Ask Me Help Desk - Bunny behavior

Bunny behavior - licking and nipping

As most of you know I have 3 beautiful bunnies...

My two Mini lops are not the most sociable creatures and generally just come up and sniff you then hop away...

My Dwarf lop however loves scratches.

I was scratching along her back today (something I haven't done before, I usually stick to her cheeks) she turned around and started licking my hand...
I have had lickers before, I know it's a sign of affection (grooming) but after about 10 licks she would give me a nip. Not hard enough to hurt but hard enough for me to pull my hand away...

So.. does she like it when I scratch her, or is she nipping me to get me to stop?

Why would she start licking and then bite?

Shaz... my chinchillas do the same thing.. I don't think it's a don't touch me bite I personally think it's a this feel good how about I groom you and they just nibble a little too hard. Mind you also the natural salt that we sweat out might just taste sooo good to them that after them 10 licks or so they decide to taste you

When my bunny comes to sniff my hand I hold out a finger and she sniffs it then starts nibbling on it. What is that about?

Adam.. most small mammals see everything as food so they as a first response sniff then taste.. That's why you should always keep your fingers out of creatures cages unless they are your own and even then they will still nibble.. I know better then to stick my finger in one of my chinchillas cage because her taste test nibbles sometimes draw blood yet her female cage mate nibbles so gently to see if your edible.. the boys I have are between the two.. sometimes they nibble too hard but are usually pretty good. They see you, associate you with being the food giver and if you hand even smells like something they think they would like they are going to try it

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Cool, thanks binx!
I've only ever had them lick me before, was a bit worried I had done something wrong!

I guess it would be the same sort of thing Adam :confused:

I put this photo in the 'pet photos' thread but it's too cute not to post here :p
This is the bunny getting her cheeks rubbed, she closes her eyes and puts her chin on the ground then her ears splay outwards...

LOL no worries there shazz. I've had small critters all my life.. mice, rats, degus, chinchillas, rabbits (mini rex crossed with jack rabbits... and a holland lop named butterscotch) And they ALL do it.. start licking... lickity lick lick... then all of a sudden you feel some teeth then a nibble... its just their way of showing affection and tasting you... you might of handled something they like to eat before petting her or as I said the salt.. or it could have just been her"grooming" you even if it was a bit of a hard try LOL

Yea, she usually wonders around the room and then comes up to me and then she sniffs and the nibbles, never hard or anything.

That is a cute bunny Shazzy.

Be flattered Adam, you must taste yummy! Hehe
And thank you, she's my little baby.

What is the breed of your bunny and what is her name?

Dora the Explorer lol
And she's a Dwarf Lop ;)

(I don't know why the "dwarf" part... she weighs a ton :rolleyes: )

Aw Shaz, she loves you so much she could just eat you up. It's all good. :)

Thumper does that all the time. It's actually the reason that he was returned twice to the humane society. He's not a biter like his former owners thought, he's a nibbler.

He'll lick and lick, snuggle right in, and then suddenly you'll feel a little nip. It's never hard, because I know he could draw blood if he wanted to, it's just a nip, hurts a bit, but to them it's just a way to say they love you. :)

Little Dora is such a cutie. :)

Thanks Alty!
I'm really happy now!

Over 2 years and that's the first time she's licked me, weird little bunny.
Mind you since she was spayed she has been a much easier bunny to get along with!
More affectionate, no more destroying her cage (that's the babies job now :rolleyes: ) still doesn't really like the babies but I'll work on it once they are spayed, just leaving them separate for now.

EDIT - Post number 3,000 yay for me :)

Congrats on post number 3,000 lmao... and how are the babies doing now?. all bunnies are weird in their own special ways :D... just finally deciding that she wanted to.

Yay for you Shazzy. Congrats!!

I was at this pet store the other day to get a bigger cage for my bunny and They had this huge a$$ bunny there. She said it was 19 lbs and got up to 25 or 26 lbs. that is ridiculous. I never thought they got this big but this bunny was almost as big as my dog.

I used to have jack rabbit crosses and they were HUGE too.. its surprising how much a bunny can weigh sometimes

Adam, here's a big bunny.

Attachment 23681

I love that bunny Alty!
Apparently he breeds them and sells them for meat :(

I don't mean to steal a thread but just a question.My BF had a wild rabbit for years (8)and it used to eat all kinds of wood or anything in the house. Brillo pads,he loved brillo pads!
His understanding was because rabbits teeth will grow and grow and they need to pare them down?
Truth?
Also his rabbit used to eat spaghetti and suck it right up,The pictures are funny.

How do domestic rabbits pare their teeth down,if in fact that is true?
Thanks.

It is true Artsy.

Rabbits teeth grow constantly. You can buy stones (sand mixture) that they gnaw, it helps.

If they don't have something to help grind their teeth then a trip to the vet is necessary, they'll clip them or grind them down.

It's very important, as it can cause problems. Long teeth makes it hard for a bunny to eat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

I love that bunny Alty!
Apparently he breeds them and sells them for meat :(

Serves 6. ;)

Poor bunnies.. now I could see them being used for meat since they have so much of it.. but personally I can't bring myself to eat a bunny

Too cute to eat!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

It is true Artsy.

Rabbits teeth grow constantly. You can buy stones (sand mixture) that they gnaw, it helps.

If they don't have something to help grind their teeth then a trip to the vet is necessary, they'll clip them or grind them down.

It's very important, as it can cause problems. Long teeth makes it hard for a bunny to eat.

Thanks! I was wondering if that was maybe why there was a little nipping going on,like,help my teeth are growing.Thats cool about the stone. Thanks hon!

You can get stones for chinchillas to chew on too but I find they are more content with wood. When I had my rabbits I didn't know about the stones and I used to just take them into the vets twice a month to be sure they didn't need filing down

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Thanks Alty!
I'm really happy now!

Over 2 years and that's the first time she's licked me, weird little bunny.
Mind you since she was spayed she has been a much easier bunny to get along with!
More affectionate, no more destroying her cage (that's the babies job now :rolleyes: ) still doesn't really like the babies but I'll work on it once they are spayed, just leaving them separate for now.

EDIT - Post number 3,000 yay for me :)

Is it true than in Australia you are over run by bunnies?
And Roos as well?
Are you in winter when I in NY am in summer?
I love that I have an Aussie mate :)

Not sure about australia but I do know that in argentina its winter where here it is summer and that it's the same time there as it is here in nova scotia..

Is there still a huge long fence running across part of austraila to keep the roo's out?

Quote:

Originally Posted by artlady

Is it true than in Australia you are over run by bunnies?
And Roos as well?
Are you in winter when I in NY am in summer?
I love that I have an Aussie mate :)

Hehe yup, bunnies everywhere!
Roos aren't too much of a problem, they aren't endangered either though.

One of the biggest problems is Koalas! :eek: It's crazy in some places, they eat all the eucalyptus trees and then starve because there is no food left.
Another one is Camels... they are a huge pest.

And yup, it's winter, sitting in front of a toasty fire right now :D

Koalas!

You are so lucky.

Camels? Um, don't know what to say about that.

From what I remember reading, bunnies aren't native to Australia, some jerk imported them and because there are no natural predators they overtook the place.

But still. Bunnies and Koalas and camels, oh my. :)

I have to add.

Although I won't eat rabbits, refuse to, can't do it, they're pets, not food. The rabbits that the german farmer (the pic I posted) raises, are being used to feed the starving, so I really can't say too much about it.

Those rabbits are huge. He's importing some and teaching how to breed so that starving families won't go hungry.

Darnit. I'd love to hate him, but I can't. :(

Aww, it's a good and a bad thing at once.
You can't be too angry at him because he's doing it for a good reason but even if I was starving, my bunnies wouldn't be on the menu!
(Tempting as it is sometimes :p )

Yeah bunnies aren't native, so they introduced calesi (sp?) virus and myxomatosis, something one of my old bunnies died from :(
They introduced the viruses but NOT the vaccines GRRRRRRR

I'd rather eat my toe then one of my babies. Never going to happen.

But, there are people that do this for a living, and don't see these wonderful animals as anything but food.

My grandparents raised rabbits for food, it was hard.

Hmmmm, Kilala is a stinker, maybe a threat will work. ;)

Hey, I don't mean to take over this thread but I have a question.

What do you use for the bunnies to chew on to keep their teeth grinded down?

Or am I better off having her taken to the vet.

When can she be spayed? At what age anyway?

Oh and Alty if you come back and read this, I was told by this lady at a pet store that it was an english spot. What do you know about them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

Koalas!?

You are so lucky.

Camels? Um, don't know what to say about that.

From what I remember reading, bunnies aren't native to Australia, some jerk imported them and because there are no natural predators they overtook the place.

But still. Bunnies and Koalas and camels, oh my. :)

Just found the thread. :o

Camels : Do not annoy them, or they'll spit on you, they can spit far... VERY FAR! If you did, then run as fast as you can, zigzaging while running is better. ;)

Oh, you have koalas Shazzy! Such cuties! I know they however are lazy and greedy, lol!

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam_89

Hey, I don't mean to take over this thread but I have a question.

What do you use for the bunnies to chew on to keep their teeth grinded down?

Or am I better off having her taken to the vet.

When can she be spayed? At what age anyway?

Oh and Alty if you come back and read this, I was told by this lady at a pet store that it was an english spot. What do you know about them?

English spots and rexs are similar, but to be sure, I'd have to see her full grown. I still think she's a rex, but she's young. She could be an english spot, but, in my experience, pet stores don't know jack. ;)

She can be spayed at six months. Be careful when choosing a vet, rabbits are considered exotic animals and most vets don't know how to properly and safely do a spay or neuter on a rabbit.

Shop around, ask lots of questions.

As for the teeth, you can buy a combo salt lick and chew stone in most pet stores. They sell them at Walmart too. They're round, and connect to a metal hook that loops around the cage and through the stone.

Also, wood is good, but make sure it's not treated for anything.

Here's a few pics, one of an english spot, one of a rex. :)

Attachment 23728

Attachment 23729

So tell me, which one is which? ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Altenweg

English spots and rexs are similar, but to be sure, I'd have to see her full grown. I still think she's a rex, but she's young. She could be an english spot, but, in my experience, pet stores don't know jack. ;)

She can be spayed at six months. Be careful when choosing a vet, rabbits are considered exotic animals and most vets don't know how to properly and safely do a spay or neuter on a rabbit.

Shop around, ask lots of questions.

As for the teeth, you can buy a combo salt lick and chew stone in most pet stores. They sell them at Walmart too. They're round, and connect to a metal hook that loops around the cage and through the stone.

Also, wood is good, but make sure it's not treated for anything.

Here's a few pics, one of an english spot, one of a rex. :)

Attachment 23728

Attachment 23729

So tell me, which one is which? ;)

I can't tell you which is which.

I was mad when that woman was telling me what it was. She seemed like one of those ladies who thought she knew everything but I don't think she does.

What is the difference in the two?

The English spot has longer thinner ears and the spots are smaller.

They are fun loving happy rabbits, very good temperament. They usually weigh around 5 - 8 pounds full grown so the same as a rex. They're an old breed but but not that easy to find.

Rex's are known for their fur, their fur is extremely soft. They come in many colors but the most common is the white with black sots. They are a very common rabbit in pet stores and for breeding because of their gentle nature.

Here's a picture of my rex, Oreo, you can see the dewlap.

Attachment 23731

They are a full bodied rabbit, usually with a dewlap (a pocket of fat under the chin) which is common in the females of the species.

Both breeds are very similar and it may be hard to determine what breed you actually have, but I should be able to tell once he/she is full grown.

Right now, with the picture you sent, it's a bit hard to determine but my gut says Rex. :)

Oh, the other pictures I posted.

The top one is the English spot, the bottom is a Rex. :)

Hmmmm well Dora has a dewlap, but I think hers is just there because she is a tad overweight :o

For their teeth I buy these grain block things...
They are like a block of mixed grains with dried vegetables and fruits held together with an edible adhesive.
They are really hard and great for keeping their teeth down, I've never had to have a bunnies teeth cut with those.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shazamataz

Hmmmm well Dora has a dewlap, but I think hers is just there because she is a tad overweight :o

For their teeth I buy these grain block things...
They are like a block of mixed grains with dried vegetables and fruits held together with an edible adhesive.
They are really hard and great for keeping their teeth down, I've never had to have a bunnies teeth cut with those.

There are other breeds with a dewlap Shazzy, it's just one of the differences between a rex and a English spot, sadly only in the females though, so Adam may still have some trouble determining what breed his bunny is.

The breed doesn't really make that much of a difference, especially between a Rex and English spot. They have very similar personalities, growth and dietary needs, so it really won't change anything. :)

Ooooh OK so she may not be as fat as I think.

The vet never said anything about her being fat when she went in but that was a while ago now so I don't know haha

I have a question for you too Alty, I know you haven't had lops before but do you have any idea when their ears should drop?

All the other lops I've had their ears dropped at around 3 months... the babies would be about 5 months old now and Rikku has 1 ear up and 1 ear down and Lulus are both up!