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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

FORUM BEHAVIOR Sudden Bun Behavior Change

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    • Megan
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        Hello! I’ve had Molly almost 2 months now and she is such a joy in my life! She is my first bun so I’m very new to understanding bunny behavior and no matter how much research I do, I can’t seem to find a solid answer to my bun’s sudden change in behavior. 

        Molly is almost 8 months old. Since I have gotten her she has LOVED nose/cheeks pet and would lay out completely and pancake herself out. She frequently would lay out on her tummy with her legs back which indicated to me that she was very comfy and relaxed. She is a very sociable, curious, and active little bun. So here is were the my problem begins: 

        About two weeks ago I was out of town for 4 days. Molly was taken very good care of by her grandma! Since I have returned, my super snuggly little bun suddenly no longer cares for the pets the way she did before  I haven’t seen her lay out once since I’ve returned home and she constantly seems to be on alert and is never in complete “zen” like she used to. She used to nudge me and do little snorts when I would stop petting until I started again, and no longer does that either. She is acting completely normal otherwise (follows me around, goes nuts for treats, and hops/jumps/runs/eats/poops normally). I loved her snuggles though and was just wondering if anyone has experienced this with their bun? 

        My best guess is maybe hormones? I did read that bunnies can have mood swings. 

        I just want my snuggly bun back  

        Note: She has not been spayed yet (she will be getting spayed either this month or next!) 


      • Wick & Fable
        Moderator
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          Sounds like it could be hormones.

          Additionally, when rabbits get older and more comfortable with their environment, they naturally become less dependent and clingy to you, so her newfound independence doesn’t need to be seen as a bad thing! At about 7mo, Wick started to begin a new behavior where while he’s being pet, he decides he doesn’t want it anymore, so he gets up, stretches, hops a few feet, then plops down somewhere else. So it’s not a cold-shoulder, just simply “I want my space now.”

          Being taken care of consistently by a different person may cause this as well, because as lovely as your grandma may be, she’s not you— hence, she may have interacted with and cared for Molly differently, causing her to be less inviting to those close human interactions.

          Give it some adjustment time. If she’s not relaxing as usual in a few days, re-evaluate her eating, pooping, urinating, and relaxation habits, as it could be a medical issue making her uncomfortable.

          The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.


        • Bam
          Moderator
          17030 posts Send Private Message

            Hormones is a good guess. It’s particularly common with girl buns. It can be from one day to the next, like the flipping of a switch (it actually is a type of molecular switch that gets flipped). Some girls even become fearful or aggressive. It’s normal, but it’s not fun =( A lot of it goes away with spaying, although an adult bun will never be a baby again. Most adult buns do love being pet though.

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        FORUM BEHAVIOR Sudden Bun Behavior Change