bunny nipping me all the time!

[boothebun]

My rabbit is a female lop, 2-6 years old. She’s been spayed and the people that fostered her said that she never nipped/bit them… I’ve had her for almost 2 weeks now and she seems pretty comfortable around me. The nipping started last week, when I would sit in her pen with her. At first I had no idea what she was nipping me for, then I realized that I was in her way, so now whenever she nudges me hard with her nose I move. In the past couple days though, she’s been barely nudging me (so I don’t realize that she wants me to move) and then nipping me! Whenever she nips I let out a bit of a yell (my voice doesn’t go very high so I do my best to make it sound like a squeal lol) but this doesn’t seem to stop her from nipping. Just today I was laying on the floor with her while she was exploring my room as she usually does. I was propped up on one elbow when she came over by me, nudged my arm (though it was so light it felt like she was just sniffing me) and then she nipped my arm. I wasn’t even in her way really, there was plenty of room to go around me, which she had gone around me multiple times before nipping.

Anyways, this is becoming a super annoying problem and I don’t know how to get her to stop nipping! I would try walking away or leaving the room, but she only seems to do it when she feels like I’m in her way, so leaving won’t change anything. I’ve also ignored her, while I was laying on my bed cause my back hurt, she came over and nudged my leg a couple times then nipped me really hard. I was surprised I wasn’t bleeding, but there was a red welt where she nipped. At this point I feel like I’m just rambling but I don’t know what to do! Like I said before I have tried squealing every time she nips but she hasn’t stopped. And I’m confused as to why she’s nipping me but she never nipped her fosters!  Could this be something that she stops doing over time? Any thoughts/advice is appreciated!

[Bladesmith]

What does she do after the nip? nipping is usually a way of getting your attention, a demand to be petted. Clover used to gently nip (Is there such a thing?) to demand pets, or, if I was petting and stopped, to continue my duties as a bunny slave.

The nudge nudge nip? Definitely a demand for attention. Or just checking to see if you were alive and if she could have your stereo.

[Wick & Fable]

If she is actively seeking you to nip, I agree she’s probably communicating something besides “move”. Wick tends to nip when he wants food or he wants me to go away. If I walk away and he follows, I know better that it’s probably food related.

Putting yourself in her shoes, what do you think she might be saying, based on context clues?

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.

[boothebun]

Whenever she nips me she just runs past me after, like yesterday when she nipped my arm and I moved, she just went past me right back to her pen. If I squeal she gets usually gets scared and runs away. The only thing I can think of is that she’s telling me to get out of the way, since most of the time she won’t let me pet her unless she’s already flopped or loafing. Maybe she is asking for food, but I feel like she eats a lot already and I don’t want her to become overweight… Should I try giving her food next time and see how she responds?

[Wick & Fable]

Rabbits are food oriented and will generally always want food, haha. But as you mention, for clear reasons we cannot give in every time they ask. I just finished eating an orange and the fur all over my pants is evidence at the feats Wick went through to get some!

When Wick gets a bit clammy with nips, I tend to freshen his hay and that gears him to satiating himself. Perhaps instead of a treat, fill a toy with hay and present it to him

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.

[boothebun]

Thanks Wick! I will try doing the toy filled with hay. She really likes playing with a paper bag stuffed with hay, so maybe that will keep her busy when she gets nippy

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