Friendly bunny turned attention biter

[Floofbunny]

Hi,
Bit of back story-
I live with my parents and can only do the best I can.
The rabbits are not allowed inside (in future, an annex will allow housebunnies) and therefore I have given them best Hutches I can find.

I have asked many times but to no avail - I'm not allow to spay (unless for future annex, say it's too expensive).

One of my rabbits hates rabbits with a fiery passion. Even as a 8 week old, my dutch has severely hated other rabbits, viciously attacked my nethie and even her mate when In season. Even seeing them from afar sends her into a stamping fit. That was before adult hormones came into play.

But ironically, my dutch loves people, especially me.
She licks obsessively, honks excitedly when held, binkies, and happy "shake mini binky" when sees me.

But recently she has grown into an attention seeking manic. Before, she has been held and put in playpens regularly and petted daily.
But now, I only need to give her food or try to daily spot clean and she follows me trying to force her head to me to pet.
Obviously I can't pet if I'm busy scooping or placing bowls. So she gets inpatient and has started biting and digging at my arm or hand.
If my arm is next to her but not petting aswell.
Yet as soon as she finished she goes back to licking me and demanding attention.

I can't get her out in the morning on work days, she has loads of toys, pets and I can't find her due to reasons above.

How do I curb this behaviour?

Lastly, I need to be able to pick her up for vets, playpens, handling etc. But she gets bitey about that too. How can I stop that.
But that's less important, rabbits just hate picking up.
But this new attention attacking is frustrating.

 

[Shimmer]

You don't say how old she is, but I would suggest it's normal hormonal behaviour. Spaying female rabbits has health benefits as well as behavioural - there's around an 80% chance of an entire female develping uterine cancer by the age of 4 years.

You also don't mention any permanent accommodation other than hutches - they need a lot more space than a hutch can provide. Females in particular can get very aggressive over restricted space. Rabbits can also show referred aggression when they are in the presence (sight, sound, smell) of other rabbits that they are not bonded to, particularly if they are not neutered. They are much happier living with other (neutered) rabbit(s). She may be looking to you for company and attention in lieu of another rabbit.

This is a useful website which gives lots of useful information:
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/

 

[Floofbunny]

You don't say how old she is, but I would suggest it's normal hormonal behaviour. Spaying female rabbits has health benefits as well as behavioural - there's around an 80% chance of an entire female develping uterine cancer by the age of 4 years.

You also don't mention any permanent accommodation other than hutches - they need a lot more space than a hutch can provide. Females in particular can get very aggressive over restricted space. Rabbits can also show referred aggression when they are in the presence (sight, sound, smell) of other rabbits that they are not bonded to, particularly if they are not neutered. They are much happier living with other (neutered) rabbit(s). She may be looking to you for company and attention in lieu of another rabbit.

This is a useful website which gives lots of useful information:
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/

I already mentioned why I couldn't spay or have no hutch.

"Bit of back story-
I live with my parents and can only do the best I can.
The rabbits are not allowed inside (in future, an annex will allow housebunnies) and therefore I have given them best Hutches I can find.

I have asked many times but to no avail - I'm not allow to spay (unless for future annex, say it's too expensive)."

 

[a reader of books]

Can I ask, when your bunny attacked your Nethie and her mate, what were the circumstances? I'm not sure you can conclude that your rabbit hates other rabbits just judging by her reaction to only two other rabbits. You also mention that a rabbit (I'm not sure if you mean this rabbit or her mate) was in season, but as far as I understand, that's not a thing that happens to female rabbits, as they are always able to become pregnant once they become sexually mature, so I'm wondering what you mean by that and what happened. It's normal for a rabbit to not like the smell and sight of other rabbits that they're not bonded to. That doesn't mean she hates other rabbits and needs to live alone.

To me, it sounds like your rabbit is, as you have noticed, desperate for attention, and since you can't spend your entire day with her, I would think only a bunny friend can solve this. There's no way to make her stop biting if she does it out of frustration that she's not getting the attention she needs, except to make sure that she gets attention whenever she desires it.

If she gets bitey when you need to pick her up, I'd suggest picking her up as little as possible. As you said, rabbits hate being picked up. Is there a way you can connect her hutch to the playpen so you don't have to pick her up to put her in it? I know you'll still have to pick her up sometimes, though, so making it less scary for her could be a good idea. This article has helpful tips: http://www.therabbithouse.com/behaviour/problem-picking-rabbit-up.asp You can also try to move her by luring her into her carrier or a box, so you won't have to pick her up at all, which would be ideal.

 

[Floofbunny]

Can I ask, when your bunny attacked your Nethie and her mate, what were the circumstances? I'm not sure you can conclude that your rabbit hates other rabbits just judging by her reaction to only two other rabbits. You also mention that a rabbit (I'm not sure if you mean this rabbit or her mate) was in season, but as far as I understand, that's not a thing that happens to female rabbits, as they are always able to become pregnant once they become sexually mature, so I'm wondering what you mean by that and what happened. It's normal for a rabbit to not like the smell and sight of other rabbits that they're not bonded to. That doesn't mean she hates other rabbits and needs to live alone.

To me, it sounds like your rabbit is, as you have noticed, desperate for attention, and since you can't spend your entire day with her, I would think only a bunny friend can solve this. There's no way to make her stop biting if she does it out of frustration that she's not getting the attention she needs, except to make sure that she gets attention whenever she desires it.

If she gets bitey when you need to pick her up, I'd suggest picking her up as little as possible. As you said, rabbits hate being picked up. Is there a way you can connect her hutch to the playpen so you don't have to pick her up to put her in it? I know you'll still have to pick her up sometimes, though, so making it less scary for her could be a good idea. This article has helpful tips: http://www.therabbithouse.com/behaviour/problem-picking-rabbit-up.asp You can also try to move her by luring her into her carrier or a box, so you won't have to pick her up at all, which would be ideal.

I have had and tried to bond 4 different rabbits I have owned to her. I tried using a really gentle spayed doe (her partner died) too. My friend said to have her as to bond my bunny. Wouldn't even tolerate her in neutral teritory. We tried everything. Even the little doe I had until it didn't work out was desperate to bond with her.

By season I actually mean when she first came into heat (when she became fertile). I know they don't really have seasons.
I also have took many steps to bond her.
But it's not just me who realised she disliked other rabbits.
When I bought her, she didn't get on with the man's rabbits. He had tried to find her a rabbit to allow her to be sold with a friend.
But she seemed to be really stressed with other rabbits.
I have tried socialising her gradually with very friendly bunnies but she disliked it greatly. When she got sexual maturity, that dislike turned into bad fighting.

I do know what I was seeing, I've owned 11 rabbits at different times and my grandad has owned well over 30 in his years.

She doesn't want another rabbit.
I have tried. Trust me I have.

Also I can't spay (parents won't let me) and therefore bonding is greatly hindered.

So unfortunately it's just not an option for me.
Also her hutch has a pen attached.

But my separate pen I open up into a huge semi circle against a wall is even better.
I had to after my dad stopped me fencing of a section of garden for their runs.
Urine started to burn his grass.
I can't attach that one to it, no space to do that.
She's specifically in one of two places that is not a sun trap or damp. (We live next to a woodland.) My nethie is in the other spot.
So I can only do what I can.

I don't blame her for not liking the buck. He's a bit annoying. Kept trying to mate her head. She was really annoyed.

She might not even be hormonal at all. Multiple mating with some proven bucks (spaced out to give her a break) and not a single kit.
She seems infertile to me.

But thank you for the suggestion.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Multiple mating with some proven bucks (spaced out to give her a break) and not a single kit.
She seems infertile to me.

.

A symptom that could indicate Uterine Adenocarcinoma. Very common in unspayed Does. Aggression is another symptom.

Very sad that your parents are prepared to compromise the Rabbit’s welfare by refusing to allow you to have her spayed. Even if she doesn’t have Uterine Adenocarcinoma yet she has an 80% chance of developing it by the age of 5 unless she is spayed.25% of 2 year old unspayed Does have been found to have uterine tumours https://www.goddardvetgroup.co.uk/blog/do-rabbits-really-get-womb-cancer/

 

[a reader of books]

I have had and tried to bond 4 different rabbits I have owned to her. I tried using a really gentle spayed doe (her partner died) too. My friend said to have her as to bond my bunny. Wouldn't even tolerate her in neutral teritory. We tried everything. Even the little doe I had until it didn't work out was desperate to bond with her.

By season I actually mean when she first came into heat (when she became fertile). I know they don't really have seasons.
I also have took many steps to bond her.
But it's not just me who realised she disliked other rabbits.
When I bought her, she didn't get on with the man's rabbits. He had tried to find her a rabbit to allow her to be sold with a friend.
But she seemed to be really stressed with other rabbits.
I have tried socialising her gradually with very friendly bunnies but she disliked it greatly. When she got sexual maturity, that dislike turned into bad fighting.

I do know what I was seeing, I've owned 11 rabbits at different times and my grandad has owned well over 30 in his years.

She doesn't want another rabbit.
I have tried. Trust me I have.

Also I can't spay (parents won't let me) and therefore bonding is greatly hindered.

So unfortunately it's just not an option for me.
Also her hutch has a pen attached.

But my separate pen I open up into a huge semi circle against a wall is even better.
I had to after my dad stopped me fencing of a section of garden for their runs.
Urine started to burn his grass.
I can't attach that one to it, no space to do that.
She's specifically in one of two places that is not a sun trap or damp. (We live next to a woodland.) My nethie is in the other spot.
So I can only do what I can.

I don't blame her for not liking the buck. He's a bit annoying. Kept trying to mate her head. She was really annoyed.

She might not even be hormonal at all. Multiple mating with some proven bucks (spaced out to give her a break) and not a single kit.
She seems infertile to me.

But thank you for the suggestion.

Thank you for explaining more about what you've tried with bonding. There's a possibility that she'd accept a bonded friend if she were spayed, but since your parents won't let you spay her, I can see why that's not an option.

That's a shame that you can't attach the separate pen to her hutch, since no bunny is going to enjoy being picked up often to be moved to a different place, but again, I understand that it's out of your control.

When I was a teenager I couldn't always care for my bunnies the way I wanted, etiher, because my dad didn't agree, so I understand the situation you're in and know it's not a fun one, and I believe that you're doing all you can.

Anyway, the reason you opened the thread, the biting and digging at your arm or hand, I don't think it's aggression or hormonal; I think she's just telling you she wants your attention, so the only thing you can do is spend as much time with her as you can, as she must feel lonely. Even if she doesn't like other rabbits, she's still a social animal, so being on her own outside can't be nice for her.

 

[Floofbunny]

A symptom that could indicate Uterine Adenocarcinoma. Very common in unspayed Does. Aggression is another symptom.

Very sad that your parents are prepared to compromise the Rabbit’s welfare by refusing to allow you to have her spayed. Even if she doesn’t have Uterine Adenocarcinoma yet she has an 80% chance of developing it by the age of 5 unless she is spayed.25% of 2 year old unspayed Does have been found to have uterine tumours https://www.goddardvetgroup.co.uk/blog/do-rabbits-really-get-womb-cancer/

It is depressing, but I can't move out. Don't earn enough. The flats would take all my wages and they don't even allow pets.
I have autism, these buns are my special interest and mean the world to me.
I've been promised by one parent I can spay her when I get my annex. But that's two years time.

Also no worries of Uterine Adenocarcinoma.
When she was infertile I had the vet check her.
Then again when aggression started.
She's fine, the bucks had been health checked too before mating. Id never want to endanger my sweet angel.

 

[Floofbunny]

It's why my goal is to get an annex. I can't afford to ever move out and I want my rabbits to be as happy as possible.
I am promised that when we move I am definitely able to convert a garage into my annex. It's not self contained (don't care about loo or kitchen, can go to main house for that) But I will be sleeping in it and spend quite a lot of time in my room now.
Since its not part of the main home. They said they can't get involved in if I have my bunnies become house bunnies.

My girls will get the run of it and companionship.

I just have to hold out.

 

[InspectorMorse]

It is depressing, but I can't move out. Don't earn enough. The flats would take all my wages and they don't even allow pets.
I have autism, these buns are my special interest and mean the world to me.
I've been promised by one parent I can spay her when I get my annex. But that's two years time.

Also no worries of Uterine Adenocarcinoma.
When she was infertile I had the vet check her.
Then again when aggression started.
She's fine, the bucks had been health checked too before mating. Id never want to endanger my sweet angel.

So are you going to keep trying to mate her ?

 

[Floofbunny]

A symptom that could indicate Uterine Adenocarcinoma. Very common in unspayed Does. Aggression is another symptom.

Very sad that your parents are prepared to compromise the Rabbit’s welfare by refusing to allow you to have her spayed. Even if she doesn’t have Uterine Adenocarcinoma yet she has an 80% chance of developing it by the age of 5 unless she is spayed.25% of 2 year old unspayed Does have been found to have uterine tumours https://www.goddardvetgroup.co.uk/blog/do-rabbits-really-get-womb-cancer/

Thank you for explaining more about what you've tried with bonding. There's a possibility that she'd accept a bonded friend if she were spayed, but since your parents won't let you spay her, I can see why that's not an option.

That's a shame that you can't attach the separate pen to her hutch, since no bunny is going to enjoy being picked up often to be moved to a different place, but again, I understand that it's out of your control.

When I was a teenager I couldn't always care for my bunnies the way I wanted, etiher, because my dad didn't agree, so I understand the situation you're in and know it's not a fun one, and I believe that you're doing all you can.

Anyway, the reason you opened the thread, the biting and digging at your arm or hand, I don't think it's aggression or hormonal; I think she's just telling you she wants your attention, so the only thing you can do is spend as much time with her as you can, as she must feel lonely. Even if she doesn't like other rabbits, she's still a social animal, so being on her own outside can't be nice for her.

I gave up in the end.