Bonding with babies

[Lumi]

Six months ago I purchased two lionheads from a woman (who turned out to be a shady breeder). I knew nothing about rabbits at the time, except basic care information I got from here and other sites, so when she told me they were six weeks old and both girls I believed her. It turned out they were six months old and one was a boy. So I brought my new bunnies Ciel and Celty home, thinking I had two sisters. We were doing good, except Celty wasn’t very affectionate, but after a while she got worse and then I realized she was pregnant when she began nesting. I did everything, separating them and making her a nest and the babies were born, four of them; three girls and one boy. (Who were all sexed by a true rabbit breeder I met after they were born)

They were born on October 4th and I made sure to check them (with sterile hands) everyday and when they were old enough I brought them out to socialize. I even had to ensure the runt was nursing on her mom by doing it myself for a few days and we bonded from that. They were all very loving at first and extremely cuddly. I could bring them on the couch and they would just curl up on me, only nipping at me if I wasn’t petting them. A little over a week ago, however, it all stopped. The runt went from giving me kisses nonstop to not wanting anything to do with me. The only time I get kisses from her is when I feed them hay.

I built them a twelve foot long cage with a separator from daddy but they get run time five days out of the week for anywhere between 3-9 hours, depending on my work schedule. The only attention I get is when they jump over me to go somewhere else or sniffing my foot. I know their cage is getting crowded, and tomorrow two are leaving to a friend of mine so it will just be two girls and their mother in seven feet of an enclosure.

I don’t know if they are just becoming more adventurous and less cuddly because they aren’t babies anymore or if they are unhappy with me for something. They don’t like being picked up anymore and only tolerate cuddles for a little while. It literally happened overnight and I’m worried. Could they be sick? Or upset with the currently crowded area? I keep it clean, cleaning their cage out every day and they have food and water. I never intended to have baby bunnies but I want to make sure I’m doing it right and I want my babies to be sociable.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome!

It’s common that they wouldn’t want to be handled-if rabbits are picked up in the wild, it’s by a predator. Also as they get older they will get more hormonal and adventurous. After they are spayed and matured, they should settle down-keep doing what you are doing, making handling a positive thing. That’s very good for them. Lionheads are a calmer breed in my experience, but temperamental and opinionated. Mine does cuddle but not often.

[tobyluv]

I have never had a cuddly bunny, only bunnies that liked head pats or back rubs while beside me, not being held by me. It’s pretty rare for rabbits to like being cuddled.

If you just have a simple wire separator between your male and females, you should know that rabbits can and have mated through cage wires. It’s not that common, but it does happen. Also, as the babies mature and reach puberty, they can start fighting with each other and/or with their mother. It doesn’t matter if the are all females and related, they will likely scuffle or actually fight as they mature. Before bonding rabbits, they always have to be spayed or neutered to prevent fighting, and of course to prevent litters. Rabbits can severely injure each other when the fight, so be prepared to separate the females at some point, and make sure that there is an impenetrable barrier between the male and females. The rabbits will be more content, there will be no other litters, they will have better behavior and you will eliminate the threat of uterine cancer in the females when they are spayed. Plus, when the rabbits are spayed and neutered, you can put them back together and bond them.

[Lumi]

Thank you so much for the advice. Two of the babies are gone now, and extremely happy in their new home, and since then everyone has become more affectionate since I have more one-on-one time. The runt will even lay next to me and let me pet her while she gives me kisses so thank goodness.

I didn’t know they could mate through wires, but he is being fixed at the end of the month, and I am fixing momma and the two babies left with my income tax. If they start fighting I can separate them, but I haven’t had that problem yet, knock on wood.

[Author]

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