Mean does

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
Hooligan-read the entire post. She wants them for breeding for meat rabbits. Spaying would not get her anywhere.

 

[hooligan]

Yes, but if she wants to keep them without the aggression it would. If she only wants to eat them, does the disposition matter?

 

[NewHopePoultry]

Spaying them isnt an option for a few reasons

1-I want to eat their babies, not them(unless I have too)
2-No vet around here spays rabbits

 

[hooligan]

Quote:
Well if you are wanting to breed for temperment you may either have to re-home them or work with them quite a bit. If the ppl you got them from did not socialize them properly that is probably what it is, you can will them over with treats like fruit and veggies hand fed and give them a bit of out of the cage time with you, if you have the extra time to work with them.

 

[warsawffagurl]

spaying also isnt cost effective...
it would cost anywhere from $200-$400 to spay a rabbit and it is more dangerous than spaying a cat or dog because the rabbits are especially sensitive to the anesthesia because they are very nervous creatures...
especially since you just want them for meat,
why worry about attitudes?? your just gonna eat the babies anyways...
when your around the does, make slow movements, dont startle them or they may attack you...
i hope you figure this out,
Jenn

 

[hooligan]

I pay $60 at my rabbit vet for a spay or neuter, not all are costly. Another vet that works with the rescue charges less than that.
I do agree though, if they are going to be eaten, why make them friendly unless the parents will be kept as permanent pets while the offspring will be food.

 

[Run-A-Muck Ranch]

Not to sound rude on this question...But are you 100% sure they are both females?
We had a male that was very mean towards other rabbits. Always wanting to fight. Didn't matter if it was a male or female. He also was a bit stand-offish towards us...
I have also had females that were mean...but only when already breed. I know I asked before if there was a chance one or both could be breed...
To me those are the only 2 times I have seen a rabbit be mean towards another rabbit or person...Maybe I (our kids) are just lucky and have nice rabbits...

 

[Southernbelle]

They could be in heat - that often makes mine restless and impatient. Breeding could take away that urgency.

As a teenager, I had a Jersey Wooly doe that would lunge at my hand whenever I refilled her water bowl. She was the BEST mother - always had good sized litters, never savaged them or abandoned them. The babies were beautiful and perfectly friendly (with frequent handling.)

I'd give the girls a chance and see what kind of mothers they are.

 

[Skyesrocket]

I understand what you mean about never having a mean rabbit until you got these rabbits. The same thing happened to me and I was suprised by it.
I have raised lionheads for years and never had a mean one.
My daughter brought her neighbor's rabbit here because they didn't want it anymore. Now I know why. She is mean and aggressive.
When I go to feed or water her she comes at me with her ears back and strikes at me with her front paws and tries to bite.
I have a lot of patience and enjoy working with troubled animals. I read up on rabbit aggression and have been working with her, with no luck so far. She likes other rabbits, dogs, cats...everything but people.
I put a long sleeved sweatshirt and gloves on to protect myself and put her in an outdoor run, in case it is cage aggression. She will take treats from my hands and then grunt and smack me with her front feet. She isn't afraid to come up to me. But everytime she does, it's to attack me.
So, I guess mean does do exist. I would have never believed just how mean they could be until I saw it for myself. She has been here for a couple of months now with no change in behavior.
Good luck with yours. I just wanted you to know that I can relate to what you are dealing with.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

Both are females for sure. Both have dew laps and I checked them the day I got them. The owner held them for me.

If the mom is mean,then I cant mess with the babies with her around. Not all will be ate, some will be pets, which is why I dont want to breed he does if they are going to be mean.

I'm trying everything I can thnk of,. They each have their on cage now,so we will see.