Scared/Angry New Bunny Help?!

[egghog]

Hi everyone!

Hoping anyone can help! We recently adopted a rabbit from an advert online. We’ve had one rabbit before and she was very different and much calmer than this one, and we want him to have the best life, but we’re just not sure how to help him.
He is around four years old according to the family we got him from. He absolutely hates being picked up, and runs into the far corner of his cage and gets very low, flat and small, lurches at, thumps his foot and bites anyone that gets near him. We always come in very slowly and calmly and show him we are there before we touch him. We make sure that we are very quiet and gentle around him always.
We just really don’t know what to do, whether we should try and leave him alone and not try and interact with him at times other than putting him out in his run, claw clipping, grooming and general care because we don’t want to cause him stress and upset, or whether this is something we should work with him on?
He has been checked over by the vet for any medical reasons for this behaviour and they have assured us that this doesn’t seem to be the reason for his behaviour. He has access to lots of space and a place to shelter in his cage, goes out in his run every day, has toys, fresh water, feeding hay and we give him the recommended amount of nuggets and vegetables every day. We have a book of what vegetables he has tried and likes, that are best for bunnies, and give him these too.
We just want what’s best for him, and if anyone has any recommendations at all we will try anything as I said, we just want to help him be happy, whether that’s through minimal interaction with us, or working to help make it easier for him if that’s possible.

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[egghog]

I forgot to add that he is neutered also.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

He’s definitely scared. I’d say to stop approaching him. Rather, sit on the floor and ignore him. He may not come up to you the first 10 times, but he’ll gradually get closer and that’s progress. Once he is near you, don’t try to touch him immediately. Put your hand out slowly, near his face and ‘ask’ if he wants to be touched. If he runs away, let him do that. If he lets you stroke him, go slowly and when he wants you to stop, don’t try to keep him there.

Food is also a great way to get your rabbit to like you. You can hand feed his pellets, or sit down with him as he eats his veggies. Treats and fruit are a definite plus for rabbits. A small piece of banana or apple a few times a week, will get him loving you.

Take it slowly and let it be on his terms

 

[egghog]

He’s definitely scared. I’d say to stop approaching him. Rather, sit on the floor and ignore him. He may not come up to you the first 10 times, but he’ll gradually get closer and that’s progress. Once he is near you, don’t try to touch him immediately. Put your hand out slowly, near his face and ‘ask’ if he wants to be touched. If he runs away, let him do that. If he lets you stroke him, go slowly and when he wants you to stop, don’t try to keep him there.

Food is also a great way to get your rabbit to like you. You can hand feed his pellets, or sit down with him as he eats his veggies. Treats and fruit are a definite plus for rabbits. A small piece of banana or apple a few times a week, will get him loving you.

Take it slowly and let it be on his terms

Thank you so much for your advice, very much appreciated. We will try this.

 

[zuppa]

Hi, how long he's with you?

I have a rabbit with similar problems she was very nervous when I got her and was very defensive, I've got bitten pretty often.

From your description he is scared and defensive. Maybe you gave him too much attention from day 1.

With rabbits it is often advised that when you brought a new rabbit home you give him a small cage and cover it with a blanket and leave them be for 24-48 hours, all the grooming, nail clipping it's not that urgent, you only clip them once a month, maybe you could wait when he will feel safer.

In your situation I would probably make a very tiny covered place for him, like a cage covered with a blanket, and would just leave him alone for a few days, without approaching him etc, just come twice a day to give food, water, hay, say hello and don't touch just go away.

If you won't let him out for a few days nothing wrong, but he will start feeling safer in his little cave. After a week you can open his door and sit next to cage on the floor or lay down to be on his level, but again, don't approach him, take a book and read it or play with your phone, put some positive music on, not too loud, and stay there like you are absolutely not interested in him, he will maybe stay in this first time or maybe will go out and back, you will see. Repeat this every day, ideally same time for an hour or two, he will see that you are not trying to get him and maybe he will come to sniff you, but maybe you will need more time. Don't force him.

After a few weeks when he is coming out his cage for a couple hours you can attach a playpen to it so he could have more room. Wait a few more weeks or months and extend his space even more. And keep staying near him for a couple hours a day but doing something so he could see you are not interested in him.

Then there are more tricks,but main idea that you need to show that you are not interested in getting him, so he will start taking you as you are not a predator.

 

[egghog]

Hi, how long he's with you?

I have a rabbit with similar problems she was very nervous when I got her and was very defensive, I've got bitten pretty often.

From your description he is scared and defensive. Maybe you gave him too much attention from day 1.

With rabbits it is often advised that when you brought a new rabbit home you give him a small cage and cover it with a blanket and leave them be for 24-48 hours, all the grooming, nail clipping it's not that urgent, you only clip them once a month, maybe you could wait when he will feel safer.

In your situation I would probably make a very tiny covered place for him, like a cage covered with a blanket, and would just leave him alone for a few days, without approaching him etc, just come twice a day to give food, water, hay, say hello and don't touch just go away.

If you won't let him out for a few days nothing wrong, but he will start feeling safer in his little cave. After a week you can open his door and sit next to cage on the floor or lay down to be on his level, but again, don't approach him, take a book and read it or play with your phone, put some positive music on, not too loud, and stay there like you are absolutely not interested in him, he will maybe stay in this first time or maybe will go out and back, you will see. Repeat this every day, ideally same time for an hour or two, he will see that you are not trying to get him and maybe he will come to sniff you, but maybe you will need more time. Don't force him.

After a few weeks when he is coming out his cage for a couple hours you can attach a playpen to it so he could have more room. Wait a few more weeks or months and extend his space even more. And keep staying near him for a couple hours a day but doing something so he could see you are not interested in him.

Then there are more tricks,but main idea that you need to show that you are not interested in getting him, so he will start taking you as you are not a predator.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. We have had him for just coming up to three months now. We will give your ideas a go, hopefully this will help him. After all, all we want is a happy and comfortable bunny!

 

[zuppa]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. We have had him for just coming up to three months now. We will give your ideas a go, hopefully this will help him. After all, all we want is a happy and comfortable bunny!

It is not impossible, it takes time and patience. Rabbits are prey animals and imagine how big are you in their eyes, you want to play but he maybe thinks you are going to eat him so he tries to protect himself.
God luck and please keep us updated. We love pics as well, so don't hesitate to post one or two, your rabbit, his place, his toilet his food his poo, we love details

 

[egghog]

It is not impossible, it takes time and patience. Rabbits are prey animals and imagine how big are you in their eyes, you want to play but he maybe thinks you are going to eat him so he tries to protect himself.
God luck and please keep us updated. We love pics as well, so don't hesitate to post one or two, your rabbit, his place, his toilet his food his poo, we love details

Yes most definitely. That makes sense, hopefully with time he will start to feel better. Will keep you posted! Maybe when he feels a bit more comfortable we will get some better photos of him and post them! Thanks so much again!