this is my little boy. his name is maverick but he is mostly called baby.
i got him after owning another rabbit for a few months, she was and still is a very well behaved girl that enjoys to be cuddled and held, doesn’t have any behavioral issues (other than eating an occasional piece of paper if left on the floor) and she motivated me to get another baby as i work hospital 12 hour shifts and didn’t like her being alone that long.
in comes maverick, i immediately fell in love with this little white bunny posted online by the same breeder as my girl, decided after a long bit of thinking and research that i was in a good position to be able to bond them and adjust my space for a second one. i picked him up and drove him home, the second we got home i noticed how terrified this poor lil boy was but i decided it was probably terrifying driving some hours and ending up in a new location, with a new person, and now being introduced to a new bunny who is focused on making sure she is above you in the hierarchy. i separated them for the night and went to bed hoping he’d be okay to unwind a little in the morning.
spoiler alert, he wasn’t. he has been terrified since the moment he came home. i can’t hold him without him being terrified, if i sit to get on his level he doesn’t come out of his hide, if i offer him treats he takes them and runs, i can’t lift him without having to practically chase him, etc. the bright side is that he finds a lot of comfort in my girl. despite everything they bonded almost immediately and spend a ton of time together everyday. they are perfect together so i have no regret in getting him, i just need help understanding him.
i messaged the breeder about his condition after about a week of him being terrified to the point of peeing on me everytime i touched him. she responded with, “Hopefully he comes around. Let me know if he doesn’t. That combo was hit or miss. I will not be duplicating it. I want you to be happy with him so if I need to replace him I will. His parents just don’t make the friendliest babes. Some were amazing and others more nervous.” obviously i never considered returning him. i just wish the breeder would have made his personality more clear as i was left completely unware how challenging this process would be and still have been given no advice whatsoever on how to help him. the more i watch him i do think he is a little different than my girl developmentally as well. his understanding and navigation of certain things seems a little off but that’s okay, my primary questions are:
is there anything that can be done about him being so scared? i don’t mind that i can’t hold him a lot or that he doesn’t cuddle. i just want him to be happy.
is it wrong of me to feel this way? i would never give him up and do love him dearly, for he is my little baby boy, but is this how a lot of rabbits are? i do not see much about constant fear in young rabbits when researching them.
has anyone else had this problem?
is this my fault?
could his fear pass on to my girl? she is one of my best comforts in life. i am in a tough situation (aside from this) and i don’t know if she is becoming more distant or if i just feel that way due to the situation.
additional note:
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both are fixed. he was fixed at 16 weeks and has been fixed for almost 10 weeks and she was fixed before he came home so i don’t think this was ever a hormonal issue.
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the vet has said he is very healthy, he has been there twice, once for his procedure and exam and once for shots.
he is not particularly scared or reactive with me. he is like this with everyone.
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he never bites me, but scratches a lot with his back feet when i am holding him (it hurts a lot and sometimes he has drawn blood. i have now resorted to wrapping him in a towel which probably scares him more, but it is the only way i can get things done), which i try not to do because he doesn’t like it. only if he needs to be brushed or needs his nails cut.
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he has not gotten worse over time but has not gotten better.
any advice is appreciated even if you aren’t entirely sure. thank you for your time and the read. i will continue loving my little boy in the meantime ❤️
by irishmabelpines