tips needed on how to handle my new rabbits????????

[snowwonder]

we have 2 new bunnies....... we have left them in hutch for a few days to settle then this morning the girls wanted them out i picked up and they scratched my chest..

the thing is i dont want to lose confidence with handling them, once on girls laps they settled and were fine but a bit scratchy when i picked up to put back in hutch... so any tips welcome

thankyou

It's a long time since I had rabbits, but here goes...

To lift rabbit up, put one hand under the rabbit's chest and bring the other hand under its bottom and support its back legs.

They're just not used to you right now, but if you pick them up every day I'm sure they will get used to you quickly.

They might be a bit scratchy to start with, so I would wear long sleeves when you pick them up.

bunnies, need to be handled confidently, and they do have sharp clwas, which you will have to get trimmed.

Iused to do my bunnies', but you may have to take them to a vet.

Two bunnies bought together can sometimes take a while to get used to humans, cos they r going to rely on each other. I had a ver very soppy bunny, who was on his own, and then after a yr we got another. Luckily he remained freindly, but even tho he was a sweetheart, he wasnt really up for cuddles on my lap, but he was placid.
The 2nd bunny was a girl, and cute as anything, but a little cow lol.

Give them time to settle in, and discover what their personalities are like. Get a run, and let your children sit by it, proffering bits of carrot etc, to build up the trust,
they need time.

If they get skitty when you hold them then the way to calm them down is to let them burrow their head into the crook of your arm whilst you are still holding them and supporting their back, then just stroke them along their bac. They should calm down instantly.

brillant thanks for your advice,

think a bigger enclosure might be the answer a folding one would be good, as garden isnt massive, then the girls can sit in there with them

and long sleeves will be the way to go, got short sleeve on today with low neck>hussy

Unfortunately rabbits can scratch. As you get near the hutch they can be keen to get into it so be prepared for the odd flying leap. I have an old fleece that is kept for rabbit handling.

A run or enclosure large enough for the girls to sit in, or even lie down with them, with them is best. If you just sit down at their level they will eventually come to investigate. Our female hated to be picked up but would jump on a lap to take dandelion leaves.

If the run is big enough you can put it over the hutch and it will be much easier to get them in at night.

try getting your girls to hand feed them. rabbits dont like to be picked up.

\link{http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/care/handling.asp\here)

here even

thanks very much for that great website misdee