new to bunnies – 6 month female Holland Lop

[chloeNclover]

Hello all!

I got Clover about 3 months ago and she is now 6 months old.  I have not yet gotten her spayed.  I also havent had any behavior issues with her.  I have heard that she might get behavior problems with maturity.  At what age should I expect this?  About what age will she be full grown?  She is a sweetheart so I dont want her to change   

I cant get her to stay on her back (I heard this can be helpful).  Any advice? Or do some bunnies just not like that?

she always runs up to greet me but doesn’t like to sit on my lap.  Is this normal or will she be more cuddly with age?

I have also heard that bunnies can have a case of the terrible teenager.  Has anyone experienced this and at what age?

lots of questions, I know   im just  a nervous new mommy

thanks!

[chloeNclover]

Here she is!!!

[Deleted User]

Hi chloeNclover (I’m guessing your Chloe?), firstly Clover is just beautiful! How could she possibly do anything wrong????? LOL!!!!!
Ok, just being lazy and also cause I think you’ll get good info, have a look at my forum “Buns on their backs”. I think you’ll get a good understanding of what is a no no, and why it is not recommended, and good advice if you need to hold your bun and how to do it safety. I learned soooooo much! (Thanks again everyone!).
Don’t apologise for being a nervous new bunny mum – we all were! That’s why we are here – and why we stay! To keep us informed as our bunny’s grow and change, to get advice, and most importantly – ‘support’! You have definitely come to the right place, everyone here is AWESOME!
My Henry is a boy, but I’ve heard that girls can be just as naughty in their ‘teenage’ years and having her spayed will be a good start in resolving her teenage tantrums. (It worked for my boy, & everything else I just put down to his spoilt ignorant bunny behaviour).
Oh, and cuddly with age? Good luck with that! I’m on a 10 year plan waiting for my Henry to get slow and docile, then maybe I have can cuddles? For now – it’s pat’s, and though I’m trying to handle him again…. only time will tell? I’ve got everything crossed!
Hope this helped you Chloe? Give Clover a cuddle from me and Henry.

[Rufus]

Oh my goodness, isn’t she beautiful?!
Hormonal behaviours can kick in anytime from about 3 months. Some people get a reprieve and some people’s buns get it all at once. My bun split the difference and did a slow build from about 3 1/2 months. Luckily he never got too bad before I got him neutered at seven months.
My bun would never ever let me put him on his back. He’s generally pretty snuggly but only on his terms. I haven’t found it neccessary though.
As for being fully grown my vet considers a bun over 7 or 8 months to be an adult. I swear Rufus still grew a bit after that though!

[LongEaredLions]

Welcome!
Clover is ADORABLE.
Hormonal behavior can start as young as 3 months, bunnies are adults at around 6 mos.-1yr.
Bunnies, when put on their backs, go into a trance-like state because of their natural reaction to predators. In the wild, being flipped onto the back exposes the soft and vulnerable stomach to the predator, so the bunny is obviously scared. I would not recommend flipping your bunny over.
Most bunnies do like to interact and get petted by their owners, but most dislike being picked up. She may sit in your lap as she becomes more comfortable with you, she may not.
Most bunnies do have a teenager phase where they become especially aggressive and destructive, from around 3 mos.-to the time you get them fixed. Even if your girl does not become hormonal I would highly reccommend getting her spayed as unfixed female rabbits have over a 80% chance of developing uterine/ovarian cancers by age 2.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Clover is beautiful!!

I would def recommend you get her spayed. The health risks are very real and you want to give her the best chance at a long and healthy life.

Honestly, my girl is spayed and about 6 years old and she is still in her “terrible teens.”

[Jessie1990]

The rabbit’s personality as an adult varies from bun to bun, just like when they are younger. My female, Ashe, is still a “teenager” even though she is a year old. She is not very cuddly at all, only letting me rub her nose on her terms. My male lop is on the other end of the spectrum. He never went through a teenage phase really… he did start to circle my feet and honk so we got him neutered. We waited until he was about 8 months to neuter him. He is about 9 months now and is still super cuddly! He is almost like having a puppy and seeks out our attention at all times. He has a spot behind his ears that he loves to be rubbed and he enjoys laying with us and watching TV and being hugged. This has never changed Personality varies from rabbit to rabbit, so you will just have to wing it

I will warn you that some rabbits get a surge of hormones after a spay/neuter and act more destructive/hormonal. That will go away after about a month. Because Clover is a female, I highly suggest spaying her for reasons already mentioned.

Also, I never flip over my rabbits. This could be dangerous if you don’t do it properly, so I have always preferred to put them on a slippery, unfamiliar surface to trim nails. I just poke one of their feet up and trim, making sure I have a firm hold on the rabbit so they don’t dart off my counter. I actually have to hold Ashe’s head down because she tries to bite anything in front of her face.

Good luck!

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