Female bunny behaviour

[Frida]

Hello,

As my last two rabbits passed away, I felt heartbroken and reluctant to take in a new bunny. They were old, but I feel they might have lived longer if it weren’t for the horrid summer we had.

I was given a bunny as a present from a friend, and this time it was a bunny girl. I have no experience with any female animal, and I find my experience with Frida is very very different.

Of course, I don’t expect to have the close bond I had with my old bunnies, but I feel I need some guidance. She is very active and clever, and it is fun to watch her move boxes and create passage ways to areas she is not allowed in. She eats and poops very well. But she is extremely nervous. When I got her , she was super scared and had a severe eye infection and diarrhaea. Mansged to treat it fine, everything resolved within 2 days. She makes a lot of squealing-honking noises. At first, I thought she simply doesn’t like me, so I left her alone and let her do her thing. She doesn’t like to be touched, so I do it only when absolutely necessary. She accepts treats and eats from my hand though and I can play with her a bit as well. I’ve taken her to the vet, and , apart from the initial eye infection, there is nothing wrong with her. I’m having a hard time. I wish I had chosen a rabbit for myself, and this hurdle makes me miss my old bunnies even more…Please help!

[DanaNM]

Hi there,

So sorry for your loss. It can be really hard to accept a new bun when still grieving.

How long have you had your new girl? And is she spayed (could explain the honking)?

Shy buns can take a long time to open up (several months to a year), but it’s very rewarding when they do. You are on the right track with hand feeding and not forcing pets. Playing hard to get is one of the best things you can do with shy bunnies. Spend time laying on the floor with her, but don’t try to pet or touch her yet. Basically ignore her, but talk to her and hand feed as much as you can. I think you might enjoy playing the games she likes to play, to find other ways to interact with her that don’t involve touching.

Enrichment activities that involve hiding treats are fun to watch. My first house bun was very shy at first, but once he warmed up to us he was amazing. We would roll a little ball to him and he would throw it back endlessly.

I also wanted to mention, that I had a different bun that had serious dental issues, and he was very hand shy, even though he had no obvious reason to be and was pretty outgoing otherwise. I think because his mouth hurt him so much, he didn’t like anyone touching his head or face. I wonder if her eye infection caused her so much pain, that she doesn’t want anyone touching her face? Or possibly there is an underlying issue causing pain? Dental problems can cause eye issues, so if she shows any other symptoms (selective eating, change in poops, drinking a lot of water, etc) you might request a thorough dental exam.

. . . 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.  

[Frida]

Thank you for your quick reply!
I did get her teeth checked, but it looked fine to the wet. She is drinking and eating everything, and is superactive- I let her roam freely, and she has found her way into every nook and cranny. Poops are now, thankfully fine.
I’ve had her for about a month.Seems like she is superstressed. Husband thinks she is insane.

[Frida]

Update – she starts her weird routine of making strange noises and running around only when humans are around. She is pretty quiet once left alone. Although I didn’t choose this bunny myself, I really want to help her out. It started out pretty well- and she eats stuff from my hands even when obviously stressed out. Are female bunnies usually this “talkative”? She hates being touched anywhere, not just her head. We had a bit of a struggle at the vet’s, so I felt all her bones afterwards, to make sure she is ok. That was tough, but she seems to be phisically ok, mentally- something must have happened to her. I did contact the breeder, and she exclaimed that the bun was ok and there was no eye infection present. But when I got her, there was a huge ball of white puss on the corner of the eye, and the fur around it was dry and matt….so I have my doubts whether that could’ve developed in a 20 minute car drive…..so maybe there’s something else? I’ve had 3 rabbits, some shy, and some very outgoing, but this is definitely a test….

[Asriel and Bombur]

if she’s not spayed she’s going to be pretty vocal. Females are usually more vocal than males (not that males can’t be, but I’ve noticed it’s usually the females you hear about). So wait until she’s 6 months to spay her that way her organs have properly developed. It makes sense if she does it only when humans are around because that’s a stimulus for her to honk at.

Even if she was okay at the breeder, it can still take her time to warm up. Gosh, I got my boy Asriel at the same time as Bombur from the same breeder almost 2 years ago. Bombur was outgoing immediately, and I’m still constantly building up trust with Az. He’s not a fan of being touched except under very specific circumstances. It’s been a month, so be patient. That’s not long at all in bunny time and she’s probably still adjusting.

Aside from no touching, what makes you think she’s constantly stressed?

Eye infection. It’s possible she was at the early stages of it when you picked her up and it wasn’t apparent yet. If she was kept in decent conditions, then odds are it was just a fluke thing that just developed.

If you chose a bunny for yourself from a breeder rather than a shelter, there’s still no guarantees you wouldn’t have had issues. Every bunny is entirely different and how they handle stress and new situations is different.

[DanaNM]

Yeah, a month isn’t very long! Especially for a bun that came from a breeder, you don’t know her history or if she’d been socialized at all.

I’m not sure about your set up, but shy bunnies especially appreciate having a “safe zone” that is their area only, even if they are free-roam. Like a cage left open or a pen with hide-y houses. Hide-y houses in general can help them feel more safe (cardboard boxes with holes cut out, or laundry baskets flipped upside down with holes cut out work really well).

I would try to focus on the things she likes (being hand fed) and continue being patient with her. I fostered an extremely withdrawn bunny that would spook and run to his cage if you even stepped close to him at first. After a few months that calmed down, and then after about 5 months he would accept a pet sometimes.

She may not like being touched if the only time she was ever touched at the breeders was to be handled for various reasons. Over time she will learn that petting does not = being scooped up and man-handled.

. . . 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.  

[Frida]

Thank you for all the support! It has been a difficult time, but I tried a new approach. I set her beside me on the couch and lightly stroked her and it seemed to calm her down a bit. Then I just ignored her and sat in silence.. Then she suddenly sprung up and started squealing and running in a circle. Afterwards I tried to calm her down again and she is just sitting down beside me. She is “talking” a bit, but not the nervous high pitched honks I heard before…

[DarthVadar]

Rabbits are prey animals; being scared of everything is a defense mechanism that will never be fully trained or bred out. Some bunnies are less nervous, and some are more nervous. Buns that most people would call nervous make excellent friends, having the sweetest personalities ever. Watching a nervous rabbit learn to trust you is one of the most rewarding experiences associated with keeping rabbits. Lay on the floor, and let her come up and sniff you. Speak softly and move slowly around her. Petting her like you described has the same affect. Even once she trusts you, she may not be an especially cuddly bunny. I have a few shy ones that will sit on my homework and crawl all over me, but just don’t like being held.
Noises are very normal doe behavior. Soft purring or clucking means she is content. Growling and grunting means she is aggravated/wants you to go away. Best of luck with your shy baby!!!

[Frida]

Thank you, I am trying to get used to doe behaviour. Can anyone point out the main behavior differences between does and bucks? I rescued my previous bunny from an abusive owner, so I sometimes am over concerned.

[Doodler]

Honestly behavior can vary even within the same genders. I never wanted a doe because I’ve seen so many people describe them as territorial and sassy. I have a buck and a doe and they are both very sweet. I dare say my doe is a little sweeter than my buck. My doe is more of a daredevil and my buck has slightly more nervous tendencies but they both have fantastic personalities. My buck tends to be the main trouble maker.

[DarthVadar]

Does make more noise, usually growling and grunting if they are annoyed or want something. In my experience, does eat more than bucks, regardless of size, and easily become overweight if they are fed carelessly. Unspayed does may have false pregnancies, where they act extra grumpy, make a nest, and pull fur. This is normal behavior, and does not hurt the rabbit in any way. My favorite difference: does don’t spray pee on everything you own (like bucks do).
Bucks make less noise, and are easier to keep at a healthy weight, than does. They can be extremely hyper, not that does are not hyper, but it is just more common for bucks to be bouncing off the walls than does. Obviously, bucks do not have false pregnancies, and they spray pee everywhere if they are not litter trained.

[Doodler]

I was looking back at your topic and I just wanted to add one thing. On the 13th you described something new you were trying. I thought it was worth mentioning that I would be careful doing this tactic unless you are 100% confident she is not laying down and making noise due to fear. They can have different levels of noise that can still mean fear. There are times that they may lie quietly but their noises and body language can usually tell you if it’s due to enjoyment or fear. I personally wouldn’t ‘set’ her beside you. It’s best to have them make that decision on their own.

I know how difficult it is to wait it out but it’s so worth it in the end. My buck was a little difficult to bond with at the beginning but now he’s fantastic. My doe was giving me kisses the day after I got her. I regret saying my doe is sweeter as they are both equally sweet but in their own ways. There are plenty of people that will describe their bunnies as the exact opposite as mine.

I also wanted to add that it is true some hormonal behaviors tend to be different between them. Neither of mine were really territorial and neither sprayed. Does can and will spray but it does tend to be more of an issue with bucks. People can give you generalizations but again this can vary bunny to bunny. My buck for example is more vocal than my doe.

Good luck with your little girl!

[Kiki]

My doe is smart and sassy. Right before I got her fixed she was peeing on my couch, nipping me, trying to charge me if I got too close to her, and circling. She was not super vocal. All bunnies are different. It takes time to bond with them, and for them to trust you. Sometimes, they are just bunny @holes. Give her and you time.

[Frida]

My sincere thanks to everyone who lended a helpful paw!
After a few weeks of letting my bun to sort of let it go through her system and basically just giving her food, she is now quiet, easy to pick up and all in all a lovely and lively bunny. The noises have stopped, she just honks a bit when it’s mealtime or she just wants to be picked up and cuddled. Definitely did a 180 overnight almost. She is happily binkying around and otherwise an all in all happy bunny girl.
And my best friend has fond memories of being beaten up by a bunny.

[DanaNM]

That’s so great that she’s opened up! It is so wonderful when they finally trust you!

. . . 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.  

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