Rabbit questions

shoppaholic_returns

Hi I had rabbits of all sizes when I was younger and we were always told to handle them as much as possible to get them used to you,I would suggest little and often and then they get accustomed to you, rabbits who arent handled can sometimes get very tempramental and posessive of you entering their space, so let her/him get used to you, as a pointer rabbitts close up vision isnt fantastic and they are sometimes frightened of someone going in hands over them,try to handle from the side or back but let her/him know you are there by talikng,so as not to surprise them. Have fun

lbt_2

Thanks

I took her out this afternoon for a little while and she seemed pretty settled and after a while quite inquisitive which is good

She is so beautiful - I can't believe how lucky I am

Thanks for the pointers on their vision - I didn't know that.

BridgetJones_2

You got one then! Handle her as much as possible, preferably kneel down and pick her up.

Are you getting her some company?

lbt_2

Hi BJ, I was hoping you would be around! Long time no speak!

Yes, at last! We are getting another one next week, about the same age.

She comes up to listen when I talk to her through the cage, but when I try to pick her up she darts off. It normally only takes one or two attempts to catch her and I talk to her all the time, but once I have caught her she is fine. She is quite used to being handled luckily. I picked her up then held her quite close, then after a little while just put her on my lap and she wandered off to explore my little girls laps They were so chuffed.

lowis

i had a black and white dutch - they are so cute aren't they? i would say handle often so she gets accustomed to it - my rabbit used t adore bunches of fresh parsley and would clamber all over me to get to it

lbt_2

Really? That sounds good - I grow that in the garden.

Thanks

brandyslad

we have a black and white dutch, she is so tame, when we first got her we had her in a wee hutch in the house and used to let her out to hop about, we handled her loads, petted her etc and it I think it was the best way she is outside in a hutch now, she is very gentle and has never bitten or scraped anyone. She is also very healthy and not scared of other animals, our boxer dog looks in at her and she doesn't mind at all, mind you he is very docile and doesn't bark or bother her! We fed her rabbit food to begin with but now we give her carrots or other vegetables. We bought her of a breeder as some of the ones we saw in pet shops did not look in good health. The breeder said the dutch were the best to start of with, they are easy to look after and tame. Good luck with it!

lbt_2

Thanks brandyslad.

I went to our local RSPCA centre, but at the time I was ready to take one they didn't have any small breeds - just the really long haired, or really huge ones. I had spoken to a breeder previously and he was fantastic. Gave great advice and when we came to visit he was watching my youngest to see how she was with them, and he was pleasantly surprised when she walked over and introduced herself to them. She was really gentle with them and spoke in a really quiet, squeaky voice She is only two and I felt really proud of her, but I knew she would be good with them anyway.

I love the idea of bringing her indoors sometimes, and I did earlier, but I think litter training will come some time later. We have a litter tray and I move her droppings into it, but she takes them out and snuggles up in it - she uses it a bit like an armchair really

lowis

my dutch rabbit used to chase my cats around all the time, he was so playful and bold. i don't have a garden so i turned my balcony into a bunny home - i netted it so nothing could get in (or out), covered the place with hay and put his hutch at one end and left it open all the time so he could come and go as he pleased. i would also hide food all around the balcony in hollowed out logs, cardboard boxes and the suchlike so that he could explore and forage. most evenings he would come in the house and run around and then flop down on the rug for a while before taking himself off to his hutch again. he would pee in hsi litter tray but not do his 'raisins' in there

i miss the little fellow, he lived for 10 years which is pretty good going - especially as he had cancer for the last 3 years of his life - i swear the daily bunches of parsley helped with this and kept him strong.

missbargain

You are so lucky, I would love to have a rabbit, especially angora one . Actually, any would do...