Adult rabbits: 18 months – 7 years. As your rabbit reaches their adult years, they will calm down a little and settle into their own personality. You and your rabbit will start to know each other better and trust each other more. It's the time when your rabbit settles down to be a part of the family.
Certain changes in your rabbit's habits and appearance will let you know when they are entering their senior years. These changes can include: Becoming less active. Older rabbits won't have as many crazy, excitable moments and are generally calmer and more easy-going.
Around 3 to 4 months of age, the baby grows into a “teenager,” and then the hormones start to rage. This causes your dear sweet bunny to become aggressive, often biting, spraying urine, tearing at her cage or your clothing, destroying your towels, furniture, or electrical cords.
Rabbits are usually hyper because they are happy. Factors including age, time of day, and weather can also contribute to your rabbit's hyperactive mood. But 9 times out of 10, if your bunny is suddenly zooming around the room it means they're happy.
The behavior of an older rabbit differs in several ways. Senior rabbits, move about a little slower, but they are still willing and able to learn new routines. Litterbox habits are still present, but some older rabbits have trouble getting into the box (cutting down the side is suggested).
In the wild, rabbits would spend their time digging, running, jumping, rearing up, hiding, eating, socialising with other rabbits (and being alone sometimes too). To allow your pet rabbits to carry out their natural behaviours they need to be given plenty to do.
Rabbits are actually very intelligent, curious animals, and need plenty of stimulation to truly thrive. Bunnies that don't get enough time outside their cages can become grumpy, and end up misbehaving. Be sure your pet gets at least three hours of free playtime outside her home!
A biting rabbit is usually a very scared rabbit, and this may be due to one of the following reasons: They have not bonded with you, either because they are new to the household, or this vital process has not been completed yet. Attempts to pick up your rabbit may lead to several loud thumps as a warning.
Rabbit's ADHD is a rigid, over-focused type that can appear to be obsessive. Rabbit-types can often get stuck on a concept and cannot move forward. Rabbits have a hard time shifting from one activity to another.
You may worry that your rabbit will be lonely. If you spend a lot of time with your rabbit, they will undoubtedly miss you when you're away, the same way you miss them. The two of you have developed a bond and friendship that your pet rabbit also understands.
Male and female rabbits are distinctly different from each other, even after de-sexing. Males tend to be more easy going and relaxed while females are usually "the boss" of any household.
The whole bonding process can take as little as one day or up to several months – it all depends on your rabbits. Usually, it's a few weeks before your bunnies will be living happily together but it is well worth the wait.
Your rabbit may learn to accept being picked up, but down deep inside, in the most ancient recesses of the rabbit brain, chemicals are being released that cause physical responses to danger. Your rabbit will learn to "ignore" these, but even the calmest bun is indeed having a physiological response to being picked up.
Rabbit nipping or biting
A bunny nip is gentler than a bite. Bunnies will nip to get your attention, or to politely ask you to move out of their way. Rabbits usually do not bite, but if one does, generally it doesn't mean that he hates you.
The first thought in a rabbit's mind when encountering another rabbit is "are you superior or inferior to me?" Classic signs of dominance are mounting (this can be done by either a male or female), chasing, circling and, if the other rabbit doesn't submit, nipping and fur pulling.
The first thing you shouldn't do is hit them in any fashion. A rabbit will not construe any form of smack as a constructive comment on their behavior. Instead, they will become angry, affronted, and possibly even more aggressive.
Rabbits love being stroked on their foreheads and backs. Always stroke in the direction of the hair, never against the hair (unless you are checking for skin problems). Most also like being stroked behind the ears.
Tonic Immobility, often referred to as “Trancing” or “Hypnotising”, is a technique for handling rabbits that has been around for many years. It takes advantage of the rabbits' tendency, as a prey species, to “play dead” and stay immobile when placed in a vulnerable position, on its back.
Keeping your rabbit inside
Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised.