New rabbit for Xmas

[Newrabbitmama]

My partner landed home with a new rabbit on Xmas eve for me, we were told he’s no older than 3 months so I understand he’s young and nervous but I feel like I’m getting nowhere with him. If I go to lift him out he will try to run and hide but once I get him in my arms he will sit and allow me to pet him but once I let him loose in the room he won’t come anywhere near me. I’ve tried sitting for hours just on my phone or cleaning his pen and he’ll come over and have an occasional sniff but won’t stay to be touched, to get him back in at night I have to sit and wait until he’s ready to go in as he won’t let me touch him. Last night he did take two treats from my hand one of them he bit me and drew blood but I’m thinking this was an accident as he didn’t come over with annoyed body language I think he just got mixed up in my finger and the treat. What can I do to form a bond with him so he’s happy to be touched? He doesn’t seem to have changed much towards me in a week but he has got more used to the house noises and the noises of me in cleaning him out every day

That's a very short amount of time, I'm sure if you continue to take it slowly you will start to see progress. Do you have another rabbit for him to live with? Rabbits really need to live with a other rabbit to thrive and be happy.

Rabbits take a long time to trust humans and really do much better in pairs . Is he a large or small breed as I’ve always found that the friendliest ones are the large or giant breeds . If you decide to get him a friend Belgian hares are excellent .

He’s a smallish breed I think they’ve said he’s a Rex cross and won’t get much bigger than he is, so far we only have the one as I would have loved one before but just didn’t think our house was big enough and had a big enough garden for one but now he’s here I want to try and make it work. I’ve been trying with treats setting them near me when I’m cleaning his space and he does come and get them but always goes back behind something to eat them on his own. I’ve been told by people who have had rabbits that to get them used to handling you just have to lift them even when they don’t want it and they will come round but everything I’ve read online says to wait and let them come to you so I’m not sure which approach to take. I don’t want to corner him into it every time but I also don’t want to ignore him and not handle him for the forseeable future

I'm guessing this is your first rabbit? They really aren't that cuddly! Some are....but many aren't. He'll need a friend and ALOT of space - not one of the horrible cages pets at home flog.

There are lots of websites to learn more about bunnies but they are alot of work! But very rewarding animals given time.

Rabbits are don’t like to be handled at all. I’ve had several rabbits over the years and never been able to pick them up. I wouldn’t try to handle him, just let him come to you in time.

Rabbits really don't like to be picked up or cuddled. Eventually he may happily sit on your lap or beside you and just chill. But I'd definitely keep going slow and adjust your expectations. Like others have said, he really needs a rabbit friend for his emotional wellbeing. A neutered female is often best as other males can be aggressive with each other.

I've had several rabbits and none have permitted me to pick them up, and only one seemed to like being stroked.

Rabbits look cuddly but they’re not teddies. They’re not really there for that tbh. You have to gain their trust etc and it could do with a companion. Making it work is about making it a nice life for the rabbit, they’re quite nervous so it’s doing very well from what you’ve said.

I have four rabbits and have loads over the years. I agree, most hate to be picked up ( they are prey to many things and predators to none). They need tons of space, no terrible cages or hutches plus company. We have two neutered pairs. Agree with a pp that a neutered female would be the best help but yours would likely need neutering too ( and vaccinating). Rabbits are not easy pets but fab. They really need company. All of ours are rescue and one we have had for over four years is still not a fan of humans. They have such huge personalities despite what many people think. They can be super expensive though if things go wrong, we insure ours. Too many out of hours call outs, so worth insuring.

This might be useful rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-booklet/

Rabbits really don't like being picked up, so I only do it when necessary. To make friends just sit down nearby and let him come to you. Feed him a treat when he's close. Touch him on his forehead and the base of his ears, approach from the side as they have a blind spot just in front of their nose. Avoid his hindquarters until you're better acquainted, stick to the front end. Avoid feet I've yet to meet one that likes having their feet touched.

He really really must have a friend. This isn't optional. If you've space for one, you've space for two.

Have you registered him with a vet? He'll need a vaccination against myxi/VHD and you can book him in for neutering too. (I get mine microchipped whilst they're under the anaesthetic.)

Once he's neutered, start looking around local rescues to adopt a friend for him. Ask if they'll bond them for you. (Rabbits are territorial and must be introduced carefully. Don't just put them together!)

Are you savvy about good feeding? Lots and lots of good quality feeding hay (buying in bulk online is cheaper than PAH). A tablespoon of pellets not muesli (eg, Science Selective is a good brand). A handful or two of green veg. Go easy on pellets and veg, as the hay must be the bulk of his diet. Rabbits teeth grow incredibly fast (2-3mm a week) and eating hay keeps them trim. Dentals are expensive and stressful.

And finally a rabbit not eating is a vet emergency. Please go to a vet urgently. It's not like a cat or dog where you can leave it a few hours to see how they go on. A rabbit not eating is a sign something is seriously wrong. And not eating in itself leads to GI stasis which is very painful and can be fatal.

Rabbits are prey animals so very scared of humans and dont like to be picked up. just let them get used to you and make sure no loud noises etc around as all very scary. They need alot of access to grass/hay and need to graze on it all day. They need to live with at least one more rabbit as a minimum so do not keep it alone, that would be terrible animal welfare and I would even go as far to say against the animal welfare act. so you need to carefully bond another rabbit to it,its difficult but really really important. You can get support with this from a rabbit rescue place who will help you bond them if you rehome from them. I would book in with the vet too for vaccinations and for protection from flystrike before the summer. They are wonderful creatures and very rewarding pets if you care for them right, but not easy pets.

As others have said, he's a nervous prey animal in a brand new environment. Rabbits strongly dislike being picked up, I only pick mine up for grooming purposes, or when we need to go to the vet.

One of mine is very friendly/curious and constantly underfoot, the other is more nervous of human touch and always has been, I've had them since they were a year old and they're seven years now. They're both rescue rabbits, the more nervous one was very roughly handled before he was rescued (dangled by his ears) so he can be forgiven! All rabbits have strong personalities, it will take time for yours to develop, and he will need to be neutered when he's around 5-6 months old - unneutered boys are prone to spraying and being little stinkers.

Good grief.

Why on earth would an adult gift you a rabbit for Christmas?

Rabbits don’t like to be held or cuddled. They will thrash which puts them at serious risk of back injury.

Rabbits are pair animals. Rabbits that are kept in pairs tend to be happier, calmer and less prone to being stressed, which should help them live longer.

Rabbits should not be kept in cages.

Rabbit care is expensive.

It sounds like you want a cuddly toy. This seems a more suitable Christmas gift.

There are lots of rabbit rescues you could contact to see if they have space. Rescues will pair the rabbit up asap, if suitable, and try to rehome the pair together.

I had two house rabbits (brothers) that would follow me around and liked to be petted they weren’t keen on being picked up. They can be trained to use litter trays if they are indoors. Mine were allowed to roam freely in the (secure) garden or inside but you need to protect electrical wires as they will chew them. They loved playing in cardboard box forts!
Grass or hay should be their main food source with maybe a very small piece of broccoli stalk or similar vegetable very occasionally as a treat.