Biting

[michellemichelle]

Hi everyone,

I adopted Fred from his previous owner about 1-2 weeks ago. He is a 1-year-old , but I am unsure of the breed. I also have a 1-year-old Lionhead, Marla. They seem to get along pretty well, but they have both developed some negative behaviors. The main one is that Fred bites me. And he bites HARD. Today I sat on the floor and he hopped over to me. I pet him a bit then I set my hand on the floor near him and he chomped down on my finger and would NOT let go. I tried squealing (half screaming because I was in so much pain), but he wouldn’t stop. I had to push him away to get him to let go. I was honestly scared he might bite the tip of my finger off. Needless to say, he drew blood and it still hurts. I put him in his cage right away. I’m at the end of my rope with him but I don’t want to have to get rid of him. Marla used to nip me, but after a few days, squealing made her stop. Fred isn’t nipping though, he is CHOMPING. Squealing has no effect on him at all. What can I do? 

I keep them both in their cages when I am not around. I usually let them out for several hours during the day when I am home (just in my bedroom).

Both are spayed/neutered.

[Luna]

Hi! You mention that both have developed negative behaviors – Fred is biting, what is Marla doing? Also, have you begun the bonding process with Fred and Marla? Since Fred has only been with you a short time, both buns may just be reacting from stress.

[michellemichelle]

Marla has peed in my bed a couple of times, which she never did when she was an “only child.” I’m not sure if she did that because she’s upset about the new bunny, or if she’s upset that I have been putting her in her cage more often which she isn’t used to. I blocked her access to my bed though, and she hasn’t peed outside of her cage since.

I am not completely familiar with the bonding process. When I brought Fred home, he and Marla met right away (supervised). I have not seen them fight at all and they like to be near each other sometimes. I keep them in separate cages next to each other at night just to be safe since they aren’t supervised at night.

I’m not sure if biting was a problem he had before I got him, but I think stress is definitely a factor in this. Do you have suggestions on how to reduce their stress? The biting is getting to be a big problem so I’m open to suggestions!

[tobyluv]

I assume that Fred is neutered, since you have been putting him together with your female. Even if she is spayed and there is no worry about pregnancy, Fred will have to be neutered if he is to bond with her. If you have just been letting them get together at times, without going through proper bonding, that could be the reason he is acting out. Also, when you bring a new rabbit home, he or she needs to settle in first for a week or more and get used to the place and the people, before he is introduced to any other rabbits.

Here are 2 good articles on bonding:

http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx

Here is a good article on aggression:

http://rabbit.org/faq-aggression/

Other articles can be found here:

http://rabbit.org/category/behavior/aggression/

[michellemichelle]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I was under the impression that Fred was fixed, but now I’m not so sure. His previous owner told me that they got him from a pet store already neutered, but after a quick google search I learned that most pet stores do not sell neutered rabbits. I’m wondering if that is the explanation for his behavioral problems. I’m going to try to get him into the vet this week or next week and get this all sorted out.

[Luna]

If it turns out that Fred is not actually neutered, then that could definitely be a cause of his behavior and he must be separated from Marla. Bonding can recommence a while after he is neutered.

[Author]

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