new doe very nervous

[20kidsonhill]

PUrchased a silver fox doe 6 to 7 months old, she is plenty big to breed, for sure 8 to 9 lbs at this point. She seemed fairly calm at the sellers property, but here she is like a ping pong ball, rocketing around her cage, every time anyone goes near. She launches herself into the sides of the cages. We are trying to just move slowly around her, and not bother her too much for right now.

We were hoping to beable to start breeding her right away, but when we tried putting the buck in with her she flipped out, and thumped at him. I know you are suppose to move her to him, but we felt it would be less stressful for her. Needless to say, we just took the buck out a few minutes later.

What do you all think?

How much time should we give her? Should I just try holding her down?

 

[secuono]

Mine is annoyed when you spook her and definitely not as calm and relaxed the the buck. He lounges around like a dog. She will freaks out if you mess with her or her cage too much. Best to scoop her out like you would a pet rabbit and not a rag doll by the neck.
The buck was very nervous about me petting him the first day, but now hes a bit more relaxed knowing I won't eat him, lol.

 

[doxiemoxie]

Are you housing her the same way she was housed at the breeders? Some rabbits actually do better with a companion. I used to have a nervous doe and just left her with her nest box all the time so she could jump into that when she got spooked. You could also try throwing her a little treat every time you go near; a bite of carrot or fruit (apple, grape, tomato, bean) She probably won't eat it at first but eventually she'll make a positive association.

As for breeding, try putting the buck in a cage immediately next to her, when she's more receptive she'll get near him. This could take a couple weeks. I think rabbit does have a natural cycle that makes them more receptive at times to the buck.

 

[20kidsonhill]

she came from a place that had hanging cages under wooden stands, all outside. She had friends in cages on each side of her, She has a friend here that is next to her as well, Not the same rabbits that she had at her old home. She has a 2x2 wire front to her cage and a 2x2 plywood box also outside, she dashes from the wire part to the back wooden part the second she sees me coming, she wont come out for even fresh picked clover. There is no kind way to catch her at this point, you would have to put a suit of armor on to stick your hands in there. Well, I should say no gentle way to catch her. I can get her, but it isn't pretty by no means.

I will move the buck next to her and give her a few more days tp adjust and then try again.

We also got a new zealand red 3 month old doe from these same people and she is doing much better than I ever imagined, My son is having great luck picking her up already and carrying her around. We named her Sienna for her beautiful rusty orange color. She seemed wild as could be a the breeders and it is amazing how happy she seems here.


Thanks for your advice

The seller told my son to just open the cage door and stand there and pet them for 5 minutes each day and when they become used to that, tuck them under his arm like a football and carry them around, but because she can escape to the back it isn't making it very easy to spend time with her. Also She jumps so much I am worried she may just jump right out of the cage with the door open.

 

[secuono]

My pair live next to each other and I left their boxes I transported them in in the cages. Both love to sleep in them or hop on top.
So I agree with petting, treats and a box to distract her. I toss in a ton of grass everyday and she comes up for them too. They just need time.

 

[doxiemoxie]

You could also try moving her into your house for a few weeks where she'll be around you by default and probably get a few extra moments of attention. That may be enough to desensitize her. I would encourage you to work on that before you breed her. She might be so stressed she won't produce a very large litter or she might end up not caring for them (or even trampling them).

 

[20kidsonhill]

You could also try moving her into your house for a few weeks where she'll be around you by default and probably get a few extra moments of attention. That may be enough to desensitize her. I would encourage you to work on that before you breed her. She might be so stressed she won't produce a very large litter or she might end up not caring for them (or even trampling them).

Thanks, but moving her into the house wont be happening. But it did enter my mind, that she isn't going to be a good mom, so nervous and uptight, so we are giving her some time to calm down. she isn't flinging herself around on the walls, like she was at first, but she is still pretty nervous. She doesn't seem to be eating very much, but does come out of the back of the box, more than she was. I guess it will just take time.

 

[Ms. Research]

You could also try moving her into your house for a few weeks where she'll be around you by default and probably get a few extra moments of attention. That may be enough to desensitize her. I would encourage you to work on that before you breed her. She might be so stressed she won't produce a very large litter or she might end up not caring for them (or even trampling them).

Thanks, but moving her into the house wont be happening. But it did enter my mind, that she isn't going to be a good mom, so nervous and uptight, so we are giving her some time to calm down. she isn't flinging herself around on the walls, like she was at first, but she is still pretty nervous. She doesn't seem to be eating very much, but does come out of the back of the box, more than she was. I guess it will just take time.

It took me 2 months for my boys to actually truly settle down. They would hide in their enclosure as soon as they heard me start opening their crate. Or go all the way to the back of the crate. Now they don't mind me at all. They come to the front of the crate. They don't hide like they did. They are calmer when I handle them, etc. It does take time. As long as you or anyone else in your family visits her every day, which it seems you are since she does sound like she is calming down, she will settle. Some rabbits are more anxious than others.

BTW, I did the exact same thing, handling, talking, petting, etc, to Dobby as I did to Kreacher. It took Kreacher longer to settle down than Dobby.

She will settle at her own pace.

 

[Legacy]

The two times that I have had truly nervous does that wouldn't breed, I put the buck in the cage with her and left him for about a week. The scuffle a little at first but with in a couple of days, you can tell she is happy to have a familiar face in her cage to cuddle against. Both times, it worked to not only to get her bred that time but to calm her down more in general. One of the them is still very skittish of people but likes the buck and the other one has mostly likes people petting her now.

 

[oneacrefarm]

We were hoping to beable to start breeding her right away, but when we tried putting the buck in with her she flipped out, and thumped at him. I know you are suppose to move her to him, but we felt it would be less stressful for her. Needless to say, we just took the buck out a few minutes later.

What do you all think? How much time should we give her? Should I just try holding her down?

Does are cage territorial, you should always take the doe to the buck or she could hurt him defending "her territory." Try putting her into his cage and see what happens...

Also, you can put her into a smaller cage or give her some kind of a hidey-hole. Some rabbits need that to feel secure until they settle in.....

Shannon