My Rabbit Nips around my Nails??

[scribblesmcdoodle]

I am a first-time rabbit owner of 2 5-week-old rabbits. I have owned them almost 1 whole week. They are Mini Rex rabbits and I have one girl and one boy! I picked them up from a local farm and plan on getting them neutered/spayed once I have the financial opportunity. I read online that nipping and biting is more common in desexed rabbits, but I don’t think that’s related to the issue at hand.

My boy rabbit (Timber) will sometimes licks my hand when I lay and play with him, and occasionally nibbles my hand a little bit but not hard. My female rabbit (Tiny) does the same thing, however when she nibbles, she tends to not only nearly bite but also she will chew on my nails. I’ve started clipping them shorter to keep her from having the opportunity, but I was wondering if maybe anyone knew why she was performing this behavior? I started making loud “screeching” noises kind of like it hurts when she chews too hard, and it has helped a little bit.

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

They are really young to be at a new home. Rabbits shouldn’t really leave their mothers until they are 8 weeks old. Baby rabbits usually nip or bite in an attempt to figuring out what you are.

 

[scribblesmcdoodle]

They are really young to be at a new home. Rabbits shouldn’t really leave their mothers until they are 8 weeks old. Baby rabbits usually nip or bite in an attempt to figuring out what you are.

I did recognize that, I was told the mother had died, and I’ve been following an online feeding guide for them as far as meals and stuff along those lines are concerned.

 

[JBun]

It could be she is trying to groom your fingernails off. Licking and occasionally nibbling at things, is how rabbits groom themselves and each other. If a rabbit is grooming another rabbit and comes across something hard stuck in the fur, they will nibble and try and remove it from the fur. This is what I would suspect your bun is trying to do. She's grooming you and trying to remove those hard objects (your fingernails) from your 'fur (skin)'.

 

[Cloverhouse]

Rabbits groom each other and sometimes they will groom their owners. They are notorious for biting buttons off, they think they are removing a burr from your fur! I've had them go for hair ties, fingernails, thick seams that stick out, etc. I think your pulling your hand away and screeching is a good idea, lets them know they went too far.

 

[Button]

I have had a rabbit "groom" my hair.. Let me say it wasnt very fun when he bit off a chunk despite me getting upset i looked it up and found its a bonding thing.