Nipping

C

chinakit

Warren Scout

• Jul 20, 2005

• #1

One of my recent rescued bunnies, Bluebell (the 'confident' one LOL) has now taken to nipping me when I feed her. She usually stands over the food dish and when I try to get hold of the dish she nips my hand. So far she hasn't done any real damage. Will this behaviour stop after I have had her spayed? She doesn't growl or jump at me though ... just nips! Could it be that she thinks I am actually putting food into the dish? I never do this, I always remove the dish and wash it before refilling and returning it to her hutch.

 

A

Aspen'n'company

Mama Doe

• Jul 20, 2005

• #2

She is being territorial over her cage/food dish. My rabbit Ashlee used to do that. Now that she has been spayed she doesn't nip at me when I take things out of her cage.

 

Tamsin

Administrator

Staff member

• Jul 20, 2005

• #3

Could well be something that will improve with spaying. In the meantime a second bowl usually works well. Put the filled bowl the opposite end to the empty one then when she rushes over you can pick up the empty bowl ready to clean and fill for next time.

Tam

 

W

.::.whiterabbit.::.

Mama Doe

• Jul 20, 2005

• #4

millie bit me yesterday i was soooo shocked as millie is usually a soppy thing :shock:

 

A

Aspen'n'company

Mama Doe

• Jul 20, 2005

• #5

Rabbits always nip for a reason. Maybe millie as stressed out from the new cage and all the goodies she got!?!

 

C

chinakit

Warren Scout

• Jul 20, 2005

• #6

Tamsin said:

Could well be something that will improve with spaying. In the meantime a second bowl usually works well. Put the filled bowl the opposite end to the empty one then when she rushes over you can pick up the empty bowl ready to clean and fill for next time.

Tam

Click to expand...

What a great idea, I should have thought of it !!! Will do this, and thanks!

Jane

 

B

bunny-mad

Mama Doe

• Jul 20, 2005

• #7

It will probably stop when she is spayed. Sylvia used to nip me a lot before her spay. Often on the bottom if I wasn't careful (that hurts)!

 

C

Cristian

Young Bun

• Jul 20, 2005

• #8

Our Coco was like this, gave me quite a nasty gash once! And she started to "grunt & growl" when I tried to approach her in her hutch/run. It seemed to be a relationship very much on her terms (lol).

Noticed a difference within days of her being spayed. I can now easily take her bowl or pick her up from her hutch without any problems. She is now a total ball of cuddly fluff, whereas before I was wary about her nipping my kids.

I'm not saying that this will work in all instances, but it will help.


Cristian

 

C

chinakit

Warren Scout

• Jul 20, 2005

• #9

I will book her in to be spayed soon then! She is a lovely rabbit most of the time, and hasn't got to the 'grunty' stage, she just nips!!

Thanks everyone.

Jane xx