when i put my hand into her cage she bites me but when she's out she's fine, pls help before i lose too much blood
2007-05-08 04:14:14 · 16 answers · asked by Hana-Lu 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
she's trying to tell you that you are invading her territory. www.rabbit.org this is a website that i give to all rabbit questions. amazing info. also gives info on rabbit behavior .
2007-05-08 04:20:48 · answer #1 · answered by punkbun03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits tend to be more territorial in their own cage whether the rabbit is a doe or buck. However, does go through periods of increased hormone levels that can make some of them turn mean in their cage. Once you take the rabbit out of it's cage you are on neutral territory. It works the same way with cattle. If you go into a cattle lot where you feed the cattle all of the time for the most part the cattle won't bother you. However if you head into part of their pasture that you don't normally visit they will chase after you because they regard it as their territory instead of mutual territory.
My suggestion for grabbing your mean rabbit out of its cage is to distract it with one hand in the front (keep its eyes focusing on that hand). While the rabbit has its eyes focused on your one hand, reach around with the other hand from behind it and quickly get control of its head. Make sure you move quickly. If you move too slow you'll get bitten. I equate doing this to handling rattlesnakes. You distract them with one hand and grab them with the other hand to control their head.
After you get a hold of the rabbit, set the rabbit on a carpet outside of the pen and pet it on the forehead between the eyes. Petting a rabbit in that spot helps soothe them. The more regularly you get your rabbit out and work with it, the more it will tame down. It can be a long arduous task.
Sometimes the doe will tame down after it has given birth to a litter. I think having a litter helps lower their hormone level after they've had the litter.
Sometimes another cause can be another rabbit closeby that is mean. Sometimes if you have a mean rabbit that gets easily excited, it seems like it can turn the rabbits in cages surrounding that rabbit to be mean.
2007-05-11 14:13:58 · answer #2 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some rabbits do this because they are cage aggressive. I have quite a few who will bite me inside the cage, but are fine once I get them out. Sometimes they never grow out of it, sometimes if you work with them then they get over it. She might be ready to be bred and that is the cause for the aggression. Dwarfs and other small breeds are sexually mature when they turn 5 to 6 months old, bigger breeds sexually mature later. If you need any further help feel free to contact me via IM. Good Luck.
2007-05-08 11:24:58 · answer #3 · answered by neth_dwarf2004 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Many rabbits are cage protective, especially if she is unspayed. Also rabbits have a blind spot right in front of their face, so they can't really see the hand that is reaching in and you might be scaring her.
I'd suggest that you don't reach in, just open the door and let her come out on her own, and if she isn't spayed, get an appointment for that with a rabbit savvy vet.
2007-05-08 15:04:45 · answer #4 · answered by Martha G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your rabbit may feel threatened whilst in the cage kinda like a rat being corned
Get it more used to u out of the cage
2007-05-08 13:34:35 · answer #5 · answered by ikerro 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yo stop with the YO and leave ure rabbit alone she dnt wnt u anywhere near her coz she obviously hates u. No she probably jus wants her own space give it a week and she shld b back to normal.
2007-05-11 05:32:24 · answer #6 · answered by Mr Arsenal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Female rabbits in particular can be very territorial. Many non-spayed female rabbits are fierce defenders of their cages. Spaying will dramatically decrease this tendency.
if/when you get her spayed don't withhold her food as this will cause problems that may reasult in death rabbits do not vomit and they recover from surgery faster if they eat
take a look at these links
http://www.wisconsinhrs.org/Articles/The%20Biting%20Rabbit.htm
http://www.ontariorabbits.org/diet/behavinfo6.html
http://www.morfz.com/spay.html
shelly
xx
2007-05-09 03:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by shelly s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i to have a rabbit and experienced the same problem. there may be an acidic smell on your hands which rabbits detest. just slowly talk to it (i no it sounds stupid but try it) and be gentle and calm around it. she may also be stressed because of an illness or unknown babies. research about it. im sure it will be fine. my rabbit loves me now. hope you 2 fix your relationship.lol. god bless
2007-05-12 07:37:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yo hannah ! its because does are territorial of their hutch and space - best thing to do is get her spayed this will improve her behaviour, stop the hormones flying round
2007-05-08 12:48:24 · answer #9 · answered by Swan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because you taste good through the cage wire
2007-05-08 11:41:27 · answer #10 · answered by Derek J Kered 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋