behaviour has changed… should I be worried?

[Kafrn]

Stu has always been the friendliest little bunny, but over the last week we have noticed some changes…. She now avoids being picked up, if we go to pat her, she runs off…. and if we approach her in her little house, she sits in the corner and makes funny little whimpering noises which I have never heard her do before. Everything else is the same, she still plays and binkies around the house and garden, but just seems to be far less social than she used to be. Is this because of the new rabbits? And that she would rather spend time with them than us?

I went to feed her this morning and she started to run off, then turned around and nipped me on the arm… FOR NO APPARENT REASON!. She has never bitten anyone before! Maybe she mistook me for food? I am guessing she was excited about food, but I am really worried cause she makes funny noises and just isnt friendly to me at all anymore. But she will still come for treats.

Is this just rabbit puberty? Or should I be worried. She is especially strange when Mr Bunny is around. And he takes no interest in her whatsoever. (he prefers flopsys company).

I dont know what I can do to make her happy, and friendly again  Please Help

[jerseygirl]

As you don’t know her exact age it is hard to say bunny puberty though it does sound like it. Also, I thought she could be experiencing a false pregnancy as the presence of a male can trigger this (even though Mr Bunny is now fixed). Did they only interact well after his operation?
Behavioiur changes can indicate health probs too so do monitor her eating and pooping patterns.

[Kafrn]

They never really had any issues with eachother. They were kept apart but could see each other until the operation, and they still live in seperate houses, but when I let them out together I watch them like a hawk and nothing has happened between them at all. Mr Bunny will go over and say hello, and Stu will just sit there and stare at him, before hopping out to the lawn to do some binkying. Flopsy and Mr Bunny are like 2 peas in a pod, and he has tried to hump her a few times, but if he goes over to Stu she turns to face him so that he cant sniff her tail, and then just stares at him until he loses interest and moves back to flops. So they get along. Sometimes they play together and do binkies and stuff. They interacted ok before and after the operation.
Her eating habits are fine, she still takes food off me, and her pooping seems to be ok. Hard to tell when I am at work, but there is no shortage in her littler tray when I get home! She was at the vet 3 weeks ago and he checked her teeth and gums, and clipped her nails. Should I take her back again???
What is a false pregnancy? Is it dangerous?

[jerseygirl]

False pregnancies are where the rabbit has an increase in hormones and acts and believes it is pregnant. It happens for other animals also. It is common with unspayed females. A male being around can trigger one, but it can happen for a single rabbit too. They become aggressive, carry hay around in their mouths and even start to pull fur from the dewlap to build a nest. I don’t think it’s harmful(?), just makes them difficult to handle. The reason I asked about her and Mr Bunny’s interaction is that a fixed male can still impregnate a doe up to 4 weeks (I think) after his op. If you’ve supervised their time together, then it’s prob ok – just checking if possibility you may have been dealing with a real pregnancy.

[Kafrn]

Oh wow, false pregnancies sound scary. Honestly, I have supervised Stu and Mr Bunny 100% and have not seen any humping or anything more than a sniff. He has tried to hump Flopsy a few times, and I have intervened immediately… but he seems to have no sexual interest in Stu at all. And she doesnt seek attention from him either. THey are happy to just be. but she LOVES sniffing where he has been sleeping, and laying in his manly bunny smell on his straw bed. Maybe it is a false pregnancy. Would she be happier if she was desexed?

[jerseygirl]

Spaying them prevent this sort of thing and also helps for all bunnies getting along in the future. A major reason for getting this done – despite the obvious (preventing pregnancy) is reducing the risk of uterine cancer. The risk of unspayed non-breeding Does developing this is 85%. 85%!!!

I’m only guessing at what may be going on with Stu of course.  Just based on what commonly seems to happen.  Maybe she’s just moody

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