rabbits are territorial. if he needs water or cage cleaning wait til he is outside of his cage. then you can do what needs be done. also the spay will definitely help. if he keeps up after healing from spay take your hand over his head and neck area and hold him down til he stops struggling with soem buns this works too. but wait til he is all healed up first. are you new to bunnies? normally they don’t bite that bad but mine started boxing growling and biting not to draw blood but it did hurt so I started waiting til he was outside his cage and tended to his needs that way. it worked out fine that way. wait a month after his neuter cuz it takes a while for the hormones to leave the buns  4-8 weeks somewhere in there.

ouch!  thats not fun.  i really think the neuter will help with this, so its great that you’re going ahead with it very soon. 

rabbits can be very protective of their space.  an old cage i once used long ago for my bun had a terrible set-up because i had to reach in through the only door (on the side) to clean the cage or to get at my buns water dish.  i had to approach really slowly with my hand low to let bun sniff me first, then give a little head pet before i could reach in there when bun was nearby.  you might try this too.  also its better if you approach from the side instead of from above (not sure what your setup is like)  because – being prey animals – rabbits are threatened by things coming at them from above.  if you have to reach down it may be less threatening if you pause for a sec, say what you’re about to do outloud (or say anything… a greeting or whatever) just to let bun know you’re coming.

Stormy does this too but only when I try to pick him up and if I put my hands in his cardboard box. However he usually doesn’t make me bleed. My lop will do it if I scoop his poop while he is in the cage.

When you bring him to the vet get them to clip his nails, if they are not as sharp he can’t do as much damage.

Please try to take the advice of the others and work things out with him. It’s not fair to give him up because of his natural prey animal instincts.

ouch.  that hurts.  Meadow bit me a few times really bad before her spay.  she was much better afterwards.  some buns will always be territorial of their space, even after altering, so like was suggested, try to do your cleaning and watering/feeding when he’s out having run time.  that’s great you have him all set to be neutered.  you really are doing the best thing for you and him.  let us know how it goes.

Shadow’s neuter has done wonders for his pooping and pee wars with the cats, but his boxing and growling have not decreased. In fact I see it more now than before. It is always random and usually when I am stopping him from doing something he wants to do.

I apply my hand to the back of his neck and press down so he knows he was doing something unacceptable. His nipping is more for attention. He loves to tug on the cuff of your pants to get rubbies. Hopefully you are actually wearing pants when he does that!

still… be careful. biting may be next. as was said, see if they’ll trim his nails during the surgery.

As others have said, it’s more than likely a combination of hormones and being territorial. I think it’s hilarious when Warren tries to box me. He’s got tiny T. Rex paws. He only seemes to do it to me, if I’m sticking my hands over the sides of his run. He has no problems with me opening it up, and sitting on the floor with him. He also has no problems with me laying on the floor, half in his cage to clean. He just likes to stand on my back, looking over my shoulder to make sure I’m doing it right.

Does your bun drink out of a water crock or bottle? The bottle may help, in that you can fill it without putting your hands in his cage. Warren has a crock now (but he’s so excited about food and water, he just stands on his hind legs waiting for me to feed him), and I just pour the water refills in through the bars of his cage. I wash the bowl every couple of days when I clean his cage and run.

I wish you luck with your bun, and please remember that it can take up to a month for the hormones to wane after a neuter – his problems may not disappear overnight. It Warren about 3 weeks to stop humping my hand everytime I gave him food

I got boxed for the first time at volunteering last night…I put my hand in to say hi, before taking the bunny out, and he got upset and boxed me. I didn’t want him to not get out for a stretch, so I had to get him out.

I first put my hand in a fist (like a grooming invitation) at the very entrance of the cage, away from him. I started talking to him and inched my hand towards him. When he say my fist, he put his head down (like a “noooo you groom me!!”) so I stroked his nose and talked to him. Then he allowed me to pick him up, no lunging or growling.

Maybe in the mean time, moving really slowly and talking to him will stop the boxing?

My bun Luey is a rat for biting and lunging … he hates me in his pen … thats his space (his bedroom I call it)… tis like if someone goes into your bedroom and starts to tidy things up and put things away … perhaps you can relate to it that way.

I always wait till Luey is out and then I close myself in his pen and do what I have to do … he will generally sit and wait outside his pen with his back to me till I have finished … then he rushes in there like a shot to check out what I have done.

Is your bun still settling in with his new surrounds … buns need time to adjust and get used to their new home …

He will settle after his neuteur.

Welcome here too … Dawn xx

what does boxing mean?

it’s when a bun hits with it front paws really quickly.  they’ll sort of lunge forward quickly & swipe swipe… you’ve been boxed. 

Here’s a good video of bunny boxing http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=taD17bRxMOU

and also, because I love this one, here’s a bunny scream (don’t worry it’s just a weird bunny, he’s not hurt!) http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc8kx2u9TmM

HA ha I was just boxed for the first time last night. Piccolino started chewing at the carpet and I reached over to move his head away and he boxed me! I thought it as kinda funny.

hahahaa…great videos…i love how the cats run away….and ur right, the screaming bunny is def. a weird one!!!

my Hareiette occasionally boxes people too, but never serious scratches or injuries.

I would agree that the neuter should really cut down on the territorial and aggressive behavior, so very glad to hear it’s scheduled. You might also ask the vet to trim his nails while he’s under too.

In the meantime – I agree with bunnytowne, take him out of the cage when you need to get in there to clean or charge his water. Buns are often most territorial about their cages. Hopefully this will really calm down post neuter.

My carrera used to do this but now when I reach in her cage she will growl and I will tell her “no” very sternly and she leaves me alone to fill her food bowl. None of my other buns are territoral of their homes.

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/rabbittalk.html

I think this site is one that every bun owner should read. Buns are always talking w/ us/eachother and this article really makes it understandable to us humans.