Male Rabbit Plucking Fur – Please Read

[FlopsAndHops]

Hi there, I would greatly appreciate any ideas on what my Bun Bun is doing.. Bun has started plucking fur from his chest. I would be so grateful for any input, comments, or suggestions on what is going on. I want to do whatever I can to help my babe out. Thank you in advance for reading. 

Bun is a 1 1/2 year old male lion head, he is not neutered. 3 weeks ago Bun was moved to a new enclosure next to another male rabbit (5 month old angora). The bunnies seemed to enjoy being next to each other. They have been nothing but friendly to each other since the move. There hasn’t been any noticeable marking of the cage (I’m sure some is happening but there is not any obvious sections).

1 week ago, Bun started digging. Not just a little hole next to a corner, the enclosure is very bunny proof. Bun has been known to be an escape artist. The hole he dug was in the center of the outdoor section of his enclosure. We figured he wasn’t doing any harm by digging at that location and playing in the dirt. He seemed very happy running around in the dirt piles he made. He spent a little over a day and made a tunnel about 3 feet deep. After that, he filled it back in. I am not sure if this behavior also tributes to what is happening today. 

Today, 3 weeks after the move.. Bun has started plucking fur from his chest. He started later this afternoon. We checked his skin and there is no evidence of fleas, mites, or parasites. He hasn’t been itching like an animal would that has fleas and seems very comfortable. His neighbor bunny friend, Boris, has not been plucking. The area where he plucked does not look inflamed. There are no bite marks, bumps, infection, or lesions. His skin looks healthy.

These are a few common factors I saw thru research that could be the issue: 
1. Poor diet – Bun gets a very well balanced diet, gets vegetables daily, and grasses (he has grass on the bottom of his pen as well as timothy hay and a grass mix from a local farmer). I think diet is not the issue as he has been on this diet for quite a while and has not had any issues. 
2. Not getting enough attention – Bun is not shy and gets lots of love. I walk by his enclosure every morning before work to give him love. When I get home I do the same. I always walk by Bun and Boris’ enclosure to say hello and that is followed by pets and of course telling him how cute he is. He is a very loved and we give him a lot of attention. 
3. Shedding – Bun has been with us for almost 2 years. He has never had shedding that involved him plucking off his own fur. When he sheds thru the seasons, I brush him. 

He is acting normal and being his usual bunny self besides plucking fur every once and a while off his chest. He puts a clump in his mouth and it kinda at time seems like he’s showing off or giving it as a gift. Bun had a clump in his mouth, walked up to their divider wall and sat there so that Boris could come up and sniff him(or look at him or notice what he did, I am not sure why he did it).

I included photos of Bun and Boris’ enclosure (Boris is on the left and Bun on the right), what the clumps Bun is carrying around in his mouth when he pulls hair out, and a photo of the handsome bun with the plucking problem  Perhaps him being so close to another male is triggering the issue (why now though, why 3 weeks later). 

Any input, comments, or suggestions would be sooooooooooooo greatly appreciated. Bun has never done this behavior before and I want to do whatever I can to have him happy and healthy. Thank you in advance for your help! 

[jerseygirl]

Welcome Jessica
Everything about Bun’s behaviour says that “he” is nesting. How certain are you about his sex? If there is a chance Bun is female, it’s possible you are seeing a false pregnancy.

If it is very obvious he is a male, it’s possible he is hermaphrodite (both genders). Sometimes male rabbits will display some nesting behaviours but it’s not very common and usually seen in desexed male rabbits if it does occur. Normally it is limited to carrying hay in the mouth, not pulling fur.

With females, pulling the fur normally happens right before they have the babies – or in false pregnancy, when they think they are. So this would be toward the end of the episode. Sometimes with real pregnancy and rabbit will do this earlier, then again right before kindling.

 If there is a chance of this being a real pregnancy  (ie. Bun is female and has been with Boris) please provide nesting materials and a box where a nest can be built. And give unlimited food.  

Did you check the hole he dug and filled back in? 

[FlopsAndHops]

Thank you so much for the quick reply! 

We believe Bun is a male (it looks and feels like he has testicles). We have never officially had Bun sexed by a Vet. Anything is possible, you never know. I did not think about the possibility of him being hermaphrodite. That could also be possible.  

In regards to the hole.. It was checked yesterday and it was filled in solid. I tried to dig it in to see if it would cave in but it was very hard so it appeared to be packed back in. I just stepped into his cage to give him some company and he began plucking his fur right in front of me. After he stopped, I reached to pet him and he made this sound I’ve never heard him make before. It sounded like a purr and a growl mixed together. Then he ran into the hole. The hole was not there less than an hour earlier when I was in his enclosure last. The first hole consisted of dirt. This hole, Bun added straw. We really believed Bun was a male due to seeing and feeling testicles. This nesting seems like he’s a she so I’m confused. Do you know if males ever feel the need to nest? 

Thank you so much, you have given me quite a bit of info so far and I greatly appreciate it. 

[FlopsAndHops]

Update: Went out after posting and he is pushing dirt into the hole and packing it down. 

[jerseygirl]

Female rabbits in the wild will dig a shallow burrow to build their nests in. They back fill it after visiting to protect from predators and prevent other pregnant females taking over their nests.
I really think you have a pregnant rabbit on your hands, or one that is convinced they are. Even in false pregnancy, the hormones surge and it’s the progesterone that loosens the fur, allowing it to be easily plucked from the chest.

After he stopped, I reached to pet him and he made this sound I’ve never heard him make before. It sounded like a purr and a growl mixed together.

I had a rabbit who had babies a week after I brought her home. Any time anyone approached or tried to pat her, she cowered back and “squawked”. After she had the babies and her hormone levels settled, she never made this sound again.

[jerseygirl]

Do you know if males ever feel the need to nest? 

They can. It’s thought they might do this due to some stress or a hormone imbalance. But normally not to the extent of pulling fur to line a nest.

[FlopsAndHops]

Thank you for your help, I appreciate it. I will get a nesting box in there and have unlimited food available.

[Author]

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