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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Bunny wont let me pick her up anymore

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    • MeganandLouise
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        I usually only pick up my bunny with moving her into her cage. Shes always been totally okay with me picking her up. All of a sudden she will not let me hold her and when I put her in the cage it is because I am leaving the house and usually don’t have time to chase her around. She only started doing it today but it makes me really upset because I feel like hurting her or making her mad when I have to force her into her cage. 

        She was hanging out around the house for 3 and half hours and I went to go put her in the cage and still freaked out.

        Also she isnt spayed and I think this is around her period time could that be a factor for a sudden change in behavior?


      • A Flying Brick
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          Yup rabbits tend to get nippy if they’re not de-sexed.
          Also a quick way to catch a rabbit is to get a blanket or a large towel and toss it over the rabbit, they’ll stop and try to get it off, then all you have to do is pick her up with the blanket. That can stress them out a little, but it’s the quickest, safest way to catch them.


        • Sarita
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            Rabbits don’t get periods. They are induced ovulators.


          • litheandgraphic
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              Hi and welcome!  

              Going to second Sarita there – rabbits do not menstruate or get a regular surge of hormones like many other mammals do. “Induced ovulation” means they only ovulate after they are mounted by another rabbit. 

              That said, how old is she? If she’s 4-6 months old, she may have just reached maturity, which means she’s flush with new hormones that alter her perspective, attitude, and behavior. If you don’t have her spayed and she’s 5-6 months old, it’s time to think about doing this. Females especially need to be spayed due to their high risk of developing reproductive cancers and complications if they are not.

              Also, most rabbits hate being picked up. The only time they’re being picked up in nature is when they’re about to be someone’s lunch! So this is naturally not a comfortable place for them to be and most rabbits will strongly resist it. If you can avoid picking her up at all, it’s best to do that, and find some way of coaxing her into her cage instead of forcing.


            • LBJ10
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                I agree with the others. A young bunny might seem okay with being picked up. But that can and usually does change (literally) overnight. As they mature, they suddenly decide being picked up in not such a great thing and they try to avoid it.

                I find it’s much easier to work food into the going back in the cage routine. My buns get their “dinner” pellets at bedtime. All I have to do is get the bag out and they come running!


              • ChesnutKC
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                  my bunny is the same way. If im pickin gher up out of her cage, shes fine, if im picking her up off the couch, shes fine. But if im picking her up off the floor. she freaks out and runs away. I have never tried the blanket method but maybe I will. Normally I wait until she corners herself then I quickly scoop her up by the bottom. She doesn’t like it, but its quick and soon shes back to snuggling on my shoulder. Most bunnies don’t like to be picked up and some only hate it when you’re ending their play time. But ya gatta do what ya gatta do.

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              Forum BEHAVIOR Bunny wont let me pick her up anymore