Psymon Obsidian
New Kit
Hello,
I have two rabbits who I adopted from the RSPCA in December 2012. They were already a couple when I got them and they had already been spayed and neutered. They are approximately a year and half old from what I've been told. They have recently been moved from having the whole of my garage to a shed run combo that provides a similar amount of space. Pictures can be found here: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?399521-Pictures-of-new-shed-amp-run-combo-plus-I-need-advice-on-cleaning-the-lino-floor
They are two very different buns in terms of personality. Nibbler the doe is my little angel. She is so nosey and friendly I am almost always struggling not to trip over her. She is always licking my clothes and trying to get her face up close to mine and will be stroked. (I can be known to lay on the floor with them as they don't like cuddles or being picked up but will both gladly climb on me if I am at their height.) Tiny the buck however has always been a bit of a shy grumpy little boy. He is easier to handle if you must but I think he is just resigned to his fate when this happens. He tends to shy away from me these days if I try to stroke him or if he thinks he is going to be picked up. I think I have been handling him too much of late and he's getting wary of my presence.
The problem I have been having with these two is Tiny is getting more and more aggressive towards Nibbler in regards to food. They did used to be little sods for snatching food off each other and running off with it but that seemed playful in nature. These days tiny will let off a little grunt or growl and chase her sometimes even yanking out a clump of fur. I usually break this up with a clap of my hands and a firm call of no or stop it, but I wonder if this is the wrong thing to do. I think ultimately I am just making him more wary of people and she's getting punished when she has done nothing wrong. He mostly does this when Mum has been giving them treats of dandelion etc when they are down in the little run on the lawn but also sometimes when I scatter their veggies about the shed for foraging. When they get their rabbit pellets in a bowl they scuffle a bit for who sticks their head where but they seem to proceed munching away amicably till its all gone. I am wondering if Tiny acts up when he feels like there is less food to go around and wants to grab the lions share. I have now banned Mum from feeding them treats as we are getting to the stage where if I approach the run he seems to expecting food and goes for her regardless of there actually being no food.
I have noticed that although Nibbler does make herself scarce for a bit and is a bit timid after but they still can almost always be found sleeping or resting close together later in the day and sometimes even grooming each other. When I first got these guys I always thought that Nibbler was the dominant one she was bigger than him at the time, bolder and even tried to mount him once or twice much to my confusion lol. Is Tiny just trying to show he's is supposed to be boss because he is male?
I guess the main thing I want help to find out from you guys is: Is this behaviour normal? Is he actually upsetting Nibbler or am I just being over anxious and should I just let them get on with it instead of punishing him and potentially destroying the tentative relationship I have with him? Sorry to ramble but I'm not an experienced rabbit owner but I try to do the best for them (and probably spoil them) and this is beginning to concern me. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give.
I have two rabbits who I adopted from the RSPCA in December 2012. They were already a couple when I got them and they had already been spayed and neutered. They are approximately a year and half old from what I've been told. They have recently been moved from having the whole of my garage to a shed run combo that provides a similar amount of space. Pictures can be found here: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?399521-Pictures-of-new-shed-amp-run-combo-plus-I-need-advice-on-cleaning-the-lino-floor
They are two very different buns in terms of personality. Nibbler the doe is my little angel. She is so nosey and friendly I am almost always struggling not to trip over her. She is always licking my clothes and trying to get her face up close to mine and will be stroked. (I can be known to lay on the floor with them as they don't like cuddles or being picked up but will both gladly climb on me if I am at their height.) Tiny the buck however has always been a bit of a shy grumpy little boy. He is easier to handle if you must but I think he is just resigned to his fate when this happens. He tends to shy away from me these days if I try to stroke him or if he thinks he is going to be picked up. I think I have been handling him too much of late and he's getting wary of my presence.
The problem I have been having with these two is Tiny is getting more and more aggressive towards Nibbler in regards to food. They did used to be little sods for snatching food off each other and running off with it but that seemed playful in nature. These days tiny will let off a little grunt or growl and chase her sometimes even yanking out a clump of fur. I usually break this up with a clap of my hands and a firm call of no or stop it, but I wonder if this is the wrong thing to do. I think ultimately I am just making him more wary of people and she's getting punished when she has done nothing wrong. He mostly does this when Mum has been giving them treats of dandelion etc when they are down in the little run on the lawn but also sometimes when I scatter their veggies about the shed for foraging. When they get their rabbit pellets in a bowl they scuffle a bit for who sticks their head where but they seem to proceed munching away amicably till its all gone. I am wondering if Tiny acts up when he feels like there is less food to go around and wants to grab the lions share. I have now banned Mum from feeding them treats as we are getting to the stage where if I approach the run he seems to expecting food and goes for her regardless of there actually being no food.
I have noticed that although Nibbler does make herself scarce for a bit and is a bit timid after but they still can almost always be found sleeping or resting close together later in the day and sometimes even grooming each other. When I first got these guys I always thought that Nibbler was the dominant one she was bigger than him at the time, bolder and even tried to mount him once or twice much to my confusion lol. Is Tiny just trying to show he's is supposed to be boss because he is male?
I guess the main thing I want help to find out from you guys is: Is this behaviour normal? Is he actually upsetting Nibbler or am I just being over anxious and should I just let them get on with it instead of punishing him and potentially destroying the tentative relationship I have with him? Sorry to ramble but I'm not an experienced rabbit owner but I try to do the best for them (and probably spoil them) and this is beginning to concern me. Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give.
