JUST GOT A BUNNY THAT WASN’T WHAT I EXPECTED!

[LifeForHopw]

Okay. First thing. I had bought a rabbit from a pet shop. The women was kinda old and had many other animals in her shop. But one animal caught my eye. She was a huge white fluffy rabbit in a cage with wired bottom. The women just left the cage door open (the cage with on a tall table by the way) and people could willingly pet her, when I went to go pet her all she did was sit and put her head back and at first it was like “oh, this bunny is so nice.” But then after just being with her for a while i Immediately fell in love. Know i went home straight away ans did alllll the research I could on rabbits and what they needed. But once I got her and brang her home. I sat with her for a while on the floor just so she could get used to me and she warmed up rather quickly. After a while I started noticing behaviors no one ever talked about. Like she started biting me for no reason even when I’d move for her she’d still come and bite me. Then she started circling and whenever I’d get close to her pen she’d run at my feet and i never knew why. Now I talked to a friend who raises meat rabbits and i called her up thinking she might know her breed (the women in the store said she “lost” all of hopes paper work. Which I don’t believe) and i sent her a picture and she told me she was a Felmish and a New Zealand White. Now she said they were a meat breed and i was very confused. Only because I was like okay… well does that mean they make okay pets? Or can they be tamed or what? And she couldn’t tell me and so I tried looking online like “Taking care of a meat rabbit as a pet?” Or “Meat breeds as pets care?” And nothing came up, well nothing that I was looking for. So I’ve joined this website hoping to get some advice on any differences there are or if there’s anything you could suggest.

[jerseygirl]

Hi LifeForHopw

Lots of rabbit breeds where initially bred for meat or fur (this is not a subject we’ll go into on here due to the forum rules). But they make lovely pets, no problem!

I think what you might be seeing is some changes due to hormones and your rabbit maturing. It’s something that owners of rabbits of all breeds/sizes might face at some point.
Have a read of this to understand more: https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/10/PID/940/Default.aspx

Do you have an idea of your rabbits age?

[Whiskers]

I am no bunny expert. I do have a 1 yes old Flemish giant who is still growing. I can tell you every Flemish I have seen are friendly. I will add this: when you first bring home the cute bunny allow them some space but talk to them. Keep noise levels down for a bit so they can have time to get use to their surroundings. Let the bunny come to you. Bunny biting is sometimes done out of fear or territorial behavior and spaying/ neutering will help with that.

No Flemish rabbits( if that is what you have) are not by nature mean bunnies. But they each are different and yours very well could be. I would take bunny to vet for a well check up. Mainly because I do not trust pet shop owners. They have a tendency to sell ill pets. Not all but some. So a well check with a rabbit savvy vet should be done as soon as you can. The vet can tell you what type bunny is and make sure it isn’t being naughty due to an underlying health issue.

Please keep us posted

[Bunny House]

When you bring home a bunny, they need to be left alone(besides feeding and cleaning) for a week so they can acclimate to the new house, then you can pet them.

I have. Anew zealand (her breed is bred for meat) and she is the sweetest darn animal I’ve ever had, usually the bigger bunnies are the sweetest.

Your bun is probably biting you because she wants to be left alone so she can adjust to her new house.

I agree with whiskers, a vet check up in the next week would be best so she can calm down and make sure if you haven’t, to read the bunny info tab on here and house rabbit society’s website for helpful information

[Author]

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