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Old 16-03-2009, 08:52 AM
umber umber is offline
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Help with Handling Rabbits!

Its been over a week now since Ive had Flake and Daisy and they have really become part of the family

My main problem at the moment is handling them. They dont mind me stroked although Flake the male who is 6 months is quite jumpy. Hes very nosey he wants to know everything that is going on so he will come sniff you etc. Every day I spend time sitting in their run with them he will come and eat apple treats from my hand he will climb my back to put his paws on my shoulders etc. But if I try to pick him up he panicks and starts kicking and struggling like mad so Im unable to!

In the Rehome Centre every day I went for 2 weeks he would sit on my lap and fall asleep!!! But then one of the staff would pick him and bring him to me. It seems as though he does like me and is comfortable playing around me and climbing onto me he doesnt want me to pick him up or have in my lap. I have noticed he seems to get started quite easily poor baby. Do you think with time we could over come this and what thing should I do or avoid to help him?

Daisy on the other hand doesnt mind being stroked. In the centre its funny she wasnt nosey at all. She would sit in the same place looking very grumpy bless her. Since I have bought her home she is a different rabbit. When I start to open the door of the run she comes running to see if Im going to feed her lol! When I sit in the run she wont come and climb all over me like Flake does but I think part of this reason is because of Flake. A few times she has come to sniff around me he sorts of chases her away as if to say bakc off shes mine lol!
A couple of times what she has done when im in the run is she has come and sat next to me and allowed me to play with her head! Flake has also done this.

Again when I try to pick her up she tries to get free but not as much as Flake. I have actually managed to calm her and have her on my lap for a short while.

When I first bought them home although they struggled I was easily able to take them out of their hutch by hand and put them in the run on the grass. Now I cant do that I just cant get them lol! Plus I dont want to scare them! So I have to let them climb into their pet carrier then transfer them that way!

Any tips please. I know not all rabbits like to be handled but I have heard that with patience and time they can get more used to it so I just want to see if I can do anything that may help this. IF not then Ill just love them by looking and petting!
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