5 month old girl bunny terrified.

Question
So I think my baby bunny hates me. I just got her yesterday and to make a long story short, every time i hold her she squirms and trys to run away. The other  day I physically had to chase her and grab her to put her back in the cage. And its weird because she lets me pet her...some times. And she won't eat from my hand, just the bowl I put the food in. I know I have to give her time to get used to me, but im terrified she hates me. I just held her a little while ago and when i put her back in the cage she peed on herself! She pants all the time too. Is there anyway I can make her feel more at home and confortable so she is less afraid of me?
Oh, and someone told me I am suppsed to wait to hold her?...Is that true?

Answer
Hi Monique:

I can assure you that your baby bunny does not hate you.

A skittish and nervous rabbit can be the result of two things.  Either genetics or lack of socialization at a young age.

Rabbits that are not handled regularly from the time of birth (starting the day of birth) tend to be very skittish and nervous around all people.  Unfortunately, most breeders do not take the time to handle each rabbit every day and the result is what you are experiencing.

In some cases it's genetic.  It's just the "wiring" of the rabbit and that's not something that can be changed.  If a kit (baby rabbit) has a nervous mother or father, chances are - it is passed on.  Good breeders know not to breed skittish rabbits, but many breeders do so anyway since they can make money and don't have to deal with the problem afterwards.

You can try and get her past this.  If its genetic, she will always be nervous.  If its lack of socialization, you can change it.

Each day, go to her cage and talk to her a bit in a very gentle, soft voice.  Then open the cage and put a treat in.  Don't try to get her to eat from your hand - she's not ready for that yet and wont come to you.  Just put the treat in, about half way between you and her and wait for her to get it.  It might take 1 minute, it might take 30 minutes - patience will be required.

Each day, move the treat closer and closer to you, until eventually, she eats it from your hand.  Again - this might take a long time to achieve, don't rush her or it will backfire.  

Once she is willing to eat from your hand, and actually comes to you when you open the cage, then gently touch her while she's eating her treat.  If she shys away, remove your hand.  Increase the touch from a second or two in the beginning, until you can fully pet  her without issue.   

Once she is ok with you petting her, pick her up.  Don't take her out of the cage, just lift her, while talking to her softly, then put her down and then give a treat.

Each day, work toward getting her out of the cage without her freaking out or being nervous about it.

In time (possibly a long time), she should come to enjoy being held, snuggled, pet, etc.  If she has bad genetics, that may never happen.  It's similar to trying to calm a wild dog or feral cat.  They might learn to trust you enough to accept you, but never become fond of being held or confined.

If you work the above method for 6 months and she's still not accepting you, then you have a rabbit that is just not social.  You can either accept her as is, or try to rehome her and purchase a new one from a reputable breeder who has socialized the rabbit from the time of birth.

Whatever you do - do not pick her up and hold her before she's ready and comes to you willingly.  If you do, it will only associate humans with her fear and it will worsen things.  You don't want to make her condition any worse.

I wish there was a quicker way of helping skittish rabbits, but unfortunately, there is not.  Over the past 25 years I've taken in many rabbits that the owners surrendered for this reason.  I'd say 50% of them come around and the other 50% never do.

Hopefully yours will.  Give her time and patience, she might surprise you!

Lisa L.