My 3-month-old rabbit nips my hand. Is it aggressive? How to stop?

Hello. I would definitely consider neutering Bun Bun in case this is testosterone/sexually based aggression. If so, his attitude should improve over the next 4 weeks. This could also be aggression based on resource protection. Some rabbits become a bit aggressive when an owner is changing food or even putting out fresh hay or treats. A rabbit can perceive this as a threat to his "stash". But the easiest thing to do is neuter him, & of course, never reinforce his aggressive behavior ( some people will see this as cute & funny & inadvertently cheer the behavior on ). Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It doesn't say how old your rabbit is, but if you got her as a baby then she has likely become sexually mature. In female rabbits, this can cause them to become aggressive and not like to be handled. The best and easiest way to solve this problem is to get her spayed. This will remove the hormonal influence on her behavior and help her to settle down. Once she has been spayed you can start working with her and getting her used to being handled and patted again. Keep these sessions short and positive, and use a bit of her favorite food (a little bit of banana is a favorite of my bunnies) to keep it a positive experience.

Hi there and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Usually aggression in our pets can be altered a bit by removing excess testosterone with neutering. While it is not impossible he is lonely-likely he is frustrated with the removal of his mates each time. Neutering may help with his need for female attention as well as curbing unwanted aggression due to excess testosterone. I hope this helps!

Sorry you are having this issue. She is most likely being territorial as she is becoming sexually active. Females can get very territorial and aggressive when they reach this stage. My honest recommendation would be to have her spayed - that will diminish any sexual drive and that may help decrease territorial behavior. I suggest you read these articles. They may help you try to correct this behavior. I still recommend spaying her..... http://rabbit.org/faq-aggression/ http://www.wikihow.com/Socialize-Your-Rabbit Hope this helps. Best wishes!

It sounds as though you are described territorial behavior. Female rabbits that have been spayed usually don't develop this type of behavior once they get to be several years old. She may be becoming defensive or fearful if she has an illness she is trying to hide and therefore protect herself. Some illnesses to consider in this case are dental diseases, urinary tract diseases or sometimes skin issues. If she has not had a recent (3-4 months or less) veterinary examination, I recommend starting with an examination to ensure there are no health issues involved. Beyond that, you could consider placing her in a new cage or hutch, feeding her directly from your hands (if possible to do safely) and giving more social interaction time outside of the cage.

Hi Kian! You have some great questions. Even when keeping just one rabbit, I don't recommend leaving a buck unneutered. When male rabbits become sexually mature, they can act aggressively. The hormones can trigger territorial and dominance aggression. The most common signs of sexual maturity in a male include circling you, mounting you, or trying to bite you. Unneutered males can also frequently spray urine. I do urge you to have Fluffy neutered before four months of age. I hope this helps!

Lilly may be biting out of curiosity or stress. Wash your hands prior to handling to remove any scents from food and limit handling to prevent stress. If she starts to bite, return her to her cage until she settles down.