First intentional bite

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 7 months ago by kirstyol.

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- 08/25/2015 at 11:45 AM
  LopLover
  Participant
  29 posts
  Guys, I am heartbroken! This morning Igloo gave me his first intentional bite. He’s nipped before, getting overly excited when I’m holding a treat and accidentally grazed my finger as he’s taking it, but never out and out bit me.
  
  I have no idea why he’s done this. I was sitting on the floor, he came up and put his head in my lap to get his nose scratched. I rubbed his nose for a minute and he started chewing my sweatpants. I told him “no” softly and he stopped. I lifted my hand up and away, and quick as a flash he lunged forward, jumped up and chomped down on my ring finger. He took a chunk out of it and drew blood on me. I screamed “ouch”, scooped him up, and put him back in his pen. He then laid down, yawned and flopped over. What the what?! Did he just bite me for giggles?
  
  Like I said, he’s never biten before. He occasionally shows some aggression if I’m in his pen, but he’s since stopped that as long as the pen door is open and he can leave while I’m cleaning. He’s about four months old and unaltered at this point. It was all so sudden and now I’m not sure what to do. I’m afraid to let him out and I don’t want to touch him. Help!
- 08/25/2015 at 12:26 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17033 posts
  How old is Igloo? It’s very common (and quite normal) for a bunny that’s entering sexual maturity to display some aggression. Kind of like (or rather, exactly like) a human teenager. Other unwanted behaviors may also occur, like urine-spraying, intense poop-marking of territory, humping etc.
  
  Generally neutering the rabbit will put an end to these sexually driven behaviors.
- 08/25/2015 at 12:51 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17238 posts
  At 4 months, he’s likely feeling the hormones. We’ll probably never know exactly why he decided to bite you in that moment, but his hormones were probably a contributing factor. I agree with bam, it’s neuter time.
- 08/25/2015 at 12:55 PM
  Eepster
  Participant
  1236 posts
  Maybe hormones, but it doesn’t sound like he was defending territory, which is the kind of aggression you expect from hormones. I wonder if he was just startled.
- 08/29/2015 at 3:07 PM
  kirstyol
  Participant
  580 posts
  Bramble bit me once for no reason when he was about the same age, it was the deciding factor in getting him neutered to be honest as I had been debating it at the time (he never sprayed or anything and at that time was a lone bun so there wasn’t a massive need to neuter at that point), he also bit the other half once shortly after. Since he has been neutered he has never bitten so perhaps that’s the answer for you too
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