Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Behavior

Viewing 4 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Rachel
      Participant
      3 posts Send Private Message

        Hey everyone! I recently got my bunny, Max, who is now a 13 week old Netherland dwarf male. He was with the breeder for nine weeks before we got him, and according to her was always very sweet and cuddly, and even liked to ride around on her shoulder! From the day we’ve brought him home, he refuses to be held at all, only allowing the occasional petting. He won’t settle down enough to sit by me for a long period of time. He doesn’t bite or seem overly aggressive, but this sudden change in behavior is so strange! He isn’t sick, all of his eating habits are normal, and he gets at least five or six hours of time outside his cage every day. He seems happy, he loves to run and jump and flop around! He has things to chew on and play with both in and outside of his enclosure. We’ve had him for a few weeks with no improvement. Does my bunny just dislike me? Or is there something I can do to make spending time with me more enticing? ?


      • Bam
        Moderator
        16838 posts Send Private Message

          To me it sounds lijke Max is hitting puberty. Buns start their puberty around 12 weeks. It means they become teenagers. Few teenagers of any species are very sweet and cuddly. It’s the time in life when an individual learn how to be independent (as independent as you can be when you are a house pet, of course).

          He might very well become cuddly again as he matures and/or is neutered, but I doubt he’ll like to ride on somebody’s shoulder again. Most adult rabbits hate being lifted off the ground, it’s a deep instinct. Predators lift rabbits, then eat them =(

          Since he runs and jumps and flops, I think your bunny is very happy. A bunny that isn’t happy will hide. He doesn’t dislike you. He’s just not a baby anymore.


        • Rachel
          Participant
          3 posts Send Private Message

            Yes, I considered getting him fixed, but I discussed it with the breeder and she says she’s had more people lose their bunnies to it than not ? So now I’m not so sure. We just thought it was strange that one day he was cuddly and the next he wasn’t. Hopefully he’ll mellow out a bit with age!


          • Bam
            Moderator
            16838 posts Send Private Message

              He will mellow out with age, they do that. Just like people and dogs =)

              The risky thing about a neuter is the anesthesia. Today there are good bunny-appropriate anaesthetics though, so a neuter is not considered a big risk, it’s more or less a standard procedure. Boys are neutered for 2 reasons: to prevent babies if the bunny is to have a girlfriend and for behavioral reasons. You don’t have to neuter a boy for health reasons, it’s girl bunnies that need to be de-sexed, because otherwise they have a very high risk of uterine cancer.


            • Rachel
              Participant
              3 posts Send Private Message

                Good to know! I was wondering if there were any health risks for males that aren’t neutered. Hopefully he’ll mellow out! He does enjoy nudging me though, so hopefully we’re making progress. Thank you for your help! ??

            Viewing 4 reply threads
            • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

            Forum BEHAVIOR Behavior