Some of my advice is going to go against whatothers are going to tell you - so you need to think through what youfeel most comfortable with and do that - ok?
When we got Miss Bea...she had been a classroom bunny for ayear. She was very upset and very territorial and attacked uswhenever we opened her cage. Since she was bred, I had about28-30 days to get her used to us before the babies came (I knew I'dneed to check the nestbox, etc).
We all opened her cage door several times per day to pet us.When she attacked us, we put our hand firmly (but not overly hard) onher head and said in a firm voice, "NO". Then after about 10seconds, we'd let her go and pet her.
I also took her out of her cage at least once a day and heldher. She hated me at first and she would breathe hard,etc. But I really needed her to get used to my touch - and inthis case, I was on a schedule where I only had a certain number ofdays.
We also would offer her cheerios when we'd open her cage.Sometimes she would take them - a couple of times she tried to throwthem at us. We didn't always offer her cheerios every time weopened the door too - because let's face it - she didn't need THAT manycheerios.
One day though, I got to thinking, "What if I responded to her angerwith love instead of just firmness?". So - when she attackedme again - I held her head down (a submissive thing in rabbits) forabout 2 seconds and said, "no" and then I started petting her andcooing at her.
Within 14 days she started letting us pet her sometimes and by the timeshe had her babies - she was so used to us that she didn't mind mechecking on them and checking her.
Anyway, if I were you, I would hold her one to two times perday. When she doesn't fight you, I'd have a treat on hand atfirst....maybe. I'm not sure how I feel about that becausethen they always expect treats. Remember though - she needsto get used to your touch because if she gets ill - you willneed to hold her to medicate her.
I'd also take something that has my scent (and I'm willing to lose) andthrow it in there with her. My does love having a bit offabric in their cages sometimes as a treat...so I take a piece offabric and rub it all over my arms and then throw it in withthem. Hmm....I wonder if they try to destroy the fabricbecause it smells like me?
If she's been abused - which it sounds like - she is going to need timeand extra love. I think we were so successful w/ Miss Beabecause there were four of us working with her - so she had many manymany opportunities to get petted.
I'd also give your doe some toys - I find lionheads love the little catballs that have bells or something inside them. Some of themlike to chew on wooden beads and stuff too.
I really think holding her and helping her to know you care by pettingher will help a lot and the more she's held - the more she will getused to it.
I have one doe here that I bought 12/3. I really haven'tworked with her and I've noticed just recently how scared sheis. Unfortunately, I mated her shortly after I brought herhome because she is an older doe that needed to start producing againor it would be much harder for her. With the kids home thelast month - I've mainly let her lay in her cage and do her own thing -but when I petted her yesterday - she trembled. So, I'mbringing her out of her cage for at least 15-30 minutes per day to beheld and petted. I'm finding that I get tooth purrs from herif I rub right behind her ears - at the base of the ears. SoI do that a lot now.
Good luck. Let me know if you have more questions.I feel so sorry for your doe - she's very pretty. Based on myexperience with Miss Bea, I'm thinking she can come out of it - it willjust take time.
Peg
