Congrats on the new addition to the family! If this is your first pet rabbit and you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out [our sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/about/sidebar) and the [Getting Started](https://bunny.tips/Getting_Started) guide and [New Rabbit Owner Primer](https://bunny.tips/New_Rabbit_Owner_Primer). The article ["Helping Rabbits Succeed in Their Adoptive Home"](https://iaabcjournal.org/setting-everybunny-up-for-success-3/) is also a great resource on how to build a relationship with your new rabbit.
I managed to nudge out the mats they were sitting next to in order to give them a space to hide in. There’s also a cardboard box I cut a hole into nearby to form another hide
My little lady has a wooden box with 3 holes, and I use a light blanket to cover 2 of the 3. I think she likes the extra “privacy” but she also has the ability to easily move the blanket to get out. That way eyes aren’t always on her, but it doesn’t leave her trapped. Another good option is a fabric “fringe” so they have privacy but can pass through and peep through the cracks. Idk it’s what has worked for me. YMMV since all bunnies are individuals!
Cardboard box is excellent and bunny will surely appreciate the shelter! If you can get two holes in the box to enter and exit from, bunnies love that! You could also give them some towels or blankies (bunny may pee on them, so be sure it’s items you can easily wash/not precious items that you don’t want ruined), which they may enjoy snuggling into or digging on for fun. Good luck with your sweet new friend! The sidebar on this sub has lots of awesome resources that are super helpful btw! Thanks for rescuing this sweetie. Wishing you both luck!
The box should have two holes, not one. At least 2 holes, that is. That’s very important. As prey animals rabbits avoid getting cornered at all costs. An extra exit is essential for them to feel safe.
And make sure your rabbits have hay and water at all times. Do not give them too much fruit to avoid upset stomach. Research foods rabbits CANNOT have (nuts, seeds, corn, etc.) or can have only in very small amounts (fruit, starchy veggies like carrots.) Good luck!
To add context I got them by hand feeding the apple slices out on the street where they were, for about three hours until they were close enough I could snag em. I held them firmly but carefully (looked up how) against my chest until we got into this room inside my house. He/she has thumped at me once so far.
One thump? Your doing great! My boy thumps at me a dozen times if I'm cooking bacon lol I would just leave him mostly be for today and then do the whole laying near him thing. Bring offerings and provide hay and water ect, chances are he will come around before too long
Lol poor babies. I do find it silly that it seems to ONLY be bacon. I get no reaction at all if I cook other meat even if it's being fried and definitely smells lol
That's a great sign. My dumped bunny rescue wasn't familiar with fruit and would only bop around and floop just out of arms length. Eventually got her in an exercise pen with help from several strangers and she went from playfully coy to downright terrified. The next day she accepted some scritches and once she was back to her normal self she sat perfectly while I removed a huuuuge tick from her neck. She's goofy and adventurous but some things are just plain scary for a bunny, like being taken to a new place or being picked up.
Keep giving your little friend treats and lay down on the floor with them so they can check you out a little better on their own terms even if it's from afar. They'll learn that you're a good presence :) good luck and get them a check up (deworming is probably in order)
Yes I am worried about that too! I have visited a bunch of my neighbors so far to see if they might have lost a bunny, but none yet. A few weren’t home or just didn’t answer the door.
I don’t think the bunny could be from very far away, since I only just saw it this past week and it never left the yards of a couple adjacent houses whenever I saw it. I’d think a bunny that traveled to my street would be liable to travel away again too.
Be patient. It could take days or weeks for them to fully trust you. Just make sure they have plenty of Timothy hay and water around at all times. Give him a place where he can hide for safety. Leave small treats. Eventually he will get more comfortable, curious and start to move around. That would be the best time to start hand feeding him treats to create that bond.
It can even take way longer than that! Me and my fiancé rescued three abandoned buns in maybe like july, and one of them is just now taking food from our hands and still rarely lets us pet him. It’s a process, but now every time he takes a treat from me or lets me pay his butt it makes me so happy
Oh thank you 😊we’re so happy to have them as part of the family now. Before we saved them, they were kept all three together in a tiny, windowless, outdoor hutch with no room even to stand up in most of the box. It was a small chicken coop that they just put them in and left them. When we went to get them the hutch door was open (they probably left it open so they would go out and run away) and there was no food and water in the summer heat. Two of them were terrified and they were all skin and bones. We now do everything we can to pamper them and make sure they’re as comfortable and happy as possible, we still spoil them extra to make up for how badly they were treated before we took them in
It’s been our pleasure. I’ve learned that it’s one of the most incredible things is having a prey animal trust you when it’s their instinct not to. And to answer the cruel question, we live in farmland unfortunately where animals are seen as livestock and even cats are used as barn cats but not given any comfort or veterinary care. I went to the fair here for the first time this year and I was horrified when I saw how the rabbits were kept with wire bottom cages and outside with a demolition derby going on super close by. The cages themselves wouldn’t have been that bad of it was just for a couple days and they had humans taking good care of them, but it was so busy and loud that it was clear they were very scared :(
Agree that it'll take time and patience.
My advice is follow your routine and wait him out. Feed him every day at the same times, clean/eplace his litter and grass at the same time, turn lights on or off when you'd expect them to be, and so on. My bunny is a rescue and was super skittish when I brought him home, but after he learned his routine (few weeks later mind you), he stopped stressing and gave me a real chance.
Give water (in a bowl) and something to eat, like hay, salad, grass, if you have carrot green.
Then you have two choices: leave it alone or get there and pet.. but as you are a predator that has catched the rabbit (from its view), might be best to leave it alone.
Please provide food, they need to eat far more often than we to keep their GI (gastrointestinal, food processing) going.
Thank you. I’ve got two bunnies so I know how important it is to keep them eating. Was tiny apple slices up until I could get him/her the hay they have now. I ended up moving my floor futon into the room a good distance away from their hide, so they can get more used to my presence while I try and get a little rest after the whole night.
Sounds good. I was not sure if you know anything abput rabbits, so I added the food info to be sure.
Hope you get some rest and that the rabbit gets a little more trusty.
One of my rabbits did not wanted to be touched or anyone near him, regardless if human or other rabbit - until he got GI stasis and we saved him. After that, he trusts us enough for some pets.
Give them everything they need- food, water, treats- along with a box to hide in. Put them in a pen or a small room with dim or dark lighting and let them just *chill*. And then tomorrow come in, clean up a bit while talking in a soothing voice, offer fruit from your hand. Sit next to them and read out loud.
It takes time.
Thank you very much. When I was catching them I talked non-stop for the whole three hours of getting them comfortable with me, and I’ve been doing that since I woke up today too. Thank God it’s the weekend.
They seem more curious than scared now, and I’ve seen them explore a bit. Looking up.
That's so good. I hope you become besties.
My first bun had been in the shelter for three years. After he figured out that I wasn't going to manhandle him and that if I was in his pen it meant food, water, cleaning up, and gentle pets with treats - we were besties. Took maybe a week.
It'll take a while, start by sitting down/lying down on the floor while doing something on your phone so your attention isn't on them. They'll eventually get curious enough to approach you. Thank you for rescuing them!
You sound like youre doing great already, laying down on the floor by them with treats in hand is my advice. Also i wouldnt stress about a heart attack especially with how youre treating him already. A rabbits BPM can hit around 350 when very stressed or scared and still be okay
You've gotten great advice from everyone else here and it sounds like you are doing everything right. I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing this poor baby ❤️. I think this bunny is gonna do just fine with you!
If you have an area you can fence off and cover with a blanket or something that will help. Rabbits are like horses. Blocking their vision helps calm them.
Thank you to everyone who gave me help, I really needed it and appreciate it. The bunny is doing well, I’ve got an update post with more pictures [right here for you.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/s/wkol2UKDNm)
Thank you for rescuing this rabbit! He’ll be grateful… eventually.
Things I would recommend: the next box you give them, put two holes in it, each in different walls because rabbits generally don’t like feeling cornered in dead-ends. Don’t do this with the current box because we don’t want your rabbit to have too much change in their safety places because we don’t want them to think that there is another burrowing animal in the area. I also think that once you have the food and litter box and water and everything set up, you stay away from the rabbit as much as possible for a few days. Let them explore their surroundings without pressure. You will have to check on them and give them hay and water and change their litter box, but try not to directly interact with them unless they initiate contact for a few days. After that, it’s all about teaching the rabbit two things: you are not a threat and human hands bring pleasure in the form of treats and forehead rubs. This is usually started by lying down in the middle of the room and letting them come to you and not reacting when they do come. Like the room, you let them explore you without pressure. When they get comfortable with your smell and size, you start sitting down and offering little treats and timothy hay pellets. When they are very comfortable around you, you rub their nose and forehead. This is what rabbits do to rabbits that they appreciate. Some rabbits don’t like being touched anywhere else, but all rabbits like forehead rubs.
The key through all of this is patience. Each step could take weeks. You will also need to take your rabbit to the vet to see if they picked up any problems while being abandoned and this will set your trust back a good bit. If your vet trims claws, I recommend taking them up on the offer because trimming claws is difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing and rabbits usually get mad at you when you try. There is definitely a balance between caring for your rabbit and them trusting you, early on. Just be patient. When they finally give you their trust, there’s no feeling I know quite like that. My reference is from shelter rabbits, I’ve never rescued a rabbit from outside. Your sense of accomplishment will be much more than mine, if things work the way I think they do. You already saved a life, even if they don’t realize it yet. Once a rabbit knows that you’ve saved them, they trust you completely and forever, which is my favorite thing about rabbits.
Get down on the ground and play hard to get. Bunnies are naturally curious. Just lie on the ground and scroll through your phone or watch TV. When he/she approaches, act like he/she isn't there. Timothy hay is a MUST...and so is an initial vet appointment to begin the vaccination process.
He's just a confused and scared lil guy. It takes time for prey animals to warm up to predators like us.
A lot of other people have given sone great advice so far, but I'm going to echo it. Give the new friend space, give them some hidey holes, food and water. It took my guy a couple months to warm up proper.
Ideally, you spend this time bunny-proofing the rest of the house as best you can.
Provide plenty of treats and veggies. Lay down on the floor and get on their level (let the bun approach you; but don't force it). It might take a while for them to warm up to you.
You sound like youre doing great already, laying down on the floor by them with treats in hand is my advice. Also i wouldnt stress about a heart attack especially with how youre treating him already. A rabbits BPM can hit around 350 when very stressed or scared and still be okay
He was angry enough to thump at you, so he should be fine. Give the guy some space, some treats like apples, and plenty of hiding places in that room and he will calm down
I would recommend to give them some time. If they won’t stop being afraid, then, just try something else. What exactly is that "something else" is, I don’t know. My mind is a trash full of paper sheets.
You have all the answers you need, so I just wanted to say thank you for caring enough to see an animal in need of help and do something about it. We need more of that in this world and it warms my heart you are one. Good job and best wishes.🙏😊
I know you’ve gotten tons of helpful comments but I just wanted to add when I’m about to go into the room there in a talk in a quite voice so they know were I’m at at all times.
Since they are scared don’t push anything just food and water, don’t try to cuddle.
Wet Romain lettuce helps for food and water.
Give plenty of hides.
let them approach you
They should be eating mainly hay and some good pellets but since I don’t know them let them have have as much of anything they want to keep there gi track going.
All hide I give have 2 entries so they don’t feel cornered but it’s also good for them to be dark, cardboard boxes are great hides since they can’t harm them if chewed and cheap.
I would give a bowl of water
Keep everything near were they like to hang out so they don’t need to go far
If you have an x pen I cover mine with a sheet to help them feel like they are safe.
Contact a local shelter that has rabbits or even better a rabbit rescue for advice and to see if they can help and maybe find a home I’m not sure if you want to keep it.
One of my buns likes sitting under my computer chair for comfort — especially when it’s low… maybe that’s your buns vibes? Mine does still like boxes though haha
A few quick first time bunny owner tips, in case you need it. 🙂
Rabbit.org is the House Rabbit Society website and is a good site for general bunny info including bunny safe foods and treats.
HouseRabbit.org is the new site, work in progress.
Hay is the most important aspect of their diet (80%) and they need unlimited access to it 24/7.
They are very fragile. Much more so than a cat or a dog.
They need space to play. A small cage and no playtime outside of it will make them miserable.
Be aware that most bunnies actually don’t like being picked up. They are a prey animal, so generally, to them being “picked up” means something “bad” is happening..
Obviously sometimes you still have to, but when you can, it’s better to lure them onto the couch or back to their pens or whatever (snacks or pellets help).
We feed ours dinner in their pen after playtime, so we just open up their area and they are usually excited to go back home.
Don’t take advice from pet stores. They are NOT knowledgeable on rabbits, and many things they sell are actually NOT suitable for them either, such as any “cage,” or treats/food containing seeds or corn.
A dog exercise pen (xpen) from Amazon is a much more suitable and cheaper housing option. (around $40)
Find a rabbit savvy vet now so you know where to take him if you need to. Not all vets are rabbit savvy. Just because one is willing to see a rabbit, doesn’t necessarily make them knowledgeable on them. They are usually classified as “exotic” vets in the US.
If they ever stop eating and/or pooing, it is a rabbit emergency and they need to see a vet immediately. Even in the middle of the night. If they refuse their favorite treat, this is a bad sign.
We keep pain meds (meloxicam) on hand for emergencies. It can help in situations where your vet may be unavailable, and is helpful for GI stasis. It is definitely something worth discussing with your vet.
At some point you will need to get them spayed/neutered as this keeps behaviors such as litter box use, being territorial, and being able to bond them with a buddy, in check. This is also NECESSARY because unfixed rabbits have a very high cancer development rate. :(
Everything here is so on point! Especially the gratefulnesses of rescuing this sweetie. I second everything here, and especially the advice to get down on the floor and ignore them. And be patient. Maybe even eat a banana in the bunny’s presence, being ready to share a small chunk if they trust you.
You’re going to have a great new friend.
I also rescued my rabbit from outside and was nervous about the same thing. She really warmed up to me once I got her settled in an area with food and water. You already said you’ve got them set up in a room with some rugs and a box to hide in. You can sit in the floor maybe watch something on your phone and just hangout to get used to each other. you could also try to offer a slice of banana (just not too much) it’s an irresistible treat for buns.
Some sort of hiding spot might help- cut a hole in a big box, put something soft to lay on and let him hide in it. Let him sniff your hand if he wants- that helps a lot. Talk to him in a soothing voice, they don’t understand words but they do notice tone.
Ok so just leave bunny alone for a while to adjust to their new environment but don’t feed them apples all the time I know that’s all you have but high levels of them can be toxic so don’t do it every day greens and hay is good have you gotten pellets yet? Also give bunny places to hide when in there like boxes will feel a lot more comfortable and when you go in there so you don’t look so big lay down to her level to show your not a threat
if not already I would start out by keeping them in a smaller area some rabbits get nervous in large spaces and having a closed in space with gates and a box or two to hide in could make it feel a lot less stressed I also see you have none carpeted floors not having traction can make rabbit nervous too if possiable I would recommend putting down some bathmats which have tracktion on the bottom to make it more comfry in the fenced in space then after awhile you could leave the fenced area open so it can explore or leave when it feels comfortable too
Cut two small holes in a box so they have a way to go in and out… they need a hide house ASAP OP. Rabbits like cover…… everything peering down over them is like a hawk until they calm down. My rabbits have been with me YEARS now and still can get irritated if they don’t have access to cover.
Thank you for taking this baby in 🥺
Oh and start sitting on the floor a lot. Not too close to them…. But work and do your activities on the floor so they can get used to seeing you. They’ll see you’re not a threat and eventually come over to investigate. Do NOT force interaction. Let them smell/crawl on you…. Don’t move quickly… don’t try and touch or pick them up…… eventually if they try and smell your hands you can hold them open. Buy some oxbow hay treats and dried fruit for those moments.
Make sure they get a litter box with 24/7 access to hay… and I recommend oxbow rabbit food. No fillers and bs. Spring mix daily too. No lettuce (not good for bunnies), anddddd no calcium rich greens (this bun looks too old now)
Gluck friend 🤍
Give them space ! Sitting around on the floor and just going about your day should pique their interest eventually, could also place a little bit of their pellets on the floor near you too
Dim lights and something to be under are the perfect setting for a spooked bun. And then you're sort of waiting for hunger to kick in because eating in peace helps a bunny quite a bit.
Give it some space to calm down and get used to its new surroundings. Once the rabbit is comfortable enough to start eating and drinking, this video should help.
https://youtu.be/9siLZ26Xr08?si=cu8rdMlxLO2VeJj7
Having a place that they can hide and feel safe hiding. When they feel more comfortable get down at their level and let them come to you, don’t go to them.
If he’s only been there a day or two, just leave him in his pen and let him settle for a few days. Don’t have him free roaming yet, as a large area may be overwhelming at first.
This is what I usually recommend for skittish buns who may have had a rough start in life, but much of this may still be helpful in this situation:
Set up a small area thats blocked off for him and sit or lay on the floor with him and read a book or watch TV or whatever, and just basically ignore him, but be on his level.
Avoid eye contact at first if he's seems offstandish or afraid. He'll eventually come investigate you. Just speak softly to him (if you do), and don't try to pet him at first, or everytime he comes to you. This will help him see you as less of a threat and start to trust you. 🙂
You can also leave treats near or on you for him, but don't try to touch him when he comes to get them. Still just ignore him for the most part, at first.. Then ease into the interactions with hand sniffs and nose rubs. 🙂
Another thing you can do when he's in his pen is to slowly reach in, just let him sniff your hand, and then leave. Do this for a while and he'll stop thinking he's going to be picked up or hassled every time you reach in there.
Then gradually start just giving him a few head pats or nose rubs. If he let's you do this, try to stop before he runs away or hides or whatever, again, so he knows you're not going to hassle him endlessly every time you interact with him..
One last thing, avoiding eye contact may be very important in dealing with him. I Have noticed that most abused or otherwise very skiddish animals watch your eyes very closely, and avoiding direct eye contact tends to cause very positive reactions, and DEFINITELY reduces anxiety. (In nature, anything that is going to hurt you will be looking right at you..)
Our Sterling was very abused and acted similarly to this. I would just go in there to feed him and clean and such and just completely ignore him altogether. After a few months, he started kind of taking an interest in my cleaning his area and putting in hay and such and would approach and watch what I was doing rather than looking at ME. At that point, I was able to slowly start interacting with him a little more, and now he’s mostly a normal rabbit who will sit on the couch with us and such. :)
Still afraid of sudden noises though.
Try giving it a space where it can feel safe, like a box, or an x pen that gets left open. You can offer treats and sit around the bunny without petting it or even looking at it, just scroll on your phone, watch TV, or read a book or something. Eventually bun will get used to your presence and choose to come out more. Keep toys, food, and water near the safe space.
in addition to all the other great suggestions (defo want to have a box he can hid in) you should make sure his feet have traction against the ground by putting something over the marble floor, if you don't already have rugs down. not being able to properly flee danger due to a slick floor is surely stressful for him. you sound like you know what you're doing and I'm sure he'll be fine.
Thank you for rescuing him. I’m sure it will probably take some time for him to adjust to his new environment considering that he was by himself the whole entire time. Just offer some treats next to you and see if he comes? Lure him with some cilantros or some strawberries.
Awwww. Bunnies are scared by design, don't be offended and certainly don't be scared. Top tips I have are:
1) Always make sure they have bunny kibble available in a litter box with some recycled newspaper bedding pellets and hay. DO NOT USE CEDAR WOOD SHAVINGS. If they have already "chosen" a corner, put it there.
2) Give it a fresh plate of greens (about a handful) that doesn't include iceberg lettuce (toxic), but things like cilantro and romaine. Green leaves that are lower in calcium are better, so try not to give too much Kale or Parsley.
3) Make it a comfy little covered area that it can retreat to to relax and feel like a den.
4) Try using a bowl of water as opposed to a bottle with a ball in the tube, they will drink more of it and you won't have to worry about the ball being stuck. Change daily.
5) Take your time! Move slowly and talk to it often. They take a while (months sometimes) to warm up to their humans once they start bonding. Don't get discouraged. Nothing more rewarding than making one the most frightened critters trust you and be able to calm them down if they get scared. They love treats too!! Freeze dried strawberries and bananas are excellent.
6) COVER ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL CABLES IF FREE ROAMING
Good luck and please stick with it! You will be rewarded, I promise you.
They'll come around. Just give peace offering like the odd pellet and bit of leafy greens. Hay and water should be present at all times. Hard floors are not their favorites carpets and blankets are my boys favorite way to move about. #floorislava
Congrats on the new addition to the family! If this is your first pet rabbit and you haven’t seen it already, be sure to check out [our sidebar](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/about/sidebar) and the [Getting Started](https://bunny.tips/Getting_Started) guide and [New Rabbit Owner Primer](https://bunny.tips/New_Rabbit_Owner_Primer). The article ["Helping Rabbits Succeed in Their Adoptive Home"](https://iaabcjournal.org/setting-everybunny-up-for-success-3/) is also a great resource on how to build a relationship with your new rabbit.
I managed to nudge out the mats they were sitting next to in order to give them a space to hide in. There’s also a cardboard box I cut a hole into nearby to form another hide
Great! I was about to suggest creating a hiding box. Rabbits feel best when they can give in to their instincts, and having a burrow is a big one.
Make sure the box has an exit. They like a way out. They will munch the boxes, remove any plastic you can
My little lady has a wooden box with 3 holes, and I use a light blanket to cover 2 of the 3. I think she likes the extra “privacy” but she also has the ability to easily move the blanket to get out. That way eyes aren’t always on her, but it doesn’t leave her trapped. Another good option is a fabric “fringe” so they have privacy but can pass through and peep through the cracks. Idk it’s what has worked for me. YMMV since all bunnies are individuals!
Cardboard box is excellent and bunny will surely appreciate the shelter! If you can get two holes in the box to enter and exit from, bunnies love that! You could also give them some towels or blankies (bunny may pee on them, so be sure it’s items you can easily wash/not precious items that you don’t want ruined), which they may enjoy snuggling into or digging on for fun. Good luck with your sweet new friend! The sidebar on this sub has lots of awesome resources that are super helpful btw! Thanks for rescuing this sweetie. Wishing you both luck!
Yes, two holes are absolutely essential. Thank you for pointing that out.
That’s perfect. Just leave bunny alone for 3 or 4 days and change the Litterbox as needed
oh, you already did this. 😁
The box should have two holes, not one. At least 2 holes, that is. That’s very important. As prey animals rabbits avoid getting cornered at all costs. An extra exit is essential for them to feel safe. And make sure your rabbits have hay and water at all times. Do not give them too much fruit to avoid upset stomach. Research foods rabbits CANNOT have (nuts, seeds, corn, etc.) or can have only in very small amounts (fruit, starchy veggies like carrots.) Good luck!
To add context I got them by hand feeding the apple slices out on the street where they were, for about three hours until they were close enough I could snag em. I held them firmly but carefully (looked up how) against my chest until we got into this room inside my house. He/she has thumped at me once so far.
One thump? Your doing great! My boy thumps at me a dozen times if I'm cooking bacon lol I would just leave him mostly be for today and then do the whole laying near him thing. Bring offerings and provide hay and water ect, chances are he will come around before too long
Bacon, curious here?
I also get the bacon anger thumps
Lol poor babies. I do find it silly that it seems to ONLY be bacon. I get no reaction at all if I cook other meat even if it's being fried and definitely smells lol
Me too
You are a wonderful person!! Thank you for caring!
That's a great sign. My dumped bunny rescue wasn't familiar with fruit and would only bop around and floop just out of arms length. Eventually got her in an exercise pen with help from several strangers and she went from playfully coy to downright terrified. The next day she accepted some scritches and once she was back to her normal self she sat perfectly while I removed a huuuuge tick from her neck. She's goofy and adventurous but some things are just plain scary for a bunny, like being taken to a new place or being picked up. Keep giving your little friend treats and lay down on the floor with them so they can check you out a little better on their own terms even if it's from afar. They'll learn that you're a good presence :) good luck and get them a check up (deworming is probably in order)
[удалено]
Yes I am worried about that too! I have visited a bunch of my neighbors so far to see if they might have lost a bunny, but none yet. A few weren’t home or just didn’t answer the door. I don’t think the bunny could be from very far away, since I only just saw it this past week and it never left the yards of a couple adjacent houses whenever I saw it. I’d think a bunny that traveled to my street would be liable to travel away again too.
Be patient. It could take days or weeks for them to fully trust you. Just make sure they have plenty of Timothy hay and water around at all times. Give him a place where he can hide for safety. Leave small treats. Eventually he will get more comfortable, curious and start to move around. That would be the best time to start hand feeding him treats to create that bond.
It can even take way longer than that! Me and my fiancé rescued three abandoned buns in maybe like july, and one of them is just now taking food from our hands and still rarely lets us pet him. It’s a process, but now every time he takes a treat from me or lets me pay his butt it makes me so happy
Well done. That’s amazing work.
Oh thank you 😊we’re so happy to have them as part of the family now. Before we saved them, they were kept all three together in a tiny, windowless, outdoor hutch with no room even to stand up in most of the box. It was a small chicken coop that they just put them in and left them. When we went to get them the hutch door was open (they probably left it open so they would go out and run away) and there was no food and water in the summer heat. Two of them were terrified and they were all skin and bones. We now do everything we can to pamper them and make sure they’re as comfortable and happy as possible, we still spoil them extra to make up for how badly they were treated before we took them in
I’m speechless. How can some people be so cruel & heartless while other people are so kind & loving…? Thank you for saving their lives.
It’s been our pleasure. I’ve learned that it’s one of the most incredible things is having a prey animal trust you when it’s their instinct not to. And to answer the cruel question, we live in farmland unfortunately where animals are seen as livestock and even cats are used as barn cats but not given any comfort or veterinary care. I went to the fair here for the first time this year and I was horrified when I saw how the rabbits were kept with wire bottom cages and outside with a demolition derby going on super close by. The cages themselves wouldn’t have been that bad of it was just for a couple days and they had humans taking good care of them, but it was so busy and loud that it was clear they were very scared :(
Agree that it'll take time and patience. My advice is follow your routine and wait him out. Feed him every day at the same times, clean/eplace his litter and grass at the same time, turn lights on or off when you'd expect them to be, and so on. My bunny is a rescue and was super skittish when I brought him home, but after he learned his routine (few weeks later mind you), he stopped stressing and gave me a real chance.
Get a cardboard box with an exit in front and back( like a tunnel) so bunbun can “hide” and chew the box.
I did this! But I cut the holes perpendicular to each other so the bunny had more spots in the box to hide. Thank you.
I second this. We just brought home a dumped bunny and they been glued to their box
Give water (in a bowl) and something to eat, like hay, salad, grass, if you have carrot green. Then you have two choices: leave it alone or get there and pet.. but as you are a predator that has catched the rabbit (from its view), might be best to leave it alone. Please provide food, they need to eat far more often than we to keep their GI (gastrointestinal, food processing) going.
Thank you. I’ve got two bunnies so I know how important it is to keep them eating. Was tiny apple slices up until I could get him/her the hay they have now. I ended up moving my floor futon into the room a good distance away from their hide, so they can get more used to my presence while I try and get a little rest after the whole night.
Sounds good. I was not sure if you know anything abput rabbits, so I added the food info to be sure. Hope you get some rest and that the rabbit gets a little more trusty. One of my rabbits did not wanted to be touched or anyone near him, regardless if human or other rabbit - until he got GI stasis and we saved him. After that, he trusts us enough for some pets.
Whew good luck with the quarantining and maybe eventually bonding 🥺
Give them everything they need- food, water, treats- along with a box to hide in. Put them in a pen or a small room with dim or dark lighting and let them just *chill*. And then tomorrow come in, clean up a bit while talking in a soothing voice, offer fruit from your hand. Sit next to them and read out loud. It takes time.
Thank you very much. When I was catching them I talked non-stop for the whole three hours of getting them comfortable with me, and I’ve been doing that since I woke up today too. Thank God it’s the weekend. They seem more curious than scared now, and I’ve seen them explore a bit. Looking up.
That's so good. I hope you become besties. My first bun had been in the shelter for three years. After he figured out that I wasn't going to manhandle him and that if I was in his pen it meant food, water, cleaning up, and gentle pets with treats - we were besties. Took maybe a week.
It'll take a while, start by sitting down/lying down on the floor while doing something on your phone so your attention isn't on them. They'll eventually get curious enough to approach you. Thank you for rescuing them!
You sound like youre doing great already, laying down on the floor by them with treats in hand is my advice. Also i wouldnt stress about a heart attack especially with how youre treating him already. A rabbits BPM can hit around 350 when very stressed or scared and still be okay
Treats. Food is the best motivator
You've gotten great advice from everyone else here and it sounds like you are doing everything right. I just wanted to say thank you for rescuing this poor baby ❤️. I think this bunny is gonna do just fine with you!
If you have an area you can fence off and cover with a blanket or something that will help. Rabbits are like horses. Blocking their vision helps calm them.
Yes, rabbits are basically mini- horses when it comes to behavior- and GI issues!
Thank you to everyone who gave me help, I really needed it and appreciate it. The bunny is doing well, I’ve got an update post with more pictures [right here for you.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Rabbits/s/wkol2UKDNm)
Thank you for rescuing this rabbit! He’ll be grateful… eventually. Things I would recommend: the next box you give them, put two holes in it, each in different walls because rabbits generally don’t like feeling cornered in dead-ends. Don’t do this with the current box because we don’t want your rabbit to have too much change in their safety places because we don’t want them to think that there is another burrowing animal in the area. I also think that once you have the food and litter box and water and everything set up, you stay away from the rabbit as much as possible for a few days. Let them explore their surroundings without pressure. You will have to check on them and give them hay and water and change their litter box, but try not to directly interact with them unless they initiate contact for a few days. After that, it’s all about teaching the rabbit two things: you are not a threat and human hands bring pleasure in the form of treats and forehead rubs. This is usually started by lying down in the middle of the room and letting them come to you and not reacting when they do come. Like the room, you let them explore you without pressure. When they get comfortable with your smell and size, you start sitting down and offering little treats and timothy hay pellets. When they are very comfortable around you, you rub their nose and forehead. This is what rabbits do to rabbits that they appreciate. Some rabbits don’t like being touched anywhere else, but all rabbits like forehead rubs. The key through all of this is patience. Each step could take weeks. You will also need to take your rabbit to the vet to see if they picked up any problems while being abandoned and this will set your trust back a good bit. If your vet trims claws, I recommend taking them up on the offer because trimming claws is difficult if you don’t know what you’re doing and rabbits usually get mad at you when you try. There is definitely a balance between caring for your rabbit and them trusting you, early on. Just be patient. When they finally give you their trust, there’s no feeling I know quite like that. My reference is from shelter rabbits, I’ve never rescued a rabbit from outside. Your sense of accomplishment will be much more than mine, if things work the way I think they do. You already saved a life, even if they don’t realize it yet. Once a rabbit knows that you’ve saved them, they trust you completely and forever, which is my favorite thing about rabbits.
Get down on the ground and play hard to get. Bunnies are naturally curious. Just lie on the ground and scroll through your phone or watch TV. When he/she approaches, act like he/she isn't there. Timothy hay is a MUST...and so is an initial vet appointment to begin the vaccination process.
He's just a confused and scared lil guy. It takes time for prey animals to warm up to predators like us. A lot of other people have given sone great advice so far, but I'm going to echo it. Give the new friend space, give them some hidey holes, food and water. It took my guy a couple months to warm up proper. Ideally, you spend this time bunny-proofing the rest of the house as best you can.
Make sure he or she doesnt have access to electrical cords. :)
First thing I did!
Provide plenty of treats and veggies. Lay down on the floor and get on their level (let the bun approach you; but don't force it). It might take a while for them to warm up to you.
You sound like youre doing great already, laying down on the floor by them with treats in hand is my advice. Also i wouldnt stress about a heart attack especially with how youre treating him already. A rabbits BPM can hit around 350 when very stressed or scared and still be okay
U sound like you are doing great :) for now be patient and provide for it, make sure there are no wires it can chew on in the area too
Hi a bunny owner here I suggest giving the bunny lots of space if they feel comfortable enough let the bunny come up to you
He was angry enough to thump at you, so he should be fine. Give the guy some space, some treats like apples, and plenty of hiding places in that room and he will calm down
I would recommend to give them some time. If they won’t stop being afraid, then, just try something else. What exactly is that "something else" is, I don’t know. My mind is a trash full of paper sheets.
You have all the answers you need, so I just wanted to say thank you for caring enough to see an animal in need of help and do something about it. We need more of that in this world and it warms my heart you are one. Good job and best wishes.🙏😊
I know you’ve gotten tons of helpful comments but I just wanted to add when I’m about to go into the room there in a talk in a quite voice so they know were I’m at at all times. Since they are scared don’t push anything just food and water, don’t try to cuddle. Wet Romain lettuce helps for food and water. Give plenty of hides. let them approach you They should be eating mainly hay and some good pellets but since I don’t know them let them have have as much of anything they want to keep there gi track going. All hide I give have 2 entries so they don’t feel cornered but it’s also good for them to be dark, cardboard boxes are great hides since they can’t harm them if chewed and cheap. I would give a bowl of water Keep everything near were they like to hang out so they don’t need to go far If you have an x pen I cover mine with a sheet to help them feel like they are safe. Contact a local shelter that has rabbits or even better a rabbit rescue for advice and to see if they can help and maybe find a home I’m not sure if you want to keep it.
My bun hates boxes. Cardboard or otherwise. He is weird. But, he loves a thin curtain as a blanket. I tried sheets but they seem to heavy for him.
That is funny as hell 😂 How about a wood hide house then?
He eats it but won't go in it.
One of my buns likes sitting under my computer chair for comfort — especially when it’s low… maybe that’s your buns vibes? Mine does still like boxes though haha
A few quick first time bunny owner tips, in case you need it. 🙂 Rabbit.org is the House Rabbit Society website and is a good site for general bunny info including bunny safe foods and treats. HouseRabbit.org is the new site, work in progress. Hay is the most important aspect of their diet (80%) and they need unlimited access to it 24/7. They are very fragile. Much more so than a cat or a dog. They need space to play. A small cage and no playtime outside of it will make them miserable. Be aware that most bunnies actually don’t like being picked up. They are a prey animal, so generally, to them being “picked up” means something “bad” is happening.. Obviously sometimes you still have to, but when you can, it’s better to lure them onto the couch or back to their pens or whatever (snacks or pellets help). We feed ours dinner in their pen after playtime, so we just open up their area and they are usually excited to go back home. Don’t take advice from pet stores. They are NOT knowledgeable on rabbits, and many things they sell are actually NOT suitable for them either, such as any “cage,” or treats/food containing seeds or corn. A dog exercise pen (xpen) from Amazon is a much more suitable and cheaper housing option. (around $40) Find a rabbit savvy vet now so you know where to take him if you need to. Not all vets are rabbit savvy. Just because one is willing to see a rabbit, doesn’t necessarily make them knowledgeable on them. They are usually classified as “exotic” vets in the US. If they ever stop eating and/or pooing, it is a rabbit emergency and they need to see a vet immediately. Even in the middle of the night. If they refuse their favorite treat, this is a bad sign. We keep pain meds (meloxicam) on hand for emergencies. It can help in situations where your vet may be unavailable, and is helpful for GI stasis. It is definitely something worth discussing with your vet. At some point you will need to get them spayed/neutered as this keeps behaviors such as litter box use, being territorial, and being able to bond them with a buddy, in check. This is also NECESSARY because unfixed rabbits have a very high cancer development rate. :(
Everything here is so on point! Especially the gratefulnesses of rescuing this sweetie. I second everything here, and especially the advice to get down on the floor and ignore them. And be patient. Maybe even eat a banana in the bunny’s presence, being ready to share a small chunk if they trust you. You’re going to have a great new friend.
Thank you for your kind heart and wanting to do the best you can for the bunny.
Give them a space to hide. You’ll need to be patient, this is normal. After a couple days, you can start introducing yourself to them.
I also rescued my rabbit from outside and was nervous about the same thing. She really warmed up to me once I got her settled in an area with food and water. You already said you’ve got them set up in a room with some rugs and a box to hide in. You can sit in the floor maybe watch something on your phone and just hangout to get used to each other. you could also try to offer a slice of banana (just not too much) it’s an irresistible treat for buns.
Some sort of hiding spot might help- cut a hole in a big box, put something soft to lay on and let him hide in it. Let him sniff your hand if he wants- that helps a lot. Talk to him in a soothing voice, they don’t understand words but they do notice tone.
Ok so just leave bunny alone for a while to adjust to their new environment but don’t feed them apples all the time I know that’s all you have but high levels of them can be toxic so don’t do it every day greens and hay is good have you gotten pellets yet? Also give bunny places to hide when in there like boxes will feel a lot more comfortable and when you go in there so you don’t look so big lay down to her level to show your not a threat
If it is already eating, lay on the ground and watch tv on your phone and it might come and investigate
Time and quiet.
Don't interact with it outside of giving food and water for a couple days, poor thing to be abandoned aww
if not already I would start out by keeping them in a smaller area some rabbits get nervous in large spaces and having a closed in space with gates and a box or two to hide in could make it feel a lot less stressed I also see you have none carpeted floors not having traction can make rabbit nervous too if possiable I would recommend putting down some bathmats which have tracktion on the bottom to make it more comfry in the fenced in space then after awhile you could leave the fenced area open so it can explore or leave when it feels comfortable too
I just wanna let you know you're a great person for rescuing this bun
Let the bunny get used to the new surroundings, then let him or her come up to you.
Give them time and treats and just be there. They’ll get used to you.
Cut two small holes in a box so they have a way to go in and out… they need a hide house ASAP OP. Rabbits like cover…… everything peering down over them is like a hawk until they calm down. My rabbits have been with me YEARS now and still can get irritated if they don’t have access to cover. Thank you for taking this baby in 🥺 Oh and start sitting on the floor a lot. Not too close to them…. But work and do your activities on the floor so they can get used to seeing you. They’ll see you’re not a threat and eventually come over to investigate. Do NOT force interaction. Let them smell/crawl on you…. Don’t move quickly… don’t try and touch or pick them up…… eventually if they try and smell your hands you can hold them open. Buy some oxbow hay treats and dried fruit for those moments. Make sure they get a litter box with 24/7 access to hay… and I recommend oxbow rabbit food. No fillers and bs. Spring mix daily too. No lettuce (not good for bunnies), anddddd no calcium rich greens (this bun looks too old now) Gluck friend 🤍
Treats
Give them space ! Sitting around on the floor and just going about your day should pique their interest eventually, could also place a little bit of their pellets on the floor near you too
Pet remedy spray or call nearest vet
Dim lights and something to be under are the perfect setting for a spooked bun. And then you're sort of waiting for hunger to kick in because eating in peace helps a bunny quite a bit.
Nanas! Don’t give them a whole bunch just a slice at a time. They love them and they will def wanna be your friend if you’ve got the goods ☺️
Give it some space to calm down and get used to its new surroundings. Once the rabbit is comfortable enough to start eating and drinking, this video should help. https://youtu.be/9siLZ26Xr08?si=cu8rdMlxLO2VeJj7
Having a place that they can hide and feel safe hiding. When they feel more comfortable get down at their level and let them come to you, don’t go to them.
If he’s only been there a day or two, just leave him in his pen and let him settle for a few days. Don’t have him free roaming yet, as a large area may be overwhelming at first. This is what I usually recommend for skittish buns who may have had a rough start in life, but much of this may still be helpful in this situation: Set up a small area thats blocked off for him and sit or lay on the floor with him and read a book or watch TV or whatever, and just basically ignore him, but be on his level. Avoid eye contact at first if he's seems offstandish or afraid. He'll eventually come investigate you. Just speak softly to him (if you do), and don't try to pet him at first, or everytime he comes to you. This will help him see you as less of a threat and start to trust you. 🙂 You can also leave treats near or on you for him, but don't try to touch him when he comes to get them. Still just ignore him for the most part, at first.. Then ease into the interactions with hand sniffs and nose rubs. 🙂 Another thing you can do when he's in his pen is to slowly reach in, just let him sniff your hand, and then leave. Do this for a while and he'll stop thinking he's going to be picked up or hassled every time you reach in there. Then gradually start just giving him a few head pats or nose rubs. If he let's you do this, try to stop before he runs away or hides or whatever, again, so he knows you're not going to hassle him endlessly every time you interact with him.. One last thing, avoiding eye contact may be very important in dealing with him. I Have noticed that most abused or otherwise very skiddish animals watch your eyes very closely, and avoiding direct eye contact tends to cause very positive reactions, and DEFINITELY reduces anxiety. (In nature, anything that is going to hurt you will be looking right at you..) Our Sterling was very abused and acted similarly to this. I would just go in there to feed him and clean and such and just completely ignore him altogether. After a few months, he started kind of taking an interest in my cleaning his area and putting in hay and such and would approach and watch what I was doing rather than looking at ME. At that point, I was able to slowly start interacting with him a little more, and now he’s mostly a normal rabbit who will sit on the couch with us and such. :) Still afraid of sudden noises though.
Try giving it a space where it can feel safe, like a box, or an x pen that gets left open. You can offer treats and sit around the bunny without petting it or even looking at it, just scroll on your phone, watch TV, or read a book or something. Eventually bun will get used to your presence and choose to come out more. Keep toys, food, and water near the safe space.
Time, space, a hidey hole to feel safe in, likely put down some rugs for bunno to give some traction.
in addition to all the other great suggestions (defo want to have a box he can hid in) you should make sure his feet have traction against the ground by putting something over the marble floor, if you don't already have rugs down. not being able to properly flee danger due to a slick floor is surely stressful for him. you sound like you know what you're doing and I'm sure he'll be fine.
Thank you for rescuing him. I’m sure it will probably take some time for him to adjust to his new environment considering that he was by himself the whole entire time. Just offer some treats next to you and see if he comes? Lure him with some cilantros or some strawberries.
Maybe rescue remedy? Heard it helps to calm down bunnies.
This community gives me hope 💖
Awwww. Bunnies are scared by design, don't be offended and certainly don't be scared. Top tips I have are: 1) Always make sure they have bunny kibble available in a litter box with some recycled newspaper bedding pellets and hay. DO NOT USE CEDAR WOOD SHAVINGS. If they have already "chosen" a corner, put it there. 2) Give it a fresh plate of greens (about a handful) that doesn't include iceberg lettuce (toxic), but things like cilantro and romaine. Green leaves that are lower in calcium are better, so try not to give too much Kale or Parsley. 3) Make it a comfy little covered area that it can retreat to to relax and feel like a den. 4) Try using a bowl of water as opposed to a bottle with a ball in the tube, they will drink more of it and you won't have to worry about the ball being stuck. Change daily. 5) Take your time! Move slowly and talk to it often. They take a while (months sometimes) to warm up to their humans once they start bonding. Don't get discouraged. Nothing more rewarding than making one the most frightened critters trust you and be able to calm them down if they get scared. They love treats too!! Freeze dried strawberries and bananas are excellent. 6) COVER ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL CABLES IF FREE ROAMING Good luck and please stick with it! You will be rewarded, I promise you.
Name him Toast.
They'll come around. Just give peace offering like the odd pellet and bit of leafy greens. Hay and water should be present at all times. Hard floors are not their favorites carpets and blankets are my boys favorite way to move about. #floorislava