Bunny behavior

[Nicole]

Hi! I am a new (and confused) bunny mom.

I’ve had Whiskey for about a month now and he seems to be very fearless. He’s not scared to approach me and beg for attention and pets. What confuses me is that he will sometimes lick me or nip me at random times. I’ll be doing the same thing when both actions occur so I don’t know why he’s doing it. I assumed at first it was for attention, but sometimes while I’m petting him he will nip me at the same time. Other times he will lick me while I pet him. I have no clue what’s going on in his little bunny head and it’s making me crazy. I get nervous when he puts his mouth near me because I don’t know weather to expect a lick or a bite.

I’d really appreciate some help here because I want to understand why he does this and how to get him to stop biting!

Thanks in advance… 

[Deleted User]

Nipping and licking are both forms of communication that can mean anything from “get out of my way” to “stop doing that” to “please continue” to “I want food now”. You can try to get him to stop by making a high pitched squeal. Some people try spraying, but don’t as it will only make him fear you. How old is he? It’s possible he could becoming hormonal.

[Gordo and Janice]

Ours used to nip occasionally and it would cause a hand jerk reaction because it is so fast and surprising. But I realized it wasn’t really a bite. No blood drawn, just that instant realization of teeth on your skin after the fact, always caught me by surprise.

Hers were usually “move so I can squeeze in here” or “you are not done yet”. So there would be nips when petting. Apparently I ended up spoiling her with lengthy rubs and petting sessions. So if she thought I was cutting it short or I was cutting it short, as I pulled my hand away there would be a lightning quick nip followed by her immediately putting her head back down for more pets. Even if I wasn’t done petting her but just repositioning myself she took that as premature ending of rubs and would grab my hand as if to say, “Where do you think you are going? We’re not done.”

But because they weren’t painful bites I tolerated the nips for what they were. But I never could control the hand jerk away reflex. It was like a tendon reflex, uncontrollable.

[Gordo and Janice]

I suppose it could be that he wants you to pet him a certain way and not another as well if the nips are occurring during the actual process of petting. Pay attention to how you pet him and see if there is a pattern. If touching or petting him a certain way or on certain parts of his body elicits the nips. If he is indeed fearless and is not afraid to come get you when he needs or wants something, he may just be very bossy as well.

[Heaven]

As others have said, it would be good to know whether they’re communicative nips or more aggressive ones. As A&B said, if it actually hurts you then do give a high pitched squeal so he realises he’s causing you pain.
As you said he’s quite a fearless little bun so it could just be his way of bossing you around ;p I get nips if I’m taking too long putting down Sam’s food or getting it out the drawer – “hurry up hoomin we don’t have all day!”

[Author]

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