week one
Babies have arrived - awesome news! The day they're born is always so exciting. We start off BUN by going ahead and picking them up once the mama has recovered from birth and the babies are nice and warm. Holding and very gentle petting are the requirements for this stage.
week two
The babies are just a little bigger and fluffier. BUN continues with basic holding + petting, but the petting is now focusing in on the head and ears. Picking them up is also introduced, with repeated gentle pick-ups and set-downs being part of the process.
week three
Babies are doing well and gaining energy by the moment. We now focus on petting the underside of their bellies and all four feet, which desensitizes the 'scare' factor of being picked up and increases their 'people factor!' Mild stressors come into play on this week as well, beginning with periods of regulated loud noise.
week four
Week Four is a continuation of Week Three - plenty of snuggles and pets. The babies are now allowed to head outside for sunshine and playtime if the weather allows. This introduces them to new textures and feelings - grass, breeze, and sun. It also helps them get used to sudden movements, like a branch moving in the wind or a bird flapping from a tree.
week five
This week, the babies are over halfway to being ready to hop home! They are now full of craziness and baby hops. This week, we continue pets on the tummy and feet while adding more mild stressors, such as being carried securely up a flight of stairs or being separated from their mama a few minutes at a time.
week six
Almost ready for their new homes! The babies begin spending longer periods of time away from mama and continue to be loved on by everyone. The babies will have socialization sessions around large groups of people during this week.
week seven
Week Seven means finalizing everything the bunnies are used to and getting them all prepped for their new homes! This week, we introduce grooming and work entirely on comfortably picking up, holding, and petting the babies for extended periods of time.
week eight
Finally, Week Eight! It's so exciting to wrap up BUN and see the babies ready to flourish in their new homes. This week is 100% snuggles, treats, and congratulations for our babies - they've done so well to complete BUN successfully.
BUN: How we socialize our babies