kerina
Warren Scout
Good morning everyone!
It's Speedy's mum here (you may have read, last week Speedy went to Rainbow Bridge, leaving a lonely Blackeye behind).
Blackeye has been pining for Speedy, so yesterday I went down to our local rescue centre (Redgate Animal Sanctuary) and got Smokey. I chose Smokey because he was the smallest rabbit they had (he's a Netherland Dwarf) and I thought he would be the most comfortable in Speedy's old hutch.
They did tell me that he could be a bit nasty, however he seemed fine with me - I picked him up, cuddled him - all fine.
I got him home, installed him in his new hutch with built in run and he was loving it - running around - up and down his ramp - great, thinks I.
I went out last night to feed him, and he growled at me - I have never heard a rabbit growl before - it's really odd. I fed him a small piece of carrot and some Suparabbit Excel and left him to it.
I went back out to him a little later to check that he was eating and he growled at me again. I stroked him even though he was growling to show him that I wasn't scared of him.
Next thing I new, he jumped up and bit me on the hand - he drew blood. I was really shocked!! I left him alone after that.
I've been out to clean him out this morning and he was growling again - I'm now frightened of him! I got the gardening gloves to lift him out of the hutch and put him in the washing basked whilst I cleaned him out. He didn't growl again, and I picked him up out of the washing basket with bare hands to put him back in his hutch.
Has anyone encountered this type of behaviour before?? I understand that he is probably frightened and is defending himself, but any tips to stamp out this nastly streak would be greatly appreciated.
Also, Blackeye is still pining for Speedy, even though they are side by side. He only ate his carrot last night and hasn't touched his cabbage.
Please help me guys, I just want my buns to be happy.
Kerina
xxx
It's Speedy's mum here (you may have read, last week Speedy went to Rainbow Bridge, leaving a lonely Blackeye behind).
Blackeye has been pining for Speedy, so yesterday I went down to our local rescue centre (Redgate Animal Sanctuary) and got Smokey. I chose Smokey because he was the smallest rabbit they had (he's a Netherland Dwarf) and I thought he would be the most comfortable in Speedy's old hutch.
They did tell me that he could be a bit nasty, however he seemed fine with me - I picked him up, cuddled him - all fine.
I got him home, installed him in his new hutch with built in run and he was loving it - running around - up and down his ramp - great, thinks I.
I went out last night to feed him, and he growled at me - I have never heard a rabbit growl before - it's really odd. I fed him a small piece of carrot and some Suparabbit Excel and left him to it.
I went back out to him a little later to check that he was eating and he growled at me again. I stroked him even though he was growling to show him that I wasn't scared of him.
Next thing I new, he jumped up and bit me on the hand - he drew blood. I was really shocked!! I left him alone after that.
I've been out to clean him out this morning and he was growling again - I'm now frightened of him! I got the gardening gloves to lift him out of the hutch and put him in the washing basked whilst I cleaned him out. He didn't growl again, and I picked him up out of the washing basket with bare hands to put him back in his hutch.
Has anyone encountered this type of behaviour before?? I understand that he is probably frightened and is defending himself, but any tips to stamp out this nastly streak would be greatly appreciated.
Also, Blackeye is still pining for Speedy, even though they are side by side. He only ate his carrot last night and hasn't touched his cabbage.
Please help me guys, I just want my buns to be happy.
Kerina
xxx