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My rabbits Socks and Daisy are about to turn 6 months on the 17th, and they’ve recently started nipping. They nip my fingers, my arm, my feet, and they also bite and pull at my clothes. This started recently. They’re both female, and they’ve got plenty of things to chew. Why are they nipping, and what can I do to stop it?
Hormonal behavior, have them spayed
It does sound like hormonal behavior. Spaying will likely help with their behavior along with prolonging their life. Intact female rabbits have a 50-80% of developing uterine cancer by the age of 4.
Definitely sounds hormonal.
They’re growing up. They’ve reached the age were they must be spayed in order to be friendly to you and each other. A fight could break out any day.
Yes, unless they have spays scheduled to happen very, very soon (like within the next week or so), you will need to separate them until that can be done, at which time they’ll need to be rebonded. When you separate them, make sure there is at least a few inches between their cages, and a buffer space when one of them is out so they are never closer to each other than a few inches. They can bite each other thru the bars and cause injury.
If their spays are not scheduled already, what is your timeline for getting that done? Unspayed females are next to impossible to house together past sexual maturity.
Can I wait until I’ve saved enough money to get them spayed? As some of you may know, spaying is pretty expensive. Do I have to separate them until then? Daisy has panic attacks if she’s not with Socks. They’re very attached.
I don’t know that I understand your question… Can you wait until you’ve saved enough money to get them spayed? In regards to what, separating them? Or are you asking if you should borrow money for the surgeries or explore something like CareCredit (a credit card accepted by many vets)?
If they continue to fight, they need to be separated. Two rabbits (females especially!) can do major damage to each other if they are allowed to fight. You could be looking at a large emergency vet bill if one or both are badly injured.
Posted By Beka27 on 02/09/2014 09:34 AM
If they continue to fight, they need to be separated. Two rabbits (females especially!) can do major damage to each other if they are allowed to fight. You could be looking at a large emergency vet bill if one or both are badly injured.
That’s the thing, though. They don’t fight. And I can’t separate them because if I do daisy has a panic attack, and her panic attacks can really harm her. In other words, she has separation anxiety in a much worse form.
Also my question was to wait until I had money to spay them.
Ok, I think I misread your original post! They are biting YOU! NOT EACH OTHER! (Sorry, sometimes I read too fast and miss what is actually going on!)
If they’re not fighting, they don’t have to be separated… BUT… be prepared to separate. They might start suddenly one day.
Posted By Beka27 on 02/10/2014 06:55 AM
Ok, I think I misread your original post! They are biting YOU! NOT EACH OTHER! (Sorry, sometimes I read too fast and miss what is actually going on!)If they’re not fighting, they don’t have to be separated… BUT… be prepared to separate. They might start suddenly one day.
Ok thank you
They are mainly pulling my clothes, but sometimes they catch my skin. I push them away when they bite my clothes but they still come back again. Part of my question was how can I stop that as well?
I’d say you should still have them spayed because nipping can be hormonal, and because of the obvious cancer risk. Lulu will nip me, she will be four in July and was spayed at six months, but she only does it when I’m taking to long to clean her litter box, give her hay, or if I stop giving her bunny massages. Which she will first give me kisses to get me to start again and if I don’t then I get nipped.
Some rabbits like to nibble on fabric, so they’re probably not intending to get your skin. It may also be them trying to get your attention. If they get your skin, let out a short, high shriek to let them know it hurt.
Posted By BunnyLady1989 on 02/11/2014 06:30 AM
I’d say you should still have them spayed because nipping can be hormonal, and because of the obvious cancer risk. Lulu will nip me, she will be four in July and was spayed at six months, but she only does it when I’m taking to long to clean her litter box, give her hay, or if I stop giving her bunny massages. Which she will first give me kisses to get me to start again and if I don’t then I get nipped.
Okay. I’m actually shopping around right now, to find a vet that will do a good job and won’t cost me too much, because I have two. Thanks!
Posted By Beka27 on 02/11/2014 07:13 AM
Some rabbits like to nibble on fabric, so they’re probably not intending to get your skin. It may also be them trying to get your attention. If they get your skin, let out a short, high shriek to let them know it hurt.
Ok I will try that. Thanks!
Good luck! ![]()
Posted By BunnyLady1989 on 2/11/2014 2:55 PM
Good luck!![]()
Thanks!
I have a question for all you bunny lovers. I have 2 little girls, they are purebred mini rex. Sisters born 11/6/2016. I have had them for about 2 weeks. Just recently they started nipping at my clothes, shirt and pants and even the couch/blankets. It really does seem they like are trying to bite. I make noises like they are hurting me and they stop. I have also supplied chew toys to prevent this and they still continue to do it. They are not mean, still getting used to be loved and cuddled. But how can I get them to stop and why are they doing it? Any advise will help. Thank You. Mamaof2Ladies.<a class="asminilnkbtn" onclick="asClient.StatusClear(this); return false;" href="javascript:void(0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 204); text-decoration: underline;">.
Is this related to hormonal behavior as well? At only 2 months old?
Posted By Mamaof2Ladies on 1/11/2017 12:37 PM
I have a question for all you bunny lovers. I have 2 little girls, they are purebred mini rex. Sisters born 11/6/2016. I have had them for about 2 weeks. Just recently they started nipping at my clothes, shirt and pants and even the couch/blankets. It really does seem they like are trying to bite. I make noises like they are hurting me and they stop. I have also supplied chew toys to prevent this and they still continue to do it. They are not mean, still getting used to be loved and cuddled. But how can I get them to stop and why are they doing it? Any advise will help. Thank You. Mamaof2Ladies.<a class="asminilnkbtn" onclick="asClient.StatusClear(this); return false;" href="javascript:void(0);"><span style="text-decoration: underline; color: rgb(0, 102, 204);">.
Is this related to hormonal behavior as well? At only 2 months old?
Hi Mamaof2Ladies
Are you able to start a new topic for you question? Just click HERE and you can start a new thread.
I have send a private message also in case you don’t see this.
The original topic is 2 years old. We ask members not to post replies in topics older then a few months as it can cause some confusion.
I’ll lock this thread now.
