My new bunny bites me, help!

[Sazzle34]

I love my bunny, she is 3 and a half months and her name is Chloe. She biting and chewing on everything right now including me. I mean does she realise that’s my arm under my sleeve? I know she is not frightened of me as I feed her and interact with her a lot and runs up her cage to see me. We were trying to train her as a house rabbit so she was downstairs cuddling on the couch but to keep her away from wires I had to restrain her a bit and this is when she started biting my arm even though I persevered it did not improve so started giving her cuddles in “her room” we let her exercise in. This was much better until this morning when I went to put her in her cage as I was going to put her some breakfast in there for her as I went to put her in the cage, she bit my arm, jumped out of the cage and started running round and as I was on the floor trying to see where she was she’d gone she only cane up behind me and bit me again!
I need to wait another month at least before I’m allowed to spay her.
Does anyone have an idea why or what she is biting about?
Also on other pages I’ve read you should make a high pitched squeal, my rabbit takes no notice whatsoever! ???

[sarahthegemini]

Firstly, rabbits are not cuddly animals and that isn’t something you can train them to be (being a house rabbit doesn’t = being cuddly)

Secondly, if you have wires around, you need to block access for her safety. You don’t just restrain her (how did you restrain her btw?)

She’s probably scared of you because you’re forcing cuddles on her and restraining her. So, stop that (and give her time to realise you’re not going to do that anymore)

[Asriel and Bombur]

I agree, but also you shouldn’t spay her until she’s 6 months that way her organs are fully developed and she’ll do much better under anesthesia. If you need to transport her somewhere do it in her carrier or her litter box so you don’t have to handle her.

Also, were these full on bites or just nips? Bunnies rarely bite bite (they tend to draw blood when they bite) except in a fighting situation. A lot of it is probably her hormones kicking in, as she is as that age. Bunnies who enjoyed things like cuddles and being off the ground start getting agitated by it. Females in particular are known for being aggressive and territorial when they hit their bunny hormones. 

[Sazzle34]

she is not yet litter trained so the house is not bunny proofed yet!
She makes clicking noises and grinding or sucking teeth noises which I read was a sign of bunny “purring” so I really don’t think she is frightened of me.
I also understand rabbits are not cuddly animals.
I would use my arm to stop her vaulting off the side of the sofa for example so she could not come to any harm, that’s what I meant by “restrain her.”
Could she be scared of me? I show her affection and feed her every day, I have not given her a reason to be scared.

[Sazzle34]

I just don’t know what to do for the best right now. Are you saying I just shouldn’t handle her? She makes teeth clicking noises when I hold her and I read that was a sign of contentment in rabbits. I never restrain her forcefully, just using my arm to guide her back the other way. Since she is not yet litter trained we have to stop her getting to certain places in case she needs her toilet.

[Sazzle34]

It sounds like I just need to give her some space then. When I do give her a cuddle she makes noises with her teeth and clicking noises which I read was a sign of contentment from rabbits. I really don’t think she is scared of me but if she was i’d be upset cos I try my best to keep her happy and healthy.
The bites bruise my arm but don’t break the skin or only ever in a tiny way, they still hurt though.

[GlennTheLionhead]

Rabbits will nip when somethings in their way and annoying them like perhaps your leg, but tend to bite if they are scared or hormonal, the best thing to do to stop her biting to make sure she trusts you, youll want to stop picking her up completely, you should never pick rabbits up, it’s likely why she is biting you because she doesn’t enjoy it, is there not a way she can get into her cage herself? My rabbits have trained themselves to use the stairs to get up and down the house, they can’t stand it when I pick them up and have even started shaking in the past when I used to think it was okay to handle a rabbit. All hope is not lost though, all you need to do it find ways for her to get to places herself, rabbits are very smart and with supervision, patience and encouragement she will figure it out. In the mean time you want to gain her trust again usually it’s best to get the their level, let them come to you and then stroke them while they are on the ground. Teeth clicking is a sign they are happy but let her learn to come to you, both my buns will jump on the sofa and off the sofa at their own will, but I’m not lucky enough for them to enjoy sitting on my lap they just like to say hi and then leave again! So perhaps training her to jump up. Is a better option.

Bunnies do like to explore and will just keep going back to a place they want to check out until they’ve had a good sniff, so perhaps block off the wires when she’s out even if its a make shift barrier like putting a box in the way It will likely work better and keep her faith in you.

Hopefully she comes around soon, it’s not always easy learning a new bunny but with a little patience and persistence you two will be the best of buds I’m sure

[GlennTheLionhead]

Oh sorry also I’m sure she isn’t scared of you, but she’s probably scared of being picked up, perhaps why she’s likes to cuddle but bites when you try to handle her

[Sazzle34]

Thank you very much. You have given me lots of insight into the rabbit world. So even though she knows it’s my arm or leg in her way for instance she would still bite me so I got out her way?

[Asriel and Bombur]

If something is in her way she would lightly nip. Biting is most likely because she’s hormonal.

[Author]

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