Hormonal Rabbit

[binkygirl2013]

Hi I am just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to calm down a hormonal doe. I recently adopted a young female (estimated to be between 1-2 years) from a rescue. She had been used as a breeding rabbit however was spayed nearly 6 weeks ago. She has come on so much in the short time I've had her, from a shy, nervous little girl to a content (sometimes sassy) little thing. However she is constantly digging on the carpet which I have had to cover with blankets (now she constantly digs on them!). I recognise this as hormonal behaviour as my bridge bunny Roxy did this until she was spayed at 5months old however this stopped the minute she was spayed. I currently have a young neutered buck that I'd like to bond with my new girl. They are side by side in pens at the minute and other than a couple of nose touches where she has grunted at him, she doesn't pay him much attention as she is too busy digging to the point she is tiring herself out. Does anyone have any advice on how to calm her down or is it something that will just subside in time?
The boy is such a sweet, placid rabbit and I feel if she just calmed down a bit, she'd pay him a bit more interest and we could have a successful bond.

 

[Omi]

It might take a little longer for the hormones in your new Doe to subside. Your previous bunny was spayed around or before puberty, whereas the new bunny has presumably had litters of her own. This may account for the digging, in which case it will just be a case of waiting a couple more weeks or so.

There could also be an element of frustration caused by being side-by-side with a Buck, whom she is prevented from accessing. How bunnies behave with a barrier is no indication of how they will behave once that barrier is removed. She might also find being in a confined space frustrating.

How long have they been side-by-side? In my view, it seems that you are not moving forward with them as things currently are. Digging blankets etc can also become ingrained behaviour, when it might be harder to stop. So I think it's a case of trying different things with them.

I think I would try them together in a small pen in a completely neutral area, well away from where they are currently. I would not have anything else in the pen with them other than perhaps some favourite food in between them. You will need to watch them closely of course.

 

[Preitler]

Nothing to do but weathering it out. Maybe a dig box might be an idea?

Digging is an inherent natural behaviour that's more or less still there in domestics. My 6yo spayed girl still digs now and then, like, a tunnel once a year, was more when young. Little compared to what intact does did though, but one corner of my garden still looks like a missile test site underneith the overgrowth of lilies.

 

[binkygirl2013]

Thank you for your reply, it makes complete sense what you have said. I think my doe has had a pretty rubbish life up to now and has possible just been confined to a hutch and used for breeding. She seems to like and trust me now which is a good sign. I have had them side by side for 5 days now. I have a spare room which is neutral where I could move them to, I just wasn't sure if I should wait a couple more weeks to put them together to see if her hormones subside a bit.

 

[binkygirl2013]

She was digging a lot prior the boy bun coming

 

[Omi]

I don't think there is definitely a right answer here. It's just a case of trying different methods. Maybe give it another couple of weeks side-by-side and see if there is any change both in her digging and also how they interact with each other.

 

[Jaelyn]

Hi I am just wondering if anyone has any advice on how to calm down a hormonal doe. I recently adopted a young female (estimated to be between 1-2 years) from a rescue. She had been used as a breeding rabbit however was spayed nearly 6 weeks ago. She has come on so much in the short time I've had her, from a shy, nervous little girl to a content (sometimes sassy) little thing. However she is constantly digging on the carpet which I have had to cover with blankets (now she constantly digs on them!). I recognise this as hormonal behaviour as my bridge bunny Roxy did this until she was spayed at 5months old however this stopped the minute she was spayed. I currently have a young neutered buck that I'd like to bond with my new girl. They are side by side in pens at the minute and other than a couple of nose touches where she has grunted at him, she doesn't pay him much attention as she is too busy digging to the point she is tiring herself out. Does anyone have any advice on how to calm her down or is it something that will just subside in time?
The boy is such a sweet, placid rabbit and I feel if she just calmed down a bit, she'd pay him a bit more interest and we could have a successful bond.

Can't help because I have one of them myself and so does my neighbor

 

[a reader of books]

Can't help because I have one of them myself and so does my neighbor

This is kind of an old thread, but maybe if you start a new thread people could give you some advice about your bunny, and your neighbour's?