Hi All!

 

First time posting first time rabbit owner. I rescued Peaches and she has been my 1st grade's class pet for over a month. She has taught them SO much compassion and responsibility. She lets them hold her, pet her, and hops in and out of their laps during "bunny time". She has never once bit a child or been aggressive.

 

However.. yesterday I forgot her bedding so I put  paper towels in her cage. This morning I brought her regular bedding back and when I tried to take out the paper towel she came charging and bit me.. hard! I flicked her in the head and said "NO". She ran around her cage like crazy this morning and I have not let the kids near her. Now she doesn't even want to come to me when I open the cage, and she has ALWAYS wanted to come to people.

 I'm taking her to an rabbit vet Monday and getting her spayed Wed. will this help? Is there something else I should do? Can I trust her with the kids?

 

Thanks!!

 

oh, and she's an 8 month old (we think) lop.

Ok first thing I am going to say is Rabbits do not easily forgive!!! so she is probobly associating you with the hitting. My wife out of instinct once poped Nibbles after he bit her hard, and he still will not let her touch him or go near her.
As for the charging, she was probobly defending her territory especially since she is not spayed as of yet. I would allow the children to see her, but avoid handling her in any way until after her spay and she has healed.
You will need to be patient as bunny hormones are crazy and cause bun to do things they normally wouldn't do. after her spay and the raging hormones come down she will be more social, though she may never be the same.

First, being territorial of a cage is pretty common in rabbits. It could be that she just doesn't want you in her cage while she's in there, so you'll have to coax her out before cleaning up.

Second, spaying will most likely help. You don't say how old she is, but I'm guessing 6 months or so? Many females become territorial during puberty and a month after spaying they calm down again.

This is normal hormonal female behavior, and some rabbits are always territorial of their space, even after altering. In the future if this happens again, try letting out a high-pitched squeal to express your displeasure. Please do not physically chastise her (hitting or "flicking").

We have to have our rabbit out of the room to clean his cage. If he sees or hears it, he gets really upset. That is his home and he is not OK with anyone messing with it (and he is a fixed, 4-year-old)

Could be hormones and possibly territorial of her cage. I would recommend having someone hold her while you clean the cage. That way she also learns the cage is a safe place, where no one will be reaching in at her. I do the squealing trick when my buns comes at me too hard and it really seems to let him know that being mean is unacceptable.

As the others have said, territorial behavior over the cage is perfectly normal. Females get very moody and hormonal. But I can't promise you that spaying will take away territorial behaviors. My girl isn't as prone to biting since her spay, but she still charges/grunts if I get in her space.