Aggressive bunny

Recently my netherland dwarf has started being very people-aggressive. I've had him for over 3 years and he has always been lovely. He was neutered years ago so that's not the cause. Whenever I am in the rabbit shed he will attack me, he doesn't just do it when I go near him, he comes looking for me and starts circling looking for something to bite. If I hold a toy or willow stick up to him he lunges at it and goes crazy but isn't bothered about them if they're on the floor. It's only if it's me holding them up to him.

He is behaving fine with his girl bunny. As far as I know he isn't in pain, he is eating fine so no teeth problems. He is moving about completely normally so I don't think he's hurt.

I think it may have something to do with the other rabbits he now shares the shed with. He can't get to them, there's always at least one mesh panel between them. He doesn't act like they bother him though, he completely ignores them when he's sat next to them. His biting habits did start around the same time they moved into the shed though. I was just sweeping the shed floor and he ran at me and lunged at my finger

Any tips on how to stop him biting?

Do you do their shed and then his? it may be that you smell like the 'intruders' and he just wants to take his anger out. Is there anyway of doing him first? or maybe get something strong smelling to cover the scent?

other than that i would say bring him something yummy each time you enter the shed, sort of re starting your bonding with him so he can see you aren't that bad

They're all in the same shed, two hutches have cat-flaps leading outside to runs and one hutch is left open in the shed so they have the floor space. The other hutches are locked so they can't get to each other. This bunny is one of the pair that have the open hutch with the shed floor. He doesn't act like the other rabbits bother him, he goes right up to their hutches and is fine.

I will try the yummy treats idea

I've a feeling he is smelling the other buns on you and that's why his behaviour changed when the other bunnies arrived and of course he will also be protecting his bunny girl as he will smell the males. Try cleaning his side out first before the other buns as that might make a difference.

Great minds Amelia66

yes I feel the same ^
the aggression sounds both territorial and protective and the coincidence of it starting when the other buns all started sharing the shed can not be ignored,
if they had all been bonded as a group I feel this problem would not exist but he seems to be on alert as he sees them as well as you an intruder.
as maysie says try cleaning his side out first I hope you find a way to resolve this

I tried cleaning his hutch and shed floor first today before cleaning the other hutches. It made no difference, he was still circling my feet and trying to lunge at my hands. Had to lock him away to get it done. I gave him treats to try and calm him down, as soon as he was done he carried on. I'm hoping that when my 2nd shed is built and my french lop moves out he will get better. He will move into her hutch and run combo without free-run of the shed floor which might help since he won't be able to get next to the other hutch. The 2 runs are side by side though, if he still doesn't get better I can leave a barrier between them. I do think he only has a problem with me though, he doesn't try to bite the other rabbits through the mesh gaps.

Hopefully he can learn to love me again

xfallenxskyx wrote:I tried cleaning his hutch and shed floor first today before cleaning the other hutches. It made no difference, he was still circling my feet and trying to lunge at my hands. Had to lock him away to get it done. I gave him treats to try and calm him down, as soon as he was done he carried on. I'm hoping that when my 2nd shed is built and my french lop moves out he will get better. He will move into her hutch and run combo without free-run of the shed floor which might help since he won't be able to get next to the other hutch. The 2 runs are side by side though, if he still doesn't get better I can leave a barrier between them. I do think he only has a problem with me though, he doesn't try to bite the other rabbits through the mesh gaps.

Hopefully he can learn to love me again

just keep on doing it but try to go in there and just spend time with him and his wifey bun so he does not see you as a threat just wear clothing that he can't hurt you through,
I feel it's just him acting on his first reaction in protection mode, he will be territorial until you prove to be ok in his mind xx

I am so sorry to hear this love, I do hope he returns to his lovely self. Please let us know.

Hugs

Jo xx