Novice bunny owner and bun with multiple personalities

[melindah]

 Hi! I’m new to this site and I’m a “challenged” bun lover. I have one mini rex name Mittens. I got her when she was around 8 weeks old at an auction for my niece and I have inherited her. She is now around 10 to 11 months old. I am totally smitten with her. Here’s the problem: when I got her, she was very sweet and lovable. When she was around 6 or 7 months old, her hormones kicked in and her personality changed. I took her to my vet and had her spayed. She settled back down, for a while. Now, she seems to have 2 personalities. Sometimes, she is very gentle and loving. Other times, she is very bitey and charges at me. Either way, once I have her in my arms, she ADORES being petted. I feel like I am doing something wrong. My husband is allergic, so she has a really nice two story hutch in our climate controlled show animal barn. I take her out every day and depending on the weather, she goes outside for play time, or she runs around loose in the barn. She has toys in her hutch and spend time with her every day. Any ideas on why she is biting me? She has brought blood a couple of times, but she never bites after I pick her up. PLEASE HELP!!!  I REALLY LOVE MY BUN!!!

[Monkeybun]

Is it when you are reaching into her cage Many bunnies are cage aggressive, they don’t like people intruding on their space.

[LBJ10]

Yes, what are you doing when she lunges/bites?

[melindah]

 She does it when I reach in the cage and I read here that it could be a territory issue, so I’ve started letting her come out of the cage on her own. But today, I was sitting outside with her and she would rush at me and try to bite me when I tried to pet her. Sometimes, I put her in a 4×4 exercise pen outside while I tend the other animals (I live on a farm) and leave her for a couple of hours. When I go to pick her up or pet her, she bites me.  I want her to be very happy and very healthy. I am still learning about what to feed her and I am trying to provide her with lots of stimulation in her hutch for the time she is alone. I need and want all the advice you all can provide. She is a great bun and I am always very gentle, so I don’t really understand the aggression. I am willing to do whatever I can to meet her needs. Thanks!!!

[LoveChaCha]

Has she been spayed?

 

Also, the smell of other animals on you can cause your bunny to act up.

[emkvet]

Most rabbits do not enjoy being held or picked up at all. So that’s probably why she’s going for you when you try to do that. Although it seems like she “likes” it when you start petting her while holding her, she’s probably just given up and is scared by that point. I would suggest not picking her up unless it’s necessary, like for nail trims or medical emergencies.

If you start bonding with her on the ground more and letting her approach you (perhaps in a more neutral area that you aren’t reaching into or picking her up to get to/from), she may become less aggressive, since she knows you won’t be picking her up. Rabbits definitely like things their way, and you need to accept their personalities and not force anything. So start just hanging out by her, perhaps with some yummy herbs to entice her to approach you. 

What are you feeding her? You said you needed tips?
Check out this section to get advice on what kind of pellets, hays, and veggies you should be feeding her: https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/Diet/tabid/60/Default.aspx

[Monkeybun]

Yes, Chacha. She said in her first post her bun was spayed.

Most aggression in bunnies is fear, or territorial. In her cage or pen, it could be a territorial thing. Elsewhere it’s fear. She probably doesn’t really LIKE being picked up an held, most bunnies don’t. Her sitting still could be a fear thing too, just waiting to be put back down on the nice solid ground where she won’t be eaten.

[melindah]

I’ll give this a try. Like I said, I’m “bunny challenged”. I had no idea that had such personalities! She doesn’t appear to be afraid of anything. I raised her with 2 kittens and she plays chase with them. They take turns. She chases them, they chase her. They have quite a good time. I have been reading the suggestions on this site about feeding. Unfortunately, I was feeding mostly pellets, free choice, with the timothy hay free choice. When I found your site, I started making salads for her every day. Yesterday, I added snow peas. I copied the veggie list and am in the process of getting some variety for her. She loves romaine lettuce. Carrots, no so much. I am going to reduce the pellets to 1/8 cup daily. She weighs about 4-5 pounds. She isn’t fat, but feels very healthy. Her coat is plush and beautiful. Very shiny and healthy. I was also giving her the commercial yogurt drops for treats, but will stop with those. I have always let her graze outside weather permitting and offered her grass when the weather is bad. I really want her to like me and come to me for pets, so I’m going to try this new approach. I’ll let you know how it works out! Thanks!!!!

[Elrohwen]

You got some great advice and I just wanted to say kudos to you for being so willing to learn and change what you’re doing! It really shows love and commitment to be willing to change how we care for our animals and I’m sure Mittens is very happy and lucky to have you as an owner even if she doesn’t always show it 😉

[Author]

Messages