Help! Rabbit is attacking me!!

[user 8990]

Rabbits are a species that uses a dominance hierarchy to live communally. This informs the way they communicate with each other, and the way they communicate with us as well.

In "rabbit language," riding (mounting/humping), nipping and licking, and putting the head over the head of another rabbit are all dominance behaviors.

Running away, hiding, crouching with head low and ears lowered, and pushing the head underneath the dominant rabbit's head are submissive behaviors.

Growling, lunging, open mouth with pinned ears, and biting (which involves holding on and/or drawing blood) are aggressive behaviors. Like I mentioned above, sometimes young spring does go through a brief phase of this behavior that resolves after breeding or with increasing age and waning spring conditions. Other rabbits are permanently aggressive for one reason or another.

Submissive rabbits are generally a joy to work with. Without much other than gentle handling, they usually turn out to be outstanding pets, real loves. Dominant rabbits can be trained to also be great pets. They're the ones that have a spunky attitude that some people just love - they tend to be real characters.

Dominant rabbits often try to "be boss" which includes nipping (not actually biting) or bucking when you're trying to pose them. I see it mostly in rabbits between weaning and sexual maturity, when they'd be working out their place in the heirarchy. When a rabbit tries to "be boss," as @Sapphire16 suggests, immobilizing it by covering its head and shoulders with your hand and pushing it down to the table is a good approach. Hold it till it stops struggling. The dominant ones will really fight you; be gentle but firm and don't let them up till they "say uncle" by relaxing. When they relax, let them go and pet their forehead (or whatever they like). Some will get up and try again, and you'll go through the whole drama again. Some take more effort than others, but in general it seems that 2-4 rounds of training helps them get the message that you're the boss.

I have had little luck with aggressive rabbits, though. Sometimes you can train them to be tolerable, but I have found that they're never really trustworthy; the aggression seems to just simmer under the surface. The exceptions to this are rabbits that are aggressive because they have been abused. It takes quite a bit of time and patience but we have rehabilitated rabbits in that situation. But it definitely doesn't sound like that applies to your young buck.

You've certainly gone above and beyond trying to reform this guy. It'll be interesting to hear how it goes for your husband. Some people love a particular animal in spite of all arguments. My daughter just loved her neutered Netherland Dwarf buck, who would launch at her and hang onto her hand like a bulldog every single time she opened his cage. I just couldn't look.

That’s funny about your daughter’s buck! That’s how I feel watching my husband with this Lionhead with my husband except that he LIKES my husband and let him open the cage with no problem and let himself be pet for several minutes. Zero issues. He allowed him to put his head down, holding it there and he didn’t fight at all. I really appreciate that advice.

It’s me! I must smell like the other rabbits and pets and it’s making him feel territorial. Between the rescue does and angoras it’s a lot. It’s too cold here to move him outside with the other bucks until spring. I’m not sure what to do with him! Looks like my husband has a rabbit. He will not be bred.
His new name is Freezer Burn.

 

[hotzcatz]

Any bunny around here who even thinks about biting gets a solid thump on the nose. Usually it just takes once and they don't try to bite again. They don't get bred, either.

 

[user 8990]

Any bunny around here who even thinks about biting gets a solid thump on the nose. Usually it just takes once and they don't try to bite again. They don't get bred, either.

I wish freezer burn were slow enough that I could do that. He’s so fast he’s a blur when he gets going. My husband can open his cage and pick him up with no problem. I can even pet him when he has him.

 

[Bunnies4me]

I have a feisty buck, was sweet and lovely and about 4 months changed homes and has just been psycho ever since - he's 8 months now. Attacked me and attacked everyone else in my family. It's only because I need his genetics that I'm keeping him, and I know he came from good stock. Ive found Rescue Remedy helps tremendously, feed once or twice a day, spread onto a leaf.
Try also feeling fresh willow and mint, they are good for calming.
Park him beside a doe, let them get to know each other.
I've double housed my psycho buck beside the girl that I want to mate him with, took them a while to warm to each other but now they are friends. He's tried to lick her through the wire.
He's calmed down now and sometimes asks for nose rubs, but still hates being picked up. I badly need to trim his nails but I'm going to need 4 jackets for enough protection and its mid summer here!

 

[user 8990]

I have a feisty buck, was sweet and lovely and about 4 months changed homes and has just been psycho ever since - he's 8 months now. Attacked me and attacked everyone else in my family. It's only because I need his genetics that I'm keeping him, and I know he came from good stock. Ive found Rescue Remedy helps tremendously, feed once or twice a day, spread onto a leaf.
Try also feeling fresh willow and mint, they are good for calming.
Park him beside a doe, let them get to know each other.
I've double housed my psycho buck beside the girl that I want to mate him with, took them a while to warm to each other but now they are friends. He's tried to lick her through the wire.
He's calmed down now and sometimes asks for nose rubs, but still hates being picked up. I badly need to trim his nails but I'm going to need 4 jackets for enough protection and its mid summer here!

I’ve never tried rescue remedy for a rabbit. I might have to give it a try! Good luck with his nails!

Most of ours are pretty good or great about routine handling and even the EA buck that’s bad for grooming is tolerable and I can get it done without teeth coming into play..... but this evil little buck attacked my husband tonight when he was feeding greens with me. Freezer burn flew at the inside of his wrist with mouth open wide, I swear it was like Monty python. He broke the skin on him too. My husband’s response? “Enjoy your last greens, buddy.”
It was only a matter of time!

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

One of my Does (the quite aggressive one) latched onto my wrist with her teeth last night
I had already planned on not keeping her but I was between trying to sell her first or just put her down
Clearly I got my answer...

 

[user 8990]

One of my Does (the quite aggressive one) latched onto my wrist with her teeth last night
I had already planned on not keeping her but I was between trying to sell her first or just put her down
Clearly I got my answer...

You sure did!! It’s just not worth it on so many levels. My fear is that these traits will be passed on or in the case of a rehome, that someone else will be attacked. Rabbits don’t lie!

Well I was trying to move freezer burn’s cage outside where he’ll be processed and he bit me again, hard! He reached through the cage and bit the meaty part of my thumb on the inside near the wrist. Evil!! He’s going to taste so good

 

[user 8990]

Any bunny around here who even thinks about biting gets a solid thump on the nose. Usually it just takes once and they don't try to bite again. They don't get bred, either.

I actually got a shot in this morning. He went to bite me again and I got him right on the nose. In his case it’s all for naught but at least he is aware of my opinion on the subject!

 

[Skai]

I find it is always a hard decision to cull because of an undesirable trait or sickness/injury. It does help me a lot to have more animals rather than fewer during times like this. If I only had a couple of does, I would find it almost impossible to cull, and would probably spend much (too) time and money on trying to "fix" the problem. For me, personally, having more animals helps me to be more objective and see the bigger picture of being a responsible breeder. If I can think of the species I am trying to benefit rather than just the individual, I can better realize that I am doing something very good by culling responsibly. "Have dominion over creation". -Genesis
God bless you!

Thank you for this. I have a doe that I purchased when she was about 5 months old. She is now a little over a year old. Her first breeding was at 8 months, she nested like crazy, went 35 days and had two huge buns that I found dead on the wire. The second, apparently, successful breeding produced nothing. In addition to not producing babies, she is very aggressive and became more so after her first breeding. I bred her again a week ago and had decided that this would be her "3 strikes and you're out" moment. She's a large, well formed NZ and wanted at least one good breeder out of her before I culled her. Based on your remarks and others that I've read on thread, I think perhaps it will be easier to make the decision to cull her. IF she produces any kits this time around I'll think long and hard about keeping any of them either.

 

[Sapphire16]

Wonderful explanation, and so important in providing that rabbit "language", thank you! The more you know their language and how to respond, in my opinion, really enriches your relationship with your rabbit(s).

 

[RabbitDad]

I'm sorry but had to laugh. Instantly I thought of Monty Python, then shot hot coffee out my nose when you mentioned it.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about rabbits specifically... but my gut feeling is there is a reason other than just being mean.
Prior to considering the death penalty, I'd try changing diet, environment or even socialization. Maybe it's self-defense.
Again, I know nothing about rabbits but I wouldn't put up with that. I'd try nearly every other option first before "removing" it.
The only aggressive rabbit I've ever seen was 100 years ago when I was a kid. A cat made the mistake of attacking a rabbit. It didn't go well for the cat!
I hadn't considered it previously but rabbit teeth can be quite the weapon! And they apparently know how to use them effectively.
After visiting the vet, the cat survived... but never went near the rabbit again.

 

[Skai]

I'm sorry but had to laugh. Instantly I thought of Monty Python, then shot hot coffee out my nose when you mentioned it.
Unfortunately I don't know anything about rabbits specifically... but my gut feeling is there is a reason other than just being mean.
Prior to considering the death penalty, I'd try changing diet, environment or even socialization. Maybe it's self-defense.
Again, I know nothing about rabbits but I wouldn't put up with that. I'd try nearly every other option first before "removing" it.
The only aggressive rabbit I've ever seen was 100 years ago when I was a kid. A cat made the mistake of attacking a rabbit. It didn't go well for the cat!
I hadn't considered it previously but rabbit teeth can be quite the weapon! And they apparently know how to use them effectively.
After visiting the vet, the cat survived... but never went near the rabbit again.

If you're breeding for meat, then a vicious rabbit makes life really difficult and unnecessary when you consider that they are only good breeders for a limited time anyway. Some breeders cull on an annual basis, keeping the best of the best for the following season.

 

[RabbitDad]

If you're breeding for meat, then a vicious rabbit makes life really difficult and unnecessary when you consider that they are only good breeders for a limited time anyway. Some breeders cull on an annual basis, keeping the best of the best for the following season.

I recently discovered that I can't eat anything I raise.
I invested everything we have into our ranch to raise bison. Currently limited to thirty head.
Buffaloes aren't cute, cuddly animals so I wasn't expecting any issues. They are however quite magnificent. I couldn't sacrifice one if my life depended on it.
So... I was able to make a deal with both neighboring reservations to relocate offspring when they are mature enough to reservation land where they will be safe from hunters.
I also made a deal with a rancher in montanna to trade, head for head to maintain genetic diversity between both of our herds. Everybody wins!
I know this is way off topic too but if you don't know the history of the near extinction of North American bison, it's worth researching.
So... if my family ends up starving & homeless, I can at least say "I had to try".
Obviously I can't kill a rabbit either... unless of course it's in self-defense.

 

[Preitler]

Actually, I love rabbits with an attitude. Sure, I sometimes need to wear a thick winter jacket mid summer when I need to handle some of them, but I like that more than my docile ones

 

[RabbitDad]

I have a horse that matches your rabbit! I wonder if they are related.

 

[Dimplz]

I have a lionhead buck who sprays everyone, except his favorite person, me. I will watch him aim and fling pee about 4 feet out and 4 feet up. He aims for the face too.

I have watched him climb the side of the cage and hang on vertically. He could easily breed a doe if she were within an inch of that cage.

He might just want to breed. How old is he again? Is he 4 to 6 months old?

We gave our LH a humping ball and put him in a 20 x10 pen with it for 8 hours a day. He has calmed down quite a bit. He gets to release his pent up frustrations on the humping ball.

The ball we gave him is a bouncy ball from walmart. It is slightly larger than him, but he can get up there are dominate it. It was too funny the first few times he got fall offs on it.

 

[RabbitDad]

Have you tried counciling?
If that fails, try showing videos of rabbits being spayed or neutered.
As a last resort, explain the concept of retroactive abortion.
Don't hate, I'm kidding.

 

[user 8990]

So he was not terminally culled but was instead adopted by a 4H kid who knew what he was getting into.