Hi,

I've had by two boys for three weeks now. To begin with they were terrified of me, worrying that I would pick them up, so I stopped that and slowly they started to trust me and just hop from their hutch into the carrier for me to bring them inside and pet them.

Yesterday they had their first jabs and now they hate me again. All the trust has gone and it's back to square one where they run and hide when i go near them. They won't hop into the carrier any more and I have been told by the vets I HAVE to pick them up everyday.

What's the best way forward from here? I find it difficult to actually pick them up from inside the hutch, they run away quicker than I can catch them and scramble over my hands. They end up very stressed and I feel rotten.

Any tips welcome.

Hi there and welcome to the forum,

How old are you buns and have they been neutered yet? I have heard that neautering can calm them down. I think the main thing to remember is what you have already been doing... give them time to trust you and just be gentle with them... slowly slowly they will get to know and realise that you wont hurt them and that your their bunny mummy. I am talking from experience...people on the forum here will tell you I was sayign the same thing about my buns which I rescued a few months ago and even now Im still working on getting them to trust me. Its taken me a few months and now I can most of the time walk up to one of them and stroke her while she is free in teh garden but the other one I can walk up to him but he usually darts off if I try to stroke him while he is free in teh garden. Neither of them like to be picked up at all still. But remember some rabbits just dont like to be picked up full stop.

Just keep getting them to trust you slowly slowly every day... sit near them talk to them softly, give them treats like parsley bells from Pets @ home or some frsh veg try feeding them soem veg from your hands or even dandilions they love this.

Just remember patience if the key here. Im still going through it with my bunnies and ive had them couple months already but Im still working on it hang in there and we are all here to help if we can.

Also remember Rabbits dont like being picked up high so perhaps when you do mamange to pick them up if you remember to sit on teh floor with them and try not to pick them and stand up straight as this may make them feel unsafe!

Good Luck!

Keep us updated!

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They are 13 and 11 weeks so not neutered yet. I'm just a bit gutted that all the trust has gone, they would happily hop into their carrier knowing they were just being brought inside for a scamper about in the hall, now they won't get in.

Should I give up again trying to pick them up for now? They are in a hutch outside which means I have to reach in to pick them up, which in all fairness must be terrifying for them, being cornered and grabbed.

Feel mean.

I have the same problem I have to pick Leo up to take him out of the cage. Set them on the floor and just sit on the floor basically ignoring them. It might take a while but they will hop up to you, reward them for doing this I find bits of toast works. Build this up until you can touch them and then pick them up. You have to take it very slowly.