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Forum BEHAVIOR A few odd behaviors I have questions about

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    • B. Faircloth
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        So I’ve had Stuart 12 days and I’ve been noticing some odd behaviors. I’ve been reading through as many posts as I could find, but I thought I’d put all of my concerns into one post. I should point out that Stuart is not neutered yet (I’ve found my vet… just need the $) and because the place I got him from had no information on him, I have no idea how old he is.

        ***First unusual behavior I notice is Stu likes to sit. And sit. Annnnd sit. He doesn’t move around in his condo much, mostly prefering to perch on the top level and look around. I’ve been constantly arranging, rearranging, adding and removing items in his crate since I got him — in an attempt to make it more bunny-friendly — so I’m not sure if his perching and watching is just out of curiosity or if he’s bored.

        ***Stuart also seems completely uninterested in the toys that most posters have success with. Chewie blocks, paper towel or TP cardboard rolls, jingle bell cat toys, cardboard boxes, wooden sticks. He might walk up to one and check it out, maybe pick it up once or twice, but that’s it.

        ***Binkies have only happened a few times and almost exclusively when our tuxedo kitten, Charlie, was in the room with Stuart. I really do think Stu sees Charlie as a bud and tries to get him to play, and most times they end up chasing after each other for a few minutes. Stu likes to run up to Charlie and come in between his paws in a head-down slide into first base. It’s really very cute, but my concern is Stuart may be digging the cat more than me. I’m not trying to discourage their blooming friendship; I just want my bunny to be my friend, too (selfish, I know). Any thoughts on getting him to like me more?

        ***And tonight, (well, last night since it’s now 2:30am on Saturday) Stuart crawled in my lap during a free-roaming-of-the-bathroom session, backed up, and proceeded to pee all over my crotch. I wasn’t mad necessarily, and truth be told I kept thinking he was going to do it any minute (self-fulfilling prophecy, maybe), but I can’t help but wonder why he would do that and of course, how to keep it from happening again. Does anyone else think rabbit pee smells like dirty, sweaty gym clothes?? NOT the smell I want on the crotch area of my pants, I’ll tell ya that!! Anyway, I digress.


      • mini
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          I’ve got three bunnies, 9yrs, 6 & 2, all house bunnies, all with very different behaviour attributes. None have ever been interested in any lick stones or chew toys. Not even a nibble. One of the three is a huge renovator and will renovate any cardboard box until its just right, the other two can’t be bothered. I wouldn’t be concerned about lack of interest in the toys.

          Bunnies live to be up high, it’s so they can check out what’s going on, and is what they’re programmed to do. I have one bunny who will go adventuring anywhere, one that used to but no longer really bothers, and one who’s afraid of his own shadow. When you’ve had a few – and you WILL end up with another, you’ll get to see that each has their own personality, so rarely a one size fits all behaviour.

          As for binkies, they’re great if and when they happen. Again, I reckon with one I’ve seen it maybe twice his whole 6 years. The eldest cant be bothered any more, the youngest now does rolling over aka bunny flops, nightly as ‘his thing’. It’s a sign of happiness but bunnies can display this in other ways so if its not happening, don’t worry.

          As for the peeing, I’m guessing he’s marking you. And yeah, it smells. But again, only the 2 year old makes smelly pee, the other two you’d never know they go.


        • RabbitPam
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            Hi, B. I’ll try to comment on each question as you put them if that will help. But first, let me say that 12 days is nothing in terms of the time it takes a bunny to get used to his new home, habitat, and family. Not to worry – much can change and I would expect that things will be different within a month or so.

            I have no idea how old he is. He may be older than you think and starting to get hormonal. Check to see if his balls have dropped, and get him to the vet to get an appointment for a neuter made asap, because it will be difficult behavior until it’s done and so much better for you both afterward.

            ***First unusual behavior I notice is Stu likes to sit. And sit. Annnnd sit. Normal. He’s observing the area and staying safe until it is clearly familiar territory and OK to move around. Also, he will be active at dawn and dusk, but daytime is sleep time, as is deep night. So he may be sleeping while sitting. I’ve been constantly arranging, rearranging, adding and removing items in his crate since I got him — in an attempt to make it more bunny-friendly Bunnies don’t like change. Let him place stuff and then leave it alone. He will rearrange it to the way he likes it, but don’t you move it.

            ***Stuart also seems completely uninterested in the toys that most posters have success with. They often take a while to like a toy, or there are too many and they get overwhelmed. He may not yet know toys from his daily stuff in a new home either, so cut back and just leave one or two in his space for now. The toys you want are the ones that work with his behavior: chew if he chews a lot, tunnels if he hides, diggy boxes and shredded paper if he digs, etc. You won’t know what he does until you know him a bit longer.

            ***Binkies have only happened a few times and almost exclusively when our tuxedo kitten, … It’s really very cute, but my concern is Stuart may be digging the cat more than me. Watch them together because each can hurt the other quickly, so supervise their interaction for now. Any thoughts on getting him to like me more? Just be present with him, like on the floor and let him come over to explore you. (Read a book, and hide a treat in your hand.) He will bond slowly, but you are the caretaker and giver of food and treats, so he-being a smart bunny-will learn quickly that you are more rewarding than the kitten. Imagine a huge giant wanting to be your friend before the other animal your size. It’s going to take a while, right?

            ***And tonight, (well, last night since it’s now 2:30am on Saturday) Stuart crawled in my lap during a free-roaming-of-the-bathroom session, backed up, and proceeded to pee all over my crotch. He marked you. Your his slave now. Also, be consistent in his litter training process, put him right back when you see his tail lift and praise him when he goes in the litter pan. This was my first clue that his hormones may be kicking in – neuter time!


          • RabbitPam
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              (Sorry typo-I meant LIE on the floor.)


            • mini
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                Just atip that has helped our mob; we kept treats out near the toilet area so that when we saw him or her go into the toilet area and use it, we could walk over and hand them a thank you treat. We had to keep our treats out of the packets or they’d hear the rustle of the packet and leave whatever they were doing. They also soon got smart and would go to the toilet area (and not do anything) just to get a treat…
                But by then, they were happy to go to the loo there.


              • B. Faircloth
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                  Well, I saw some great stuff tonight! Multiple binkies around the bathroom and even as I was a few feet away, some really content-sounding bunny grunts as he wrestled through my hair (he seems to really dig playing in my hair), and the cutest — 3 or 4 full-on bunny flops!! They were so cute I kept giggling and my husband thinks I’m looney now.

                  One thing happened though to kind of freak me out. He was nibbling my shirt (a very thin grey thermal top) and bit my arm pretty hard. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional but it hurt like fire and now I’m kind of gunshy when I see him getting close to my arms, legs, or stomach area. I really don’t want lil Stuart to think I’m avoiding him or don’t want to be close to him, and any time he starts to nibble my clothing I tell him no and redirect his attention. I had a rabbit years ago that was mean as everything and would run after everyone and deliver some seriously painfull (oftentimes, bloody) bites. How should I ensure lil Stu doesn’t bite again in the future (whether accidental or intentional)? He’s going to be neutered within a week or two.


                • LittlePuffyTail
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                    Binkies are a great sign! I just want to say that I ditto everything said by RabbitPam.

                    Biting can be a sign of hormonal behavior, so I wouldn’t worry about that too much if you are getting him fixed soon. I suspect, though, that he was nibbling your shirt and just didn’t realize it was your arm underneath. Redirecting his attention is the way to go.


                  • B. Faircloth
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                      Little Stu is a doll and hasn’t bitten or nipped again, so I suspect it was unintentional the time he did it. He still doesn’t play much but he binkies like crazy, does the head shake a lot, and is learning what “no” means. I read the entire “Language of Lagomorphs” last night and started watching for signals today. I haven’t seen any aggression from him either; only seemingly happy “buzzing” sounds as he lopes around me, lots of dramatic bunny flops with half rolls, and grooming.

                      I keep an eye on Charlie when he’s around. He’s being declawed Tuesday since he’s a very “hands on” kitten (meaning he likes to paw, pick up, touch, and scratch everything!). As Stu and I were lying on the floor in quiet contemplation, Charlie came up and rubbed his head across Stu’s head. He immediately put his head down and wanted more kitten love. It was all very adorable.

                      I’ve arranged his cage in a way that I’m finally happy with, but as far as I’ve noticed, he’s totally cool with my moving everything around. His cage is an XL dog cage situated on top of another XL cage so I’m able to walk up and actually lean into his cage to do stuff. He seems to really like having me in there with him. He stretches out from the top shelf as close as he can get to me and watches everything. Charlie also likes to hop in and Stuart seems to get a kick out of that as well. But, I’m leaving his stuff as is to not overwhelm him.

                      He still leaves toys alone and even prefers to not get into the hidey house. He doesn’t chew or dig at all but I’m not too concerned with that. He seems happy enough without playing with toys.

                      Tonight was the first night he hasn’t urinated in a non-toilet area (including my lap). He spend several hours in the bathroom with me and Charlie and then alone as I was getting ready for work and not once did I find a pee spot. Yay!!

                      I’m not sure that he’ll ever be able to have free reign of the house, even for limited amounts of time, since we have two house dogs and a police K9 that all have very high prey drives. One dog (hound mix) just likes critters in general and wants to play with everything; second dog (lab mix) killed a chicken, but thanks to immediate and harsh correction from hubby, is now the best at Chicken Protection Patrol; the third (GSD police K9) chases rabbits that live in the pd parking lot, so I don’t trust him one bit (luckily, he’s too human-aggressive to be loose in the house with me, so he stays in a crate while he’s off duty—what a jerk).


                    • RabbitPam
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                        Re: biting – when he does it again too hard and connects with your skin, just let out a high pitched squeal (not loud). That’s a sign of pain to a bunny and he will be startled because he didn’t realize he’d hurt you. Bunnies learn very early on to set their teeth without breaking skin – kind of like using their mouths as another hand. So he will grow out of it soon.


                      • Snowytoshi
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                          Posted By RabbitPam on 01/21/2013 05:47 AM

                          Re: biting – when he does it again too hard and connects with your skin, just let out a high pitched squeal (not loud). That’s a sign of pain to a bunny and he will be startled because he didn’t realize he’d hurt you. Bunnies learn very early on to set their teeth without breaking skin – kind of like using their mouths as another hand. So he will grow out of it soon.

                          Just wanted to comment on the biting and what RabbitPam said. They really do grow out of it, my youngest bunny would hop over to us and just be sniffing around, when suddenly CHOMP  He wasn’t an aggressive or scared bunny, he just didn’t understand that wasn’t how he should investigate. Now that he has grown up he no longer feels the need to nip 

                          One of my other rabbits was very aggressive when we got him and he would bite hard, whenever he would do that we’d squeak and gently ‘push’ his head down to let him know that we were dominant. Now when he feels the need to bite, he opens his mouth and slowly closes it around our ankle/arm until we move. He knows that he doesn’t need to actually bite for us to get out of his way 


                        • Elrohwen
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                            The sitting is normal. Bunnies can sleep with their eyes open, so he may actually be sleeping in this position. They tend to sleep all day and be active in the morning and evening.

                            I don’t know many buns who play with toys. Mine like cardboard boxes to check out, and will dig at some paper if I but it in the boxes, but they don’t really “play”.

                            You can bond with him by sitting quietly and feeding treats. Rabbits can take a very long time to warm up to people and will come around on their own time. It sounds like he’s already pretty comfortable with you, so that’s a great sign.

                            Also, I know you didn’t ask about this, but please do not declaw your cat! It’s an extremely cruel practice.


                          • Emmie
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                              All sounds like pretty normal behaviours to me! Thane sleeps a whole lot. Before he was neutered he would pee in certain spots and drop little poops everywhere. Now he’s a great little guy, and has perfect litter habits. He loves to throw things, but my OH’s bun has no interest in toys. In fact the two buns are completely different.


                            • B. Faircloth
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                                He still isn’t keen on playing but he’s coming around more and more. He doesn’t seem interested in nibbling my clothes anymore therefore no more accidental nips; he still plays and binkies, but I have to gate him in the bathroom for play time and kinda feel bad. The bathroom is huge, but it’s somewhat separated from everyone and aside from letting Charlie in, if I have anything else I need to do, he has to be alone in there. I’m going to look for the NIC cubes tomorrow to maybe make him a play area in the kitchen.

                                Still likes to just perch on his shelf. He won’t jump down to visit with me, but he’ll happily come to the edge and take any treats I offer. I appreciate all the feedback I’ve received. I’m now convinced he’s a fairly happy and normal bunny!

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                            Forum BEHAVIOR A few odd behaviors I have questions about