with as little stress to the bun as possible. Though keep in mind, there is always the potential for a rabbit to be injured, sometimes seriously, when being picked up and handled, even when it's done correctly. So if there's a safer way to move your rabbit around, like using a carrier, it's best to use the safest method whenever possible, in my opinion.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Handling

You may also want to read this older thread. Hermelin gives a good explanation about how to teach a rabbit gradually to feel more trusting about being picked up.

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threa...-me-and-biting-my-clothes.96208/#post-1124801

 

[cbun]

Easiest would be to just train your rabbit to go in a carrier while on the floor. Requires no picking up and stressing bun that way. But there can be times when you may need to pick your rabbit up, so it is good to know how to do it safely and with as little stress to the bun as possible. Though keep in mind, there is always the potential for a rabbit to be injured, sometimes seriously, when being picked up and handled, even when it's done correctly. So if there's a safer way to move your rabbit around, like using a carrier, it's best to use the safest method whenever possible, in my opinion.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Handling

You may also want to read this older thread. Hermelin gives a good explanation about how to teach a rabbit gradually to feel more trusting about being picked up.

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threa...-me-and-biting-my-clothes.96208/#post-1124801

Maybe I can try that with the carrier... and I'll check out the other thread. Our problem has been that she's sensitive to being moved off the ground PERIOD. So, in the past we tried bringing her downstairs during the day by picking up the litter box while she was in it, but if she senses we're about to do that now she leaps out. My guess is that she'd therefore be the same way with the carrier- once she associates or with being lifted off the ground she'll want none of it

 

[Blue eyes]

If she normally lives upstairs and you are wanting to have her roam about downstairs, I'd agree that an enclosed carrier is the safest way to get her downstairs. Even if she didn't hop out of the litter box when it's picked up, she could startle and jump while being carried down the stairs. That could result in some serious injury. That's why an enclosed carrier would be safer.

Another option could be to house her wherever her roaming area will be. If that area is downstairs, then she could be housed downstairs. It is safer (and more desirable for her) to just have her cage door opened for roaming time.

I've always kept our rabbits in the main area of our home. Visitors would be surprised when they'd see the rabbit(s) and would inevitably be surprised that there wasn't any telltale odor. (just mentioning that in case you weren't aware it was possible to do)

Here's a sample of a cage in the main housing area.

 

[cbun]

Maybe I will start with trying to get her warmed up to jumping into the carrier. We enjoy the idea of her being downstairs with us when we are downstairs, but we do spend a good deal of time upstairs as well, our small bedroom that serves as an office had become her room, and we just close the door at night to make sure she doesn't accidentally get into trouble when we're asleep. We've gradually opened up the whole upper floor to her, so she free roams 4 rooms during the day. We've tried to tempt her to learn how to go downstairs on her own, but she seems disinterested or hesitant. I do want to get her warmed up to the carrier on her own, particularly for when we have to bring her to the vet or when we go on longer vacations... I would much prefer that she is a bit more comfortable going on her own, rather than asked having to try to pick her up and put her somewhere where she is not comfortable.

Do you have front entry carriers or do your bunnies have to hop in?

 

[TreasuredFriend]

@cbun, I will contribute my personal experiences with bunnies acclimating to being held in a short time.

For a quick note now, nearly ALL of our house buns see the k/cab carrier and immediately associate that with "vet trip." They hear the handle move, see the carrier, and their brain signals them to "nope, I don't wanna go the the DVM today."

At one time we cared for over 20 sp/eutered companions in our multi-level home. Huge quadrants, ex-pens, and XLG d/k crates that are raised up on tables. At the humane society where I volunteered as rabbit socializer for years, we knew how to gain trust when removing the buns from their steel cubicles and safely, confidently carried them to the designated "xpen" for out-of-caging exercise time. They were housed in steel cubicles three stories high.

The more you acclimate them, trust will or can be established.

 

[TreasuredFriend]

Our Flemmie came from a backyard breeder and had a horrible past. He disliked being picked up for many years. He has acclimated because he needs to receive Furosemide with his meloxicam.

 

[samoth]

It took me years to get comfortable enough to pick either rabbit up... probably because I didn't even try out of fear of hurting them. I should have started earlier. Mine were both adopted with unknown backgrounds as well.

To this day, I just avoid it. If I need to get them 'up,' I bring out the carrier. They usually run into a kaninhol, after which I place the carrier in front of the door and push them into it from the inside.

I'm able to scoop them up if I need to, but they always seem to sense when I want to do this and run. Distracting them with treats usually works, though.

I guess I don't have much to contribute to this thread, other than to say that I've done just fine without needing to pick them up by hand.

 

[cbun]

It took me years to get comfortable enough to pick either rabbit up... probably because I didn't even try out of fear of hurting them. I should have started earlier. Mine were both adopted with unknown backgrounds as well.

To this day, I just avoid it. If I need to get them 'up,' I bring out the carrier. They usually run into a kaninhol, after which I place the carrier in front of the door and push them into it from the inside.

I'm able to scoop them up if I need to, but they always seem to sense when I want to do this and run. Distracting them with treats usually works, though.

I guess I don't have much to contribute to this thread, other than to say that I've done just fine without needing to pick them up by hand.

THat's go to hear because I feel like I've been in that same category- like I'm happy to just avoid it, but then I worry about not learning to be comfortable for when I might need to...but perhaps we'll just have to suck it up during those transport times and try our best to tempt her into an easy transfer!

 

[cbun]

Easiest would be to just train your rabbit to go in a carrier while on the floor. Requires no picking up and stressing bun that way. But there can be times when you may need to pick your rabbit up, so it is good to know how to do it safely and with as little stress to the bun as possible. Though keep in mind, there is always the potential for a rabbit to be injured, sometimes seriously, when being picked up and handled, even when it's done correctly. So if there's a safer way to move your rabbit around, like using a carrier, it's best to use the safest method whenever possible, in my opinion.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Handling

You may also want to read this older thread. Hermelin gives a good explanation about how to teach a rabbit gradually to feel more trusting about being picked up.

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threa...-me-and-biting-my-clothes.96208/#post-1124801

I'm finally getting a chance to check these resources out and they're great! I'll have to tell my husband about the bunny burrito method for the next trip to the HareBNB. Also, there are some good ideas for getting our bunny to the next level with comfort. She's been a dream in so many ways- quickly got comfortable with me holding her front paws (at least after receiving a treat), generally accepts lots of pets, etc. but these pages give me some ideas about how I can keep working on acclimatizing her.