She dosn't understand...

I have a question. As Lucy was a breeding rabbit she probably didn't have the life as a normal pet. By that she didn't have toys and she never had greens as Dee had loads of rabbits.

Well she's very weary of us, as in one slight move and she's off! I know this is all time and sitting with her but she doesn't eat greens or any treats so i can't tempt her. All she will eat is Russell Rabbit mix feed which is what she was on before. She doesn't even know what to do with a play tunnel.

She was using a litter tray before but no longer. She does tend to scatter and pee where she shouldn’t but she isn’t spayed so i am hoping that will come in time. But she doesn't know to even sit in it and she doesn't eat hay.

She was born Oct 2009, so is it possible to get her into new habits?

Sadly, that's the problem with rabbits that have been owned by breeders, all they are interested in is breeding, breeding and more breeding and they don't appear to give a rabbit the basic things that a bunny needs, I can only assume that you rabbit has never had hay before? and never had greens?, those two things alone are the basics for a rabbits diet, from her behaviour it would appear that she has never been talked to or taught to interact with people, that is very, very sad, she is obviously petrified of humans.

I think you have quite a task on your hands, she needs to be socialised and her diet needs to be changed, I would do both as soon as I could and I would give her plenty of hay, her diet should be 80% hay, does she have dental problems?

Her teeth are very good and from what i am aware of she did get hay but not sure as to how much and when. She is such an adorable bunny i don't want her to be scared of us.

One thing Dee said was to not give her the run of the flat or she will become bulshy? To keep her more confined in her space. Anyway she's been out all day and she loves it! Jumping all over the place but she will just run and hide behind a chair if we move.

I have handled her today and i am sitting with her. But i have to pick her up from the cage as i won't get her if she's out. She is very friendly, even though she's scared she will just go with it. She has never had greens before no, i gave her a bit of carrot and she won’t eat it. Its been in her cage all day. I am very glad i got her, if i can give one bunny the opportunity to have a life they never did before then that is fine by me.

Lucy (original called sweetcorn) didn’t want to breed which is why i have her. I just wish she wouldn’t hide all the time, but she is very curious and will come over for a sniff. Its just when you move.

It is only her second day so there is time but any advise on this kind of thing would be helpful. I know how to get new buns to get to know you but i am not sure how much human interaction shes had at all.

Oh, poor little bunny, I'm sure that with gentle handling. time and patience she will come around. How can the breeder expect her to litter healthy buns if she isn't even on a proper diet? That's really sad she doesn't know how to use a tunnel.

We had a dog from a rescue centre years ago, a staffie. Beautiful dog, kind and gentle but didn't know how to play As she started to trust us and we kept trying to show her how to play, she did get the hang of it and turned into a lovely little dog that was full of life. Time was what she needed, and plenty of love. Best of luck with you bun

Well she's been out all night. Very shy at first and she was soon bouncing around. Probably the first time she has ever been out that long. I couldn't get her back in! I can handle her but she still tends to trot off when i approach so i didn't want to scare her by chasing her so i waited until she went in herself. Then she has just pee'd in her litter tray and she's eating hay! Letting her out all day has defiantly helped. She is full of it now and she desperately trying to get out again. I have never seen a rabbit try so hard to be let out again!

God this made me so sad. No toys or greens? I personally would just go about your business and completely ignore her for a few weeks - rabbits are soo nosey that once she realises your about and wont hurt or scare her, she wont be able to resist coming for a better look at you! Im so pleased shes been given this opportunity of a proper life - Well done X

Ah this is hard. It seems like she's never learnt "normal" rabbit behaviours, and instead is stuck in the pattern of her old life. At 1.5 years old I would think that she can learn new patterns! I have some ideas but really don't know whether they would work, so here goes!

Can you fence off half of a room for her to have freerange in (with her hutch inside that part of the room)? Keep her hutch door open at all times. In a smaller space she might feel more confident as it would be "her" space, so that if you approached her in it she would be more relaxed. Also, smaller spaces help buns re-learn their litter tray habbits.

I would perhaps introduce hay to her diet first. Maybe only give her a small amount of the mix she used to be on, and give her heaps of hay. With time, reduce the mix amount gradually - her hunger should make her start eating the hay. You could also try different kinds of hay to see if she has a favourite - mine love oaten hay.

Another thing you could try is chopping up vegetables into small fine pieces and mixing it with her mix. That way she could get the taste for vegetables gradually.

In terms of bonding with her, if she was fenced off into a smaller area, I would regularly take a book and just go and sit in the small area with her, and completely ignore her. With time, she will hopefully realise you're not out to get her, and become curious and start to sniff you. I did this with Josephie when I first got her and it worked a treat. It took quite a few sessions but she eventually stopped being frightened of me and decided that my book looked quite yummy and came up to nibble it.

Good luck! She's a gorgeous girl.

I agree with the ignoring part. I had both my bunnies get used to me that way and the second one I got him when he was 2 years old.
Place a nice soft blanket or pillow next to where you sit. Sit down to read or watch tv or play with the PC...do your things. Try to move the least you can and don't talk to them in excess. Unless he finds a more comfortable place he will start roaming around you and he will be attracted by the blanket.
After 7-10 days my bunnies started sitting next to me in an attentive position and ready to curl up scared as soon as I moved. With a bit of more time they got used to hear me talking to them softly and they eventually started lying down on their sides. Button still sits up when I move, while BunnyBoo remains on his side for most of the times (I guess when he gets up is just for curiosity).
If you really don't have anything to do lie down on the floor, relax and maybe even close your eyes...her curiosity will attract her to you. Resist to the temptation to pet her...maybe just say a few words in a whispering tone to get her used to your voice (you don't even need to open your eyes...I noticed Button in the beginning would get closer only if I had my eyes closed).

Just a few suggestion from a non expert rabbit owner...but had cats and dogs for most of my life

Yeah we are doing that, this one is more difficult because one flinch and she runs a mile

I have put in a little wooden house for her to play with however she runs and hides inside it when we go to her cage. Is it best to leave it in there or would she feel more confident quicker without it?

Hi,

leave the house in there she needs to learn trust in her own time and she needs somewhere to hide when she is frightened. Imagine being scared and having no where to hide.

Sounds like you are doing a fab job so far.
Lots of love and patience will do the trick I'm sure x

She spent the whole day in her little wooden house. We haven't seen her all day. I am hoping she just had a lazy day Although last night she was doing so well and all of a sudden she's gone timid again.

It must be the most overwhelming experience for her. New smells, new routines, new sounds and objects and people. You have to be patient and just let her settle down. Once she feels more secure and confident in her surroundings she will start to be more curious and explore more.

It sounds like you are doing just fine, and doing a good job getting her diet sorted out.