Yet another problem.....

My bunny Oreoelle ( new mommy) wont allow me to refill her food dish or water without attacking me. I have tried a few times and she growls and growls and then charges at me! I had my daughter do the same and no such luck. Obviously she NEEDS food and water but I dont know how to go about doing it. I dont want to hurt her by pushing her away. ( I tried holding her back and she had a fit...then took a chunk out of my finger)
Any suggestions?

Nicole : 0 )

Make up another dish and bottle, then swap them over when she's occupied :wink:

Ty for the suggestion but I have already tried that..lol She went around her "old" food dish to charge at me ....EEEK!!!
Im glad that she is protective of her young but IM NANA!! : 0 )

Is there anyway that you can add a water bottle and a feeding cylinder from the outside so you don't need to get into her space at all.

Failing that you may want to use a wooden board to keep her to one side of the hutch whilst you do the essential maintenance.

Vera

The water I can from outside the cage but not the food. The way the hutch is designed omits that idea. I know I always have the option if worse comes to worse to use "friendly force" be sure she gets her food and water ( food mainly) but I dont want to stress her out. Im afraid she will feel her young are in danger. : 0 (

Does tend to be extremely defensive of their territory, and as your madam now has young to protect, and a system full of hormones, this has been exaggerated from her normal behaviour. She may return to her previously less defensive ways when the babies grow up, or she may not. I have a couple of hardened people haters who always box the food out of my hands when I fill their bowls. I try to do this quickly Speying can help, although mine still do this after speying. But they were far worse before :roll: And I have other does who stopped doing it after speying.

Bunnyhugger's idea of swapping bowls is a good one, or you could wear a pair of heavy gloves, or both. Bottles can be easier to get to to refill, and don't get filled with hay and feed either.

Good luck.

This is very natural and common when a doe has had babies. I had this problem all the time. They kind of leap for your hand and claw you with their front paws. The best thing to do is wear some thick gloves…. or have an extra bowl ready like someone said and do a fast swap – again wearing gloves.

Try putting the food it a bottle with a wide top. Then you can pour the food in without getting your hands close. It doesn't matter if she attacks the bottle.

Tam

Thank you for all the advice. My husband has new work gloves so I think I will take those from him for the time being : 0 ). I do hope that Oreoelle does return to her old self after the babies are older. She was at one time the most passive of all the bunnies! Now she puts Mystik to shame! lol
I am looking into getting all my rabbits "fixed". But finding a vet that actually deals with rabbits is another story! Hopefully, I will soon : 0 )

Thanks again...you all are the best!
Nicole

hi, why not try bachs rescue remedy, this helps calm down and reasure them i use it on an agressive doe and works wonders it takes a few days to take affect but can get it a chemists or health store
heres the link to tell u more anout it it is also used for humans too
http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/bach/floweran.html

and this link list the potions and tell u more about each one and what it is used for
http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/bach/bfr/bfr.html

this link might help u more too
http://www.rainbowcrystal.com/bach/bachfaq.html

I just wanted you all to know that Oreoelle is doing better with her...attitude She is allowing us to change out her food bowl as long as we move very very slowly! She has charged at us a few times but stops before actually scratching or bitting. So....she is getting better

Thanks
Nicole

She has probably realised that you are not a threat to her buns and she is remembering she actually likes you !

She sounds like she is being a brilliant mummy rabbit!

Can't wait to see pics of the babies when they are up and about! I love the way their ears are always soo big compared to the rest of them as they grow into them!

Caz