Bunny Change in Behavior

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 4 months ago by HannahC1.

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- 12/12/2018 at 5:22 PM
  HannahC1
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi Everyone,
  
  I have a beautiful 3 1/2 month old mini lop buck who has been living in our house for the past 6.5 weeks.
  
  In the past two weeks he has been getting more aggressive and nipping and just being generally less sociable. He also now dislikes being held.
  
  I had heard of this happening as they get older but it has been a bit of a shock as for the first month and a bit he loved being handled, cuddled, sitting on our laps and was very sociable.
  
  Nothing has happened to shock or upset him and we haven’t changed a thing.
  
  I was just wondering if this would be a good time to get him neutered?
  
  Or if there was anything I could do to help him during this transition to adulthood?
  
  I absolutely adore him and he brings much joy to my life, any help is greatly appreciated.
  
  Thank you
  
  Hannah
- 12/13/2018 at 7:41 AM
  Daisy
  Participant
  199 posts
  Baby bunnies have a default behavior pattern and are often very sociable and curious. Their instincts have not yet quite kicked in. When they reach puberty they start develop proper personalities which can be wildly different from the default baby personality you’ve gotten used to. Indeed, mature bunnies generally hate being picked up because it is a lot like getting grabbed by an animal to get eaten to them. You’re best off not to pick them up or hold them unless absolutely needed.
  
  Neutering will reduce behavioural behaviours (riding, spraying, territorial behaviour) but not their instincts.
- 12/13/2018 at 9:01 AM
  Asriel and Bombur
  Participant
  1104 posts
  Agreed with Daisy. He is probably being hormonal, and yes neutering will stop the negatives associated with being hormonal, however it’s unlikely he’ll enjoy being handled and held again. As buns mature they start disliking things like that and prefer to be on all fours on the stable ground.He’ll probably come back around to being social after his neutered and probably become docile, but handling only for emergencies from here on out.
- 12/13/2018 at 3:08 PM
  HannahC1
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thank you everyone, I will get him neutered at 6 months I think. I love him to pieces and will be happy to let him get on and do his thing.
  Agreed, only handling when necessary. It’s a shame but have to accept my little boy is growing up! X
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