Building The Babies Trust

They are terrified of me and I feel really bad continually going in there and stroking them etc as they just look so scared. Is this the right thing to do? Should I just persevere. My worry is that they are going to struggle to find homes at this rate.

Can you sit in a run with them and let them come to and climb over you? That way they can do it in their own time and build up their own trust and confidence in you.

Good idea....... will try that then! That way I get to get some good pics too! I know you guys are suckers for baby pics!

I just feel so mean scaring them. They will be out in the main part of the hutch then see me come out back door and all run and hide in nest bit in a huddle praying i don't touch them.

I was speaking to a lady in the pet shop today who has just had treatment for cancer and was thinking about treating herself to a pet rabbit once she was better. I was talking to the owner at the time which made it difficult but he was quite patient with me whilst I talked her through the basics and then gave her the number for BARC!

He had two tiny babies and she asked about those to which I mentioned you had *just a few* if she was prepared to pay neutering costs and things. I think she wanted to try house bunnies too.

I agree with Sooz. Sit and let them come to you and they will do because they will be curious. It might take a while. That's what I did when we bought Pippin home as he was quite nervous to begin with. It took a lot of patience and a week or so before he would let me rub his nose. Very rewarding

We pay for the neuters of both male and female and microchip and vaccinate too. We just ask for a donation. Plus you get me and Dawn on hand 24/7 for advice!

I've had this in the past Charlotte and it's horrible, I've got it now with a pair I've had in, I sit in the run with them and let them wander around me, if they don't bother then I just leave them, gradually they build up a trust with you, I usually find a little treat works as well, tiny bit of broccoli or a barley ring, good luck with them, they are beautiful

Catswhiskas wrote:We pay for the neuters of both male and female and microchip and vaccinate too. We just ask for a donation. Plus you get me and Dawn on hand 24/7 for advice!

I think she was torn between wanting them as babies and getting a ready neutered bonded pair, so I suggested she speak to Angie first.

I would sit in, like, a lotus position with some nibbles in the palms of your hands and just let them investigate. I suspect they'll come round quicker than you think.

I have just put a huge mountain of hay in there as I can't keep up with demand. They got really over excited.... it is too cute. I am spying on them out of the window.

bless them - it scares me to think what has made them so frightened. Stick with it and they will soon see that not all of us are horrible.

Sending very gentle nose rubs

Awww will pass those gentle nose rubs on. I know I wonder why they are so scared. Only seen nerves like it in my wildie and that is understandable. Babies are not normally like this at all.

It took me 8 months to get my cat Elias to trust me! He still runs away sometimes when I approach.
So surely this is going to take a lot of time. Fresh herbs should do the trick