i got a new rabbit, the old owners daughter owned it but moved to a no pets allowed property. after a few months, the person finally decided to sell it an i got it for £30 and all the stuff she gave me added to ust over £300! it has only been stroked on the head a few times daily in a few months, not been held or anything but has been cared for, food, water and clan cage, also has been spayed, FULLY inoculated and has had dental checks. the rabbit i have to hold on a THICK, FLUFFY cushion because she scrathes, doing a motion how they make beds and nips like hell on my clothes so i hold her on a cushion, today i have had her 2 days, she only began to eat and drink yesterday sometime. she runs when tries to be picked up so i open the cage door in the part she is in and put the cat carrier there i then transport her to a LARGE run and put toys atc... and somewhere to hide in there. i then have to use the carrier to get her out again. how do i get her used to human contact as she does a growly/hissing sound at me when i gp near her to pick her up. i also get nervous because of what she does to me and i guess this makes her more worse towards me because she can sense it. she has also attacked my hand twice when goung to stroke her, she has lunged at my hand and nipped it and done the 'making the bed' movemnet at them, it hurt a bit and said no and closed the cage. how do i get her used to me, i have managed to hold her 5 times, the first day i settled ehr for HOURS then picked her up, she was ok but didn't like it, please help!
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Rabbits and children Children cannot be expected to solely look after a rabbit. I will only sell a rabbit if the parents agree to accept full responsibility for its care. Young children can quickly get bored of a new pet once the novelty has worn off, are you prepared to care for the rabbit if this happens? A rabbit is not a cuddly toy and can bite and scratch if harassed. See these links for more information Rabbits and Children and Rabbits and Easter Hutches and Cages So long as your rabbit gets lots of attention you can keep it outside all year round in a good quality weatherproof hutch with a separate draught-free dark area with access to an outside run. I prefer rabbits to be kept indoors during the the winter months as they will get more attention from you (a shed or unused garage is ideal). The hutch must be at least 6" off the ground and should be sited out of direct sunlight and draughts. Make sure that padlocks or bolts are used for fastenings on both hutch and run to prevent access by foxes. Wire mesh used on hutches and runs should be of strong quality (not chicken wire). Do not be concerned if your rabbit uses the sleeping area as his toilet as this behaviour is quite common. Neutered rabbits can easily be trained to use a litter tray. Bedding Use a deep layer of wood shavings throughout the hutch, with a good layer of hay on top. Litter trays can be filled either with a covering of shavings and hay or a wood-based cat litter. Clean the soiled area daily, thoroughly cleaning out the whole hutch once a week. Food An adult Mini/Dwarf rabbit should need no more than 2-3oz of dry food a day. I use 'Chudley's Rabbit Royale'. All the food should be eaten each day, if any is left you are probably feeding too much. Be consistent with the type of dry food given and stick to it. I do not recommend giving a rabbit under 16 weeks old any fruit or vegetables as severe diarrhea may occur with fatal results. Start by offering tiny amounts of a variety of vegetables every other day and gradually build up the amounts over a period of weeks. Stop immediately if the rabbit consistently has a dirty bottom or runny droppings, often resolved by withdrawing the fresh food. Seek veterinary advice if this is a persistent problem. Never feed lettuce to a rabbit of any age. Rabbits should not be fed extras such as bread, toast, cake, sweets, biscuits, crisps etc. Refill the water bottle daily, and add large handfuls of fresh hay. It is essential for rabbits to have large quantities of fibre in their diet each day so ensure that your rabbits have access to fresh hay every day of the year. Examples of fresh food you can give your rabbit are: carrot, celery, cabbage, cucumber, spring greens, broccoli, brambles, Brussels sprouts, groundsel, mint, parsley, raspberry leaves, watercress. The following can be given in small quantities: apple, dandelions, melon, peach, pear, pineapple, strawberries, banana. Handling Rabbits are naturally shy, quiet animals who hate being held above ground level. Gaining the trust of a rabbit takes time, patience and effort. All the babies at Westhill Stud have been well handled but you will still need to be patient when you first get your new rabbit home. Many adult rabbits do not enjoy being handled, although some will tolerate it better than others. This applies regardless of whether the rabbit is handled from a baby or not, and unfortunately the true personality of a rabbit is not fully apparent until about 6 months of age. With this in mind it is important to let your new pet settle in with as little handling as possible. Gradually build up his trust and confidence by talking quietly to him and gently stroking his head if he approaches you. When he has settled in, you can pick him up gently but firmly either by placing your hands around his middle or by holding the loose skin behind his ears with one hand whilst supporting his hind quarters with the other.
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