Some behavioural questions

[m0938]

I have some questions about my new bunny (been with me 2 and a half months, about 5 months of age)
She has a carpeted run area thats she’s free to access and an NIC two level cage with an open door policy until bed time.

I’ve noticed that she doesn’t do much when I am not sitting in her run area with her. She stays in the NIC cage, flops down, or sits in a corner and cleans herself. It’s not like its boring, I have a hidey box in the area with a phone book she’s torn up, I have those wooden chew blocks, some plastic cat toys and a few badly homemade toilet roll tassel type toys. I even have a treat ball (she doesn’t have much determination though) But she never comes out to play unless I’m sitting there with her. 

Also when I put her food and veges down, if I walk away to do housework, she wont touch it. She knows it’s there because she comes and sniffs at it when I put it down. Only when Im sitting next to her will she hop over and start chowing down, which is then followed by a play time in the play area mentioned above. Is this normal behaviour? Is she scared when I’m not there?

Another issue is that I often lie down in her run area and read a book. She’s taken to jumping on my stomach and sniffing around. Recently though, she’s started digging and nipping at my clothes and sometimes nips my skin too. she’ll lick exposed skin but nips through the cloth. I make a high pitched sound but she just keeps going, it doesnt seem to phase her at all. Does she not know that she’s on top of me?

And finally, it’s summer here now and gets pretty hot during the day. I’ve made her a 2nd litter box upstairs in my room where I have the AC going. So around 11am I will go to her downstairs cage, and pick her up to carry her upstairs. Then in the evening I bring her back down.
The problem is that when upstairs, she has free run of my room and its always a horrible ordeal in the evening when I have to catch her or corner her and pick her up. I’ve tried using treats and when I do get my hands under her, she struggles very hard. I feel horrible when this happens. I’ve started using a box to put her in to transport her because Im afraid she’ll jump or struggle when I’m walking her down.
Do you know if this is something that she will get used to? Or do you guys have better ways of getting her in the box? (tried luring with treats, she’s smart to it now)

Sorry for the very long post! and thank you in advance!!

Meet Paget! 

This is her relaxing in my room with AC.

[tobyluv]

I don’t know why she only eats her food if you are near her. Is that just with veggies? I assume that she always has a supply of hay, which they need at all times. You certainly can’t be with her all the time.

The digging and nipping may be due to the fact that she is 5 months old, and getting, or is already sexually mature. You didn’t mention if she is spayed or not. Females usually start getting spayed at 5 or 6 months of age.

Since you have a pen in your bedroom, do you think that she would mind staying in it while she is there? That would make it a lot easier to catch her, and probably less stressful for both of you. Most rabbits have down time during the day and they sleep a lot, so maybe she would be okay with being confined. It looks like you have the space to make a bigger pen for her, which might make her more content. If you have a carrier, that would be an even better way to transport her down the stairs. You are right to be concerned about her struggling and falling from your arms. A box isn’t as secure as a carrier, since it can’t be completely closed without taping it shut.

[m0938]

She’s not spayed yet and she only digs when she’s hopped on top of me when I’m lying down. But I am asking around for vets who can do it.

About the food, she only eats her pellets and veges when I’m there, she will eat her hay out of her hay rack and poop in the litter box alone, so that’s ok. It’s just strange because some days I’ll leave a fresh bowl of pellets and veges and leave for half the day, when I’m back, these are untouched and have gone somewhat stale Then she’s picky when eventually eats it with me next to her

I could keep her in her pen, but she does like to run around the room doing zoomies and binkies, also I feel all sentimental when she flops down by my feet. When I do close the pen, she stands up against the side and sticks her nose out…sulking. But you gave me an idea. I can shut her inside the pen about half an hour before I need to take her down. That should be much easier. I dont have a carrier, I’m using a shoe box with a lid I hold down with my thumb, she keeps still when she’s in the box, she only struggles when I’m holding her. I want her to understand that being picked up means good things, but I read that most rabbits will never realise this.

[tobyluv]

That is good idea to put her in the pen a little while before you need to take her back downstairs. Then she can have plenty of fun and exercise the rest of the time. That is very important, but I only suggested keeping her in the pen at times to cut down on the stress for you and for her since she had to be chased around. Rabbits of any age do like to dig at clothing or blankets, but since she is at the age of sexual maturity, that may account for some of the digging and nipping. You are correct about holding rabbits. Even rabbits that I’ve had for years do not like to be held and will struggle. Some people have been successful in doing daily or regular holding training, to get their rabbits more comfortable with being held, so you can keep trying that.

You will need a carrier for her, for vet trips or any other trips out of the house. The ones that open from the top are easier to use for rabbits.

Here is a link to one of the rabbit savvy vet lists: http://rabbit.org/vet-listings/.  These lists aren’t always up to date, so you can also call around to any of your local vets and find out how rabbit savvy they are.  Here is a link to an article on finding a good vet: http://rabbit.org/faq-how-to-find-a-good-rabbit-vet/.

[vanessa]

It sounds like she likes you. That’s good. Bunnies are more active early morning, periods at night, and late afternoon. If I had to pick a time to confine my bunnies, it would be during the day while I’m at work – since that is when they are least active, and sleepy. When I get home from work they wake up and start playing. They are active throughout the night, up till around 9 or 10am the next morning. I used to let Lancelot out of his bedroom when I got home from work, and confined him when I left for work. Now I give him free reign. I would either swap around your confinement time, or not confine her at all – as long as her space is properly bunny proofed. I agree with the carrier. With one of my bunnies, I only ever pick her up by scooping her into a cat carrier. She fights too much and I worry about her safety. It is less stressful for all concerned. Digging and nipping – definitely could be associated with unsprayed hormones, and also liking you and demanding interaction. Not sure about her eating habits. One of my bunnies has a cute habit – she runs up to the second level (sometimes ground level) of her NIC condo, and I have to feed her through the panels. Terribly cute. I know she eats when I’m not there, she is very round. But when I’m there – she wants to be handfed through the panel.
She sounds really cute. I’d get a cat carrier, and try out different confinement/non-confinement scenarios. Let us know how it goes 🙂

[m0938]

Thanks for your advice guys, I have found a rabbit savvy vet and will arrange her to be spayed soon.
To be honest I’m a little afraid about the aftercare and the risks. But this morning when I went to her, she circled me and made a low, soft humming noise. I didnt want her growing up too fast! She also twitched her butt at me. So, I’m pretty sure it’s about time.

Her eating habits are still the same, and when playing around outside her condo, if I step away out of sight for a while, when I come back she’s always back inside.
But I will invest in a carrier for her for sure! Thank you!

[vanessa]

She really likes you! All 4 of my bunnies are fixed. One of the males still buzzes at me – the low humming noise you described. It’s really cute, and not that common. Humming and but twitching isn’t just about hormones, it is also about “I like you”. It sounds like she has bonded with you, which is great. My little guy runs up to me and humms coz he is happy to see me. Every day. It’s adoreable. Butt twitches are like tiny binkies. My female Guin, twitches her butt at me every morning. Especially at feeding time. Don’t be too worried about her eating habits. Kinda odd, but bunnies are foodies. She won’t let herself starve! Perhaps she is “sharing” her meal with you? Bunnies enjoy eating, and perhaps she is sharing her food-pleasure with you. Sounds really cute.

[Author]

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