It’s better to grasp the loose skin over the shoulders and scoop the rabbit up under the chest. Above all, rabbits are swift and agile. Gently use the loose skin behind the rabbit’s neck to hold onto its scruff. Pick your rabbit the right way. Commit. Either way, you should always have one hand firmly supporting its hind legs, and another firmly grasping its chest (or back, if you are holding it chest-to-chest). A rigid and restricted kick or a fall from a height can cause grave injury. Rabbits Sleep With Their Eyes Open . Trim only the tip of the nail. Handling your rabbits correctly. Zig-zagging is their primary mode of evasion. Should they become captured, rabbits will also bite and can deliver a powerful kick. (R - Golden Strike) Golden Rabbit strikes the target with immense power and extremely fast speed. In the wild, rabbits are prey animals and so are naturally cautious. close topic reply to this topic. In a wild setting, this translates to kicking dirt into another animal’s face. Once you are lifting and holding your rabbit, do not let go to accommodate an anxious, unhappy squirmer. 1.8k votes, 37 comments. Our rabbit refuses to let us keep any kind of bedding in his pen. Rabbits can resist being lifted and carried in a number of ways. #7: Rabbits have a propensity to kick when they feel threatened. How should they hold it? If your pet rabbit is resistant to being held, don't pick him up. How to hold the unholdable rabbit. Pet him gently until he is ready for you hold him. be careful when you rest his hind legs on your body, some rabbits will kick powerfully to get out. never ever pick up a rabbit by the scruff (skin on the back of the neck) or ears. My stance is that if I lose ANY rabbits to heat stroke then I am a guilty of animal cruelty. Forcing a rabbit on a child isn't fair for the child, as rabbits will bite, scratch and kick when mad, and they often hate being cuddled. A panicked bunny can easily hurt itself or you. Not only are rabbits quick, but they sleep with their eyes open. See the link to nail trim information below for help on where to cut. Handling him is going well, except when I put him back in his cage. Squat. Handling a rabbit daily will help it become comfortable with being held and touched by humans. May 9, 2008 213 0 132 bootheel of missouri. #5: Moving quickly now, use your second hand to hold the back legs of the rabbit. 2. Remember that rabbits have a light bone structure compared to their body weight. 3. Keep an eye out for any darting bunnies. If your rabbit kicks too much, take a break from the process, try to regain back its calmness, and try again later. Get your helper to hold the rabbit gently but firmly. I spent $200 at the vets just to tell me she had a 50/50 chance of living bc she hurt her leg. Parents who help their children to hold the rabbit the first time often leave the rabbit with the children and when the children get scared they ‘push’ rabbit into this position. Better to keep it seated and pull it slightly against your stomach. I want to be sure they are holding it correctly so it doesn't get hurt. The following is the best method that should be employed when you think about how to pick up a rabbit. Don’t force your rabbit too much. Never hold a rabbit in this way • It will kick and sometimes that kicking can hurt its spine. Rabbits don’t like being controlled; they are more like being aggressive if you do it. I got a great video from somebody on her that help out a ton and im working on our trust right now. They feel much safer on ground level where they can run and hide if they need to. They will often kick and struggle as you patiently try to keep them calm and get their nails trimmed. NEVER HOLD A RABBIT BY ITS NECK OR EARS It’s just wrong. All are attempts by the rabbit to retain solid ground and control of his own fate. How to probably pick up my rabbit if he kicks. When the summer heat kicks into gear there are a few tips and tricks you can use to keep your homestead rabbits cooler and more comfortable. Never pick a bunny up by the ears because it’s painful for them and simply not necessary. Rabbits usually give up when the damage their legs. The great thing is, they are not expensive and sometimes free. It may try to "reverse" out of your arms so always keep one hand under its bottom. Sudden sounds or movements may startle a rabbit and cause it to kick. 11 Years. Catnip related catastrophes and other shenanigans is what HoldMyCatnip is all … Rabbits require regular and devoted care, and too many rabbits spend their lives locked up in dirty cages after their young owner becomes tired of his birthday present. Rabbits can deliver a very strong kick if they want to. However, the final transfer to his cage generally earns me some scratches on my chest. Hold him snugly braced against your body.   If your rabbit appears to kick as they hop away from you they are trying to kick up dirt to show they are upset. In the most difficult cases even with the above if the behavior continues, a high sided digging box can be used as litter box as seen in the last pictures in this answer . Hold your rabbit tightly, so they feel secure, but gently. Wear a long-sleeved shirt to minimize scratches. Deals 85 damage. My mom posted this in response to a blog and thought it would be a great forum post. This may happen the first few times you try to pick them up. Owners should also use a calm, soothing voice. Jan 17, 2009 #2 animalgirl2010 Songster. He does this with the shavings too. Any suggestions? Place the clippers on the nail where the cut is to be made. You mustn't let your bunny dictate whether or not you get to spend quality time with her. 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