Bunny hissing and biting?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 12sd replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by Darren.

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- 04/09/2014 at 7:35 AM
  Cookies4
  Participant
  66 posts
  Cookies has started this weird thing. Whenever I shake out his towels, he start hissing at me. So, I figured that he didn’t wat me doing that. Right when I put my hand in there to put it back, he bit me! It didn’t show much, but it kinda hurt. Is it because he is being territorial? Or was he just being… mean? Please help and thanks in advance!
- 04/09/2014 at 8:05 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Yes, rabbits don’t like you messing with their stuff – try to do this when he is not in his enclosure.
- 04/10/2014 at 5:39 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I agree with Sarita. I try to do all my tidying up of the bunny houses when they are out for play time. Olivia will growl at me and pummel me.
- 04/10/2014 at 6:41 PM
  LongEaredLions
  Participant
  4482 posts
  He does sound like he is being territorial.
  is he neutered?
- 04/11/2014 at 7:58 AM
  Cookies4
  Participant
  66 posts
  No, he isn’t. It’s sad, I know. I am saving up to pay for the neuter. He should be neutered in 3 months or less.
- 04/11/2014 at 8:05 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  If he’s becoming territorial now, it would be better to clean up and feed while he’s out of the cage during his exercise time. Even with neutered bunnies, this behavior doesn’t always go away. Some are just always more protective of their stuff… 😉
- 04/11/2014 at 9:33 AM
  Linette
  Participant
  114 posts
  I had one years ago who used to get livid when I changed out his litter box. He’d go in there after me and dig all around and rearrange it etc. He had a sprig of silk flowers that he had found that he kept in his litter box, if I left a handful of the old litter in there and made sure I put his sprig of flowers back, he was a bit less fusty with me BUT, he still had to give me the stink eye.
  
  With my current bun, I made him a hidey house of his own. A big box with dirt in it and some flat rocks. It’s pretty much enclosed with a tunnel going into it on one side and a small swinging door on the other. It’s HIS place, and he is much less protective of his cage and litter box. He never messes in his house, but I think his having it makes him less fussy about me doing routine housecleaning. He keeps an eye on me when I clean the cage and litter box, but he never gets snotty.
- 04/12/2014 at 11:38 AM
  Walter's Mom
  Participant
  64 posts
  My bun does the same thing. I always take Walter out when I clean the hutch. He only acts this way IN his cage. When he is out of his cage he will let kids pet him and play with him and he doesn’t bite them.
- 04/14/2014 at 4:25 PM
  Cookies4
  Participant
  66 posts
  I agree with everyone. I’ll start fixing his cage when he is running around.
- 04/14/2014 at 11:38 PM
  Darren
  Participant
  72 posts
  I read lot of posts on here about territorial buns and makes me wonder why my little guy trigger is such a good boy. Trigger is one year old today he is not neutered he is a sable point holland lop. He has never bit any one does not get mad when I touch any of his stuff, if I do stick my hand in his cage all I do is get bunny licks and head bumps. He has free roam of the whole house when I’m home, only caged when I’m gone. He doesn’t spray or pee on any thing just the random poop here and there. Not sure if it just a holland lop thing or If I just got extremely lucky. But I have been thinking about getting another bun but probably won’t get so lucky on the next go around.
- 04/16/2014 at 1:28 AM
  LongEaredLions
  Participant
  4482 posts
  Darren-You probably just got lucky. Some bunnies just aren’t affected by their “intact bunny” hormones. That is of course good for you.
  He may begin to be naughty in the future, so keep that in mind with the whole neutering situation.
- 04/16/2014 at 2:42 PM
  manic_muncher
  Participant
  1061 posts
  Darren, I agree with LEL… sounds like you got lucky. I want to point out, bringing another bun into the picture could very well change all of that, especially if he isn’t neutered. I would seriously reconsider bringing a new bun home unless you neuter trigger.
- 04/17/2014 at 12:28 AM
  Darren
  Participant
  72 posts
  If I end up getting another bun I’m guessing that the neuter won’t be far behind. It’s either another holland lop or possibly an english angora. I’d be happy with either one or both but not until I have a bigger house. I was curious if any one else had come across a non-neutered bun that acted in such a way. He was very trusting and loving right away. I got him when he was 6 weeks old and within the first hour or two he would hop right over to me and start licking and giving head bumps.
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