Does early handling really make much of a difference?

[GBov]

Up til now I have been really hands off the new born kits but every now and then something or other would crop up and a new litter would have to be moved or handled for some reason and, sometimes, I would have a litter that is really friendly while the litter before and or after would be really skittish.

Being a bit slow on the uptake :roll: I only just started to wonder if my having to handle new kits and having an exceptionally friendly litter were cause and effect instead of just something that happens.

With my two new litters I am making a point of putting my hands into the nest - after buying the does off with some Spanish Needles - and rubbing and petting the newlings to see if these litters are as insanely friendly as the 6 weekers from my most skittish doe who, up till now, has only had freakazoid kits.

Her latest litter, by the same buck and with the same care as she always gets, is now climbing the cage door to get to me while she tries to evaporate through the back to get away. The only difference was I kept checking her kits when new.

So do you folks find early handling makes a huge difference to later temperaments?

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I believe it makes a huge difference. I was very hands off with my first litters because I didn't want to get attached to my dinner. Big mistake. I ended up with unfriendly does that were kept back for breeding. Most of them have come around, but they are no where near as friendly as the rabbits from litters that were handled.

I have decided that just because most of my rabbits get eaten, there is no reason that those destined for the freezer shouldn't get just as much love and affection as the ones that I keep to breed.

Plus it is just so much nicer to be greeted by a bunch of happy, friendly rabbits when I feed! I love my wabbits- even the ones that have to ride the bus to freezer camp!

 

[SMR]

Half and half...if not handled almost always never 'tame'. Handled all the time or a lot and they do well, EXCEPT when there's a genetic issue of a line having bad tempers. I've seen it in a couple different breeds, no matter what/how they were handled, they had aggressive offspring...which I do not tolerate/keep those lines where noted and terminally culled when I was breeding.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I have rabbits that i didnt raise and some are a bit skittish. But they are coming around ..THE ONES that i raised.There is a big difference. I always have my hands in the cage .. either cleaning, feeding or just petting them to see how they are conditioned.. If they dont like it at first. They do come around .. SOme of my rabbits can hardley wait for me to open the door... The one that is in my Avator... She bites the door and shakes it when she sees me coming with my containers.. Before that, she would grunt and back up.Not now lol

And yes there is some lines that it dosnt matter what you do they are mean.. THose i dont have.

 

[Lizardslaps]

first litter of NZ whites I had I pet and handled them daily and when I gave them away they were extremely friendly always looking for pets and wouldn't mind being picked up but they also came from a mother that is very friendly and tame I can even pet the bunny belly and she dont freak out

 

[Therian]

I believe it does, I did a test and at 2 weeks the kits were TERRIFIED of me compared to those I handled myself. I think the major factor is I talk to my rabbits each time I go out and handle the kits. The kits hear me and they get my scent while I move them around, this also helps the moms get use to me being in her box.