Traumatized buck

[secuono]

I have a Californian buck who just seems traumatized over being touched, handled or anything related to people and possibly being touched. When I reach into the cage, he runs away, eventually when I touch his head/ears, he will ball up tight and stiff or flatten his head. You can usually pick him up like a kid, under the armpits. That's only possible because he is so terrified and stays stiff.
When I place him against my chest to carry him where ever, he is stiff and he holds his ears together and straight up, you just cannot flatten them to his body. Also, the whole time during any and all of this, he is grunting, shaking, just overall nervous and not happy.
I know constant positive interaction will help, but has anyone ever seen this type of reaction? Any idea on how long he may be this afraid? Btw, I got him like this and a doe, but she is nothing like him. I was told he is a little skidish, but that is totally wrong.

 

[Ms. Research]

I raise my hand and Yes, I created that reaction with my bunny. Due to ignorance of rabbits. Or maybe not ignorance, I'll say being naive about rabbits and handling them. It took me 2 months for him to trust me again and 9 months to NOT get grunts and hisses. Now remember I was so new to rabbits, and admit still am (see my journal), so it might take others a quicker time to settle a scared rabbit down.

Yea shy my Aunt Fannie. Poor boy. Hoping you break through to him. I was so glad I did with Dobby.

K

 

[brentr]

Patience and repetition. You'll likely be able to get through to him.

My NZ buck got out of his cage when he was about 6 mos. old - and he hadn't been handled much; I'd describe him as skittish. When I finally cornered and caught him, he screamed like a fox had just got him - which I guess in a way is what happened. He trembled all over every time I put my hand in his cage for quite a while after that.

He still is a bit jumpy even 5 mos later, but I can pick him up, turn him over, etc., and he is fine. I just made sure to put my hand in his cage every couple days, rub him head to tail, and pick him up at least once a week. I just helped him get used to me and being handled.

He's turned out to be a good breeder.

 

[secuono]

It's just so dramatic, I had to ask. :/
I hate the Californian fur, so petting them isn't "fun", lol.

 

[oneacrefarm]

Why do you hate their fur? I have Cals and they have lovely fur. Not like a Rex, but very soft and and a pleasure to pet. Maybe their coat is out of condition and would benefit from some Black Oil Sunflower Seed? Just a thought.... We had a doe like this, she even tore a chunk out of hubs thumbs in her panic. It took from September last year till just now to get her settled and tolerant of us.

 

[secuono]

The babies feel soft, mom and dad feel like stiff bristles, not fur. Doesn't feel like a rabbit, not what I expected. Am Chin is uber soft and silky, Silver fox is pretty soft with a hint of stiff fur[silver hairs] and the Lop is also very soft.
Guess it could be out of condition or something.

 

[oneacrefarm]

The babies feel soft, mom and dad feel like stiff bristles, not fur. Doesn't feel like a rabbit, not what I expected. Idk, just not what I expected. Am Chin is uber soft and silky, Silver fox is pretty soft with a hint of stiff fur[silver hairs] and the Lop is also very soft.
Guess it could be out of condition or something.

I think they could use some kind of "hare" conditioner! My adult don't fee stiff or coarse. When you rub their fur the wrong way, does it "roll back" to its original position? If not, then try supplementing with BOSS or some other kind of "coat conditioner". You can get big bags of BOSS inexpensively.

 

[secuono]

50lbs of BOSS is $26 here, that's not very inexpensive. The food I'm feeding is an upgrade from what the last owner was feeding, so maybe after a molt they will feel better.

 

[oneacrefarm]

50lbs of BOSS is $26 here, that's not very inexpensive. The food I'm feeding is an upgrade from what the last owner was feeding, so maybe after a molt they will feel better.

I got a large bag at Walmart, cannot remember what size, think it was 50lb for about $16 or so...you could also use Calf Manna, that is about $22 per 50lb, but it lasts a long time as you only give 1-2Tblsp per rabbit, everyother day or so.

 

[ruthless]

ARe you all talking about sunflower seed still in the SHELL or unshelled? Just give them a few on their pellets or what? Thank you.