Random Aggression?

[vkalvacev]

So I have a doe who just had 2 litters, and she was fine yesterday when I let her out of the cage into the run for a bit. Unfortunately, I think she may have killed some of the kits from her first litter when they were out with her (I really honestly dont know) and today she has suddenly become aggressive. My cousin was looking into her cage, and when I went to her, she bolted at me with her tail up (not sure what this means, but its unusual for her) and scratched me a few times. If I move to the other side of the cage, she moves with me. if I wave my hand in her face, she wants to bolt. What is this?

 

[Lizzie098]

Maybe she dosn't want you to take her out of her cage? She also might be afraid that you are hurting her babies. So she feels she needs to protect them(and stay with them?). And after my rabbit has babies it takes a while until she is completely settled down. Hope this helped! And good luck!

 

[vkalvacev]

Either way, I always have to grab her by the skin to get out (dont want to touch her belly) and its never a problem. And the babies we always take out for most of the day so they have room to run around and give the mom a break, so they werent even there. Overall shes fine with my touching them.

 

[M.R. Lops]

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/
Go to link above. Its helpful on understanding rabbit body language.
Also, she might just be protective of her kits.

 

[dipence71]

Wow Great site thank you!!

 

[M.R. Lops]

You're welcome

 

[vkalvacev]

Yes but the kits were on our inclosed porch (just to give her a little break from them during the day/socialize them) and she never does that, only in the first week or so after birth, so I just dont get it :/

 

[crazyturkeydesigns]

From reading your other threads, it really does sound like she's stressed. Maybe she's stressed because you took the babies (although you've done it before, if they are the youngest litter I wouldn't recommend taking them out again until they're weaned), maybe it's this sweltering heat, or who knows what. Rabbits aren't the toughest animals and it doesn't take much to stress them out; and when they are stressed they will act differently.
So I would look at the things that could be stressing her out and try your best to remove/stop them from happening. And then give her some time. Don't handle her for awhile (unless you have need, of course) and keep her separated from any rabbits aside from her newest kits. I'm so sorry you've had to go through all of this, but sometimes the hardest experiences are the ones we learn the most from!

 

[vkalvacev]

Thank you. I just feel bad because although each section for my buck and my doe is larger than usual, its small when you have 8 kits in there, let alone 10, who at 4 weeks cant fit around a large cat bowl full of pellets lol. I just take them out for socialization and so they can run around. The only issue I had is with the last litter, I would take her into the run with them and there was always something for shade, but she would either jump out of the run OR if I covered it with a tarp, she would dig. I'm telling you, great mom but a little nuts. I have noticed that when I put them back in the afternoon, she seems a little happier/not really sure since she gets pestered at them trying to get milk all the time at the wrong time lol. And thank you, I've been going EVERYWHERE trying to find out what is going on and why everything has been so weird! :/

 

[crazyturkeydesigns]

Mini Rexes are generally good moms, but I know what you mean about being a little nuts lol. Hopefully things will go smoother when/if you breed her again. And hey, 8 kits in a litter is like HUGE for a mr! So she's probably like "holy crap all of these babies!!" Rabbits only have 8 teats, too, so she's operating at max capacity.