I have an unbred doe, within the last month she turned downright MEAN. Evertime I go to feed her she'll kick, grunt and paw at me. Any reason for the change of tenperment? Feeds been the same weathers been good, nothing has been molesting them at night?

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 09, 2000

Answers

You never said what breed she was. I have raised rabbits for many years and the only times I have does get mean is they are bothered by something and that doesn't always mean at night. The worse problem I had was the whole bunch got mean on us and it took one of us hiding at home and we caught a neighbor children who we didn't dream of them doing that kind of torment! Another thing that it probably is she is alone and in heat (which is all the time) If you don't want to breed her then I would suggest finding a young buck and having him fixed and after he heals put them together and that should calm her down. Let me know if it works for you!

-- AJ Janes (rambo@midamerica.net), January 10, 2000.

I have raised several rabbits at different times and at different locations. I must say up front that I believe in a NO TOLERANCE policy with mean rabbits. I have had one female rabbit by herself, unbreed and I had no problem with her. I don't believe a good tempered rabbit would be mean to you even if picked at by someone else. I don't keep mean rabbits because when they have babies, I have to check on them. I can't do that with a rabbit that bites. I can't deal with a mean buck either.... tho I don't think I have ever had one.

I did receive two rabbits that were from a lab once. I had on good authority that they were not injected with anything or such. These rabbits were a bit agressive a first but settled down after a couple of weeks. I gave them a chance because of their past. I would not have kept them if they had not settled down after 2 weeks.

You have to realize that some rabbits have bad personality traites and it is hereditary.

-- Kellie D (aspa1@ipa.net), January 10, 2000.

I have been raising rabbits for years and have only had a couple that were mean, I would advise you to to get rid of her, do not give her to someone else unless they plan to eat her. French Lops are usually have great dispositions but I had one that turned mean when her bunnies were born and when they were old enough to butcher I butchered the whole family. The other was a Checkered Giant,Flemish Giant cross she was also butchered.. Doris in Idaho.

-- Doris Richards (dorisquilts@webtv.net), January 10, 2000.

Had a english angora doe bought at 6 weeks, she never bonded with humans and was a pain to deal with until she was out of the cage then she would tolarate me. She had great blood lines so i bred her to my sweetest natured buck, she was a great mother,I weaned the babys at 5weeks so they wouldnt pick up moms bad habits [ handled them every day from day 3]they all grew up sweet natured like there father. at the end of her life [put to sleep because of breast cancer at 6 years] she had started to mellow slightly. All all i agree that for the most part that type of doe can be more trouble then thay are worth.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), January 10, 2000.

I've raised rabbits for several years, and have found that if the problem doesn't change after breeding, it likely never will. If your doe stays mean, stretch her neck and make rabbit and dumplings out of her.

-- hannah (hannahholly@hotmail.com), January 13, 2000.

I HAVE BEEN RAISING RABBITS FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND I AM 13 YEARS OLD. I HAVE HAD LOPS AND MINI REX. YOU DID NOT SAY WHAT BREED SHE WAS. I HAVE FIGURED OUT THAT THE REX ARE VERY DIFFRENT TEMPERD. SO I AM SURE IT IS THE SAME WITH OTHER BREEDS. SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU. -GENNA-

-- GENNA ALLEN (GMAMAGIC@HOTMAIL.COM), January 15, 2000.

how can you lot eat your pet rabbits.

-- (max5445@hotmail.com), January 29, 2001.

My oldest has a permanent scar under one eye from a doe,a blessing it wasn't any inch higher or he could have loss the eye. .....how can we eat "pets" ?...1st deside it isn't a pet.....

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), January 29, 2001.

If she has never been bred she probably wants to be bred. After she has the babies she should be calmed down!

-- MB (bunyluvmb28@aol.com), March 06, 2001.