aggressive baby bunny? please help

[Daisy Mae]

Hello everyone! I am not a new bunny owner but I have never owned a baby bunny before. I just got my new rabbit about two and a half weeks ago. She is a little over two months old. The lady we got her from is incredibly sweet; her and her daughters handle the baby bunnies daily. My rabbit, Daisy Mae, was very calm and submissive at first, but about a week ago she has started to show some aggression. When I go in her pen (it is approximately 14 square feet and has an about 4 square foot extra ledge) she will pounce/lunge at me, grunt, and stomp her feet. She has not bitten me yet but she will pounce and growl pretty often. After i am sitting in her pen for a while she will calm down, beg for treats and pets, and occasionally “groom” me. I have had older bunnies before and i know that spaying usually gets rid of aggression and territorial behavior, but she is only 2 months old so what should I do in the meantime? If I remember correctly, they can’t be spayed until they are 6 months old so I still have a while before that. She is not shy at all by the way, she will flop regularly, binky, do zoomies, and sleep out in the middle of her cage. She does not enjoy being held or caught though, i know that this is common but is there any way i can get her more used to it so it will be easier to cut her nails and move her from one place to another?   She is also having trouble with litter box training but I know that she won’t be perfect until she is spayed. Any advice would be helpful. Thank you xx

[Louiethebunny]

Sounds like bunny puberty to me. Is she a smaller breed? small breeds typically mature faster because they spend less time growing. You may just have to deal with her like this until hormones settle out.

[Daisy Mae]

Louiethebunny,

yes, she is a mini lop. I wasn’t aware they matured faster. thank you!! me and this little lady will just have to stick it out a few more months.

[DanaNM]

It does sound like puberty. It also sounds like if her pen is “her” space, then going straight into the pen might be frightening to her and trigger her to be territorial. Most buns like having a space that is just “theirs”, that don’t mess with or try to “get” them while they are in (unless needed of course). Rather than going into the pen with her, can you open the pen and allow her to come out to you?

The age for spaying will depend on the bun’s weight and the vet doing the procedure. 6 months is a safe bet for sure, but could be as young as 4 months if the vet is comfortable with it and she weighs enough.

. . . 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.  

[Daisy Mae]

DanaNM, oh yes of course. the only times I go in her pen are to clean up her droppings and to get her litter box or fill up her other bowls. I try to keep that has “her” space as much as I can. I will let her out of her cage for most of the day and try to pet her outside of it. I just called our vet today and the woman I was talking to said “a few months” for age of spay. But I will probably wait until she is 6 months old,  just because she is pretty small. Thank you!!

[DanaNM]

Gotcha! Other than that what you have been doing sounds good. I think the fact that she calms down after a minute is a good sign.

. . . 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.  

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