My Rabbit just attacked me!

[SarahFair]

Rabbits are crazy critters!!

I dont see how they put them in petting zoos!!

 

[cassie]

I simply do not put up with aggressive critters. There are too many nice ones out there to put up with that and temperament is hereditary. I am not about to perpetuate that. I formulated some recipes for older rabbit. My favorite is to put the cut up pieces in a baking pan, pour on a can of cream of mushroom soup, add some frozen peas and some cut up potatoes. Cover pan and bake at 325 until tender, maybe an hour or so. There is a certain satisfaction to be had from eating a rabbit that savaged your hand or killed her litter for the second or third (and last) time.

 

[Toast n Jelly]

When I've had nervous rabbits big or little, I open the cage door and press their head down to the floor. I've never had any problems with attacks. This makes them submissive...practise on ones that you're not afraid of. Really, it works.

 

[vicki2x2]

I agree, I do not put up with aggressive animals either. Too many nice ones! I did have one doe for a while that was very aggressive, but unlike most, once bred, turned into a sweetheart! Go figure! When not bred, she was a royal pain in the butt! We were raising meat bunnies and she was an excellent mom and producer, but she went as soon as I could replace her as I was worried my little one would be "helping" and get bit. She was usually more bluff than anything, but just in case. There are always exceptions to every rule, but general bucks are much more even tempered and make better pets than does. Also for my little ones, I prefer Holland Lops, I have rarely had any problems with them and they are so sweet. Of course there are many other good breeds too, those are just my favorite.

 

[SarahFair]

Still no babies.

I have yet to go back in the hutch either. A couple few times Ive petted her through the wire..
But Im still a little scared to clean her hutch!

 

[mom2jedi]

Can you post a picture of her? Maybe one of the breeders can tell if she's preggo.

 

[Ashmeade]

She may not be pregnant.

Rabbits can be highly agressive__especially if they are not spayed or neutered. Space can also be a factor, as well as the rabbit having things to occupy her time and keep stimulated. A bored rabbit that does not get regular exercise can most definitely turn agressive and will need working with to correct this behavior.

And as far as rabbits being docile creatures, etc. I remember vividly an AMAZING video I saw of a rabbit ATTACKING and chasing a HUGE snake up a tree to get it away from her nest.

 

[RabbitMage]

Quote:
Then you'll either need to work on her aggression or get rid of her. If you can handle an aggressive rabbit, then you can decide if you WANT to deal with her aggression or not-assuming her attitude hasn't changed. But if you can't get yourself comfortable enough with her to even touch her or do the basics of taking care of her, you either need to cull her or find her a home willing to deal with her attitude.

 

[birdlover]

GREAT thread!!! I read it with total fascination. I started with one little dutch buck 3 years ago and, last year, decided to have him neutered so he could have a girl friend. (They run loose in my laundry room.) Well, unbeknownst to me, the girl friend I brought home to him was already pregnant and I now have 9 rabbits!!! One lives free outside (a neutered buck) and all but my original bunny and one of the offspring are girls. I had to remove the little buck the other day because my original dutch had started beating him up since he became of age. Anyway, I knew nothing about rabbits when I got Mr. Shredder and everything I've learned is through interacting with them.

(Sorry this is so long but I want to tell you one thing that surprised me!)

Annabelle was the doe I got for Mr. Shredder. When one of her daughters had a litter, SHE (the grandmother) was the one who would attack me if I got around the babies! She wasn't vicious but she definitely let me know she didn't want me messing around the nest. She would jump at my hand and kick it. I thought that was so unusual since she wasn't even the mother but the grandmother!

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU RABBIT PEOPLE: Can two males live harmoniously amongst females? I feel so badly for the little guy but Mr. Shredder and him went at it the other day with tooth and nail, fur flying, etc. It was ugly.

 

[SarahFair]

Today I got brave and went in. I firmly put my head down on her neck and petted her with my other. With the hand I was petting I scooted her over, picked her up, and set her to free range.
She did kind of struggle when I picked her up but I was careful to not let her get me like last time. Once I set her down she seemed fine