Grumpy Bun?

[Sapipsmu93]

Good afternoon, Bunfriends :3

I wasn’t sure whether to post or not but I figured it’s worth a try! Approximately 3 months ago, I brought home a mini-rex who I’ve called Sam. He’s a very confident boy, definitely the most confident rabbit I’ve seen to date, even at his age (he’s just turned 5 months, 6 month’s on the 9th April). This is where my dilemma is-

I’ve had rabbits for some time in my life and aware that their meet sexual maturity around this age, however, Sam has never shown signs of aggression – only grumping when been picked up before settling 

He was very content to sit on my knee while I’m on the computer and lounge… However. I’ve just been away for 4/5 days and had him boarded where they let him out in a pen for a one to two hours daily when he’s used to having full free range of my living room, for most of the day. Now, he’s changed in behaviour. He’s grumped at me when I have gone to pet him and even lunged and taken a dig at my hands. I’ve no idea if this is territorial, hormones or he’s just annoyed at me. I let him out of his cage as I thought perhaps it was just due to being inside.

Nope, I’ve gone to stroke him – not even that, just laid down – and he gave a bit of a grump. The only other thing I can think of is I’ve startled him by doing something to let him know I wasn’t impressed with his behaviour; yesterday he was digging and biting at my recliner and I reacted without thinking; I jumped up and quickly got him out of there, but it did surprise him. I hope I’ve not damaged the bond we had as we were very well bonded.

On another note , he’s giving me mixed signals xP he pokes his head toward me as if asking for attention or nudges me, but as soon as I go to stroke his head or behind his neck along his back, hell turn and try to push my hand away – more so when it’s on his head. He’s usually more accepting of his back being stroked and will jump on my knee for attention when he’s out of his cage.

Sorry for the text wall!

And thanks in advance,
Another proud BunMum

[Alisha]

To me, just sounds like he’s having hormonal issues and it’d be a good time to get him fixed now (from what I’ve learned)

[Deleted User]

Aside from hormones, a good majority of buns will get finicky at you for leaving them for a period of time :p he’s basically just fussy at you for going away. He’ll stop being a grump after a bit. Just give him a little space and he’ll warm back up

[Bam]

I agree with both Alisha and A&B. A combo of teenage attitude and the fact that the hoomin slave had the nerve to leave him for 4/5 days.

Young buns can have “mixed emotions” about you petting them. They want the pets but at the same time they are big boys now and not little babies anymore. I got a lot of that with my bun Yohio when he was growing up. He’d growl and box, then immediately put his head on the ground next to my hand for more pets, all in a matter of seconds.

Keep in mind that buns have a blind spot right in front of their noses. Their eyes are placed so they see best from the side, just like horses and deer and antelopes etc. (From the side they have a very wide field of vision). So if you approach a bun with your hand coming from straight ahead, the bun might startle and get defensive.

[Sapipsmu93]

Thank you both for your replies. Sounds about right, regarding him being disgruntled at me; how dare I leave him where he gets plenty of pets and greens, eh? Haha. Us BunMums are never in the right.

I’ll keep an eye on his behaviour and if there’s no improvement after a few days it’ll be an appointment at the vets to see about getting him neutered.

[Sapipsmu93]

So, a bit of an update – I’ve come home from work after being on the overnight shift last night (from where i posted my message!) and he still had a bit of a grump at me, though seemed to be far more relaxed and at ease with my hand in the cage. I gave him some fresh greens which he immediately came out for, and let him have a good roam around the living room for a good 4/5 hours. He’s usually free-range when I’m home from work but he generally seems to get tired or bored after a few hours and returns to his cage, which is when I just shut it and let him chill.

He was pretty affectionate with me – coming up when I tried to take photos, hopping on my knee when I sat on the ground and occasionally coming to say hello after having a mad zoom. The only time he got a bit grumpy again was just before he went back in his cage which, I think is a typical “man” thing of when they’re tired, they get in a mood – haha. Will continue to monitor his behaviour for a week or so, see how it goes ^-^.

[Alisha]

Honestly just doesn’t sound like he likes the cage to be honest haha when you were gone all that time he was in a cage right? then he was fine when you gave him the whole living room and then he got weird again when putting him back into the cage. Have you considered giving him more space or free roaming him permanently?

[Sapipsmu93]

The place he was at had him in a cage, yeah but let him out for one to two hours a day in a pen.

Unfortunately I can’t free-roam him permanently due to living in a rented property and with my work I can be out from 12pm til 3pm the next day. I make up for it by giving him a full free-roam day when it’s my days off he’s usually out from 9am til 6pm on those days.

[Alisha]

you could try getting an exercise pen though and just blocking off a certain part of the house so he has a lot more room. Not sure what kind of cage you have but a lot of people custom make their own and they’re quite roomy and even have a second floor sometimes so they are feeling less cooped up

[Author]

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