Most rabbits love to be cuddled and stroked when approached in the right way. Few like being held or carried as being so high up from the ground makes them feel insecure, however, many will happily sit on your lap or snuggle up next to you for a cuddle.
Their behavior can seem more aloof and they typically have more destructive tendencies than male rabbits. However, that doesn't mean female rabbits are bad pets. If you are willing to take the time to bond with your rabbit they can be incredibly affectionate and loving pets.
Start by training the rabbit to touch its nose to your hand. After that, work towards petting the rabbit, rewarding with clicking and treats. As the rabbit approaches you, hold out your hand. If your rabbit comes up to sniff or touch your hand, reward the rabbit with a click and a treat.
Breeding rabbits
The female rabbit (doe) does not come into heat (oestrus) as do other animals. The doe will accept the male (buck) at any time of the year.
Rabbits are a social species and have evolved to live in groups. In the wild, rabbits do not live alone. Rabbits kept as companions are not biologically different from their wild counterparts and so their innate need to be kept in the company of other rabbits is just as strong.
Do – House the rabbits separately but close together. They will get used to seeing each other and to each other's scent if they are close to one another. Make sure the cages are not close enough for them to be able to bite each other. Do – Be prepared for this to take several months.
Rabbits are social animals, so a single rabbit is likely to feel lonely and depressed. Rabbits can live alone, but you'll need to provide your pet with the attention (company, petting, grooming, exercise, playing, and enrichment) that a bonded rabbit partner would provide.
Female pet rabbits may be seen mounting other rabbits (both males and females) as a show of dominance. Female rabbits tend to become more aggressive, aloof, and territorial when sexually mature, even showing aggression and irritability to their owners.
When a bunny circles a person's feet or legs, this behavior usually indicates sexual or mating behavior (even when your rabbit is neutered). It basically means “I love you.”
Licking: Licking is a way bunnies groom each other. If your bunny licks you, it's a sign of affection as you'll often see pairs of bunnies grooming each other this way. A bunny lick is a sign of a bond.
Let her explore you first, and learn that you are not a threat. Give a few small treats as you are getting to know each other. Eating is a social activity for rabbits and eating together builds trust. Small portions of carrot, apple, herbs, or oats are offerings a rabbit will appreciate.
Their behavior, including litter training, will become easier to manage as a result. Generally, female rabbits come across as grumpier. However, their characteristics can also be more pronounced than males, and many people prefer this quality in their pets.
If they are sitting upright and their front paws are 'boxing' at you, they are likely very unhappy. Vocalising. Rabbits don't tend to make much noise and when they do it's a sign they're feeling very threatened. You may hear them grunting or growling and in extreme cases, they can scream.
Males tend to be more easy going and relaxed while females are usually "the boss" of any household. In the wild, rabbits pair up into couples with the female digging their burrow and the male defending her and the burrow against intruders.
Gender plays a part, with males tending to be slightly more outgoing than females. Because rabbits have such distinct individual personalities, however, it's impossible to conclude that one sex always makes better pets than the other.
Which pairing of rabbits is best? The best and easiest pairing is a neutered male and a spayed female. It is possible to have any pairing of males and females, especially if they've been brought up together from birth, but a male and female is the most likely to get along.
Tail-wagging
If you notice your rabbit wagging her little tail, she's not showing you she's happy, she's doing this as a sign of defiance. If you're putting her back inside her run after a fun garden roaming session and she wags her tail, she's back-talking you: 'I don't want to go in yet!
Rabbits might nudge, push, or toss things around as a form of play, to solicit attention from you, or as a territorial behavior meaning “mine!” or “get out of the way!” Rabbits can be very territorial and particular. They like their things arranged a certain way, and can become upset when their things are moved.
Unspayed female rabbits may experience extreme mood swings as their body moves through a pseudo "heat" cycle. A rabbit does not experience a true estrous (heat) cycle; rather, she ovulates 9-13 hours after mating.
In domestic groups, the dominant rabbit is often female. In fact, the females are generally the more aggressive and territorial rabbits in Margo's warren, which is odd, given the fact that they are all spayed and not protecting their burrows or their young.
According to the popular saying; 'rabbits poop every time they hop. ' While this is a slight exaggeration, rabbits do poop more often than most other household pets. Rabbits produce more than a hundred poop pellets per day due to their high-fiber diet. Rabbits urinate between 2 and 8 times per day.
Many people ask, can rabbits live alone? Rabbits are social animals, and, like us, can suffer from loneliness. Though there are exceptions, most rabbits want and need another rabbit for company. For this reason, we always recommend keeping rabbits in groups of two or more.
The signs of an unhappy rabbit
Pulling at their fur and over-grooming - or not grooming at all. A change in feeding or toilet habits. Drinking a lot more. Repeated circling or pacing up and down.
At a minimum, you should spend at least an hour with your rabbit every day. However, 3-5 hours (or even more) are ideal. You do not have to be giving your rabbit undivided attention during this time, but instead, make yourself available to interact with them if they want to.