Okay, Mable is relatively new to the “inside-rabbit” routine. I got her from a 4-H breeder, who also happened to be a member of ARBA. Mable is a purebred, pedigreed fawn flemish giant, and I don’t even know why she’s acting the way she is. She did live outside in a hutch with her mom and other siblings, so being inside is definitely new. Heres the problem.
So far, I’ve had her for 3 days. The first day I got her, I was picking her up and petting her. I learned after that, it’s a no-no because rabbits hate being held, and I shouldn’t be doing that since she’s brand new and doesn’t even know me. So, I tried leaving her alone so she could get used to her surroundings. Well, right now she’s in a stock tank in my room with a 2-foot wire puppy pen that surrounds the tank. I take her out of that thing probably 3-4 times a day for about an hour and let her roam around. Right now, she’s learning that a clap and a “No!” means she should stop what she’s doing. Well, I left to go downstairs to get something to eat, and when I cam back, she had somehow jumped over the sides of the stock tank and was stuck between that and the pen. Oh, and when I let her out to roam, she always manages to bite me. First, she digs into my skin like crazy and then gives me a nip. I clap and say, “No!”, but she continues, so I do it again and push her away. She comes back and bites me. I’ve only had her for 3 days and so far, she’s bitten me six times, and each time its bled. She just keeps coming unless I move. And no matter where I move to, she comes back to nip me. I’ve tried the “push their head down and say “No!” loudly, because that shows submission” kind of thing, but it doesn’t work.
Anyways, biting is one of her problems. Number two is that she is always trying to get out of her cage. Any way possible, she will try. She’s gotten herself wedged between the stock tank and the pen two times now, in three days! I figured maybe she needed some fresh air, so I placed her in the cat carrier I have and brought her pen, and food outside on my deck so she could have more space to run. Well, it’s almost like she’s desperate to get out, because I placed her litter box on the corner part where the pen can open and put her carrier on the outside so that maybe she wouldn’t be tempted to push her way out. She did, and hopped around my deck. I got her quickly and placed her back into the pen, and this time I push the side of the pen up against a bench I have, and pushed a heavy-duty chair against the other side. Unless she was super strong, there’d be no way she could push her way out. So, she tried the next best thing. She climbed her way out! Remember, this pen is 24″ high. She can stretch up 2 feet. So, she put one of her back feet on the bottom horizontal wire and tried to jump out. What she did was fall really hard on the outside of the pen onto the carrier (which is plastic), so I’m worried she might have broken something. I just put her inside the cat carrier, which happens to be the only bunny-proof cage I have right now.
It honestly looked like she was trying to escape the devil or something like that, and I need some advice as to what this can be. I let her out all of the time, because I know the stock tank is very small for her. The breeder said it would be fine after I took a picture of it and sent it to her, but now I’m wanting to get something larger. This is also my first rabbit. I read that after a lot of training, they could be great pets. I don’t want to fear for her safety every time I bring her outside of her cage, so what is it that she’s trying to get to, and how can I stop the biting? Does she just want to be an outside rabbit, or does she just need to be fixed?
Also, I scheduled an appointment with the local vet for a pre-surgery exam. I might also ask him to see if she has any broken bones. That appointment is in about 2 weeks, so should I try and schedule earlier? In the meantime, what should I do? I scared that she’ll just keep trying to jump out of the pen and will, one day, kill herself. I’d really like to keep her, but I don’t know what to do if she keeps getting out. I’ve been looking online for an extra-large dog kennel, so I’m hoping I can get that within a couple days. I might just have to use that from now on… I also read somewhere that bunnies are very social and do better in groups. I was considering getting a more mature bunny so she could have someone else to play with if I’m not there.
Please help! This is extrememly urgent!