noise rabbit made

Question
Thank you so much for listening to the noise and responding so fast.  I have given you positive feedback about 5 times.  Do you think that she will eventually stop making that noise because she does not try to bite or even get aggresive.  I just worry because i dont want it to turn into anything bad because I have 2 young children.  She is a very sweet bunny loves to be pet and licks us all the time when we are in her face.  Just want to put my mind at ease and feel that it is not a big deal that she makes this sound.  I had another rabbit in the past for 10 years and he never made anysounds at all. Sorry keep asking about it but again just a little nervous because of my kids

Thanks again in advance
Jen

Answer
Hi Jen,

in my opinion (grain of salt taken), I would not say it is anything to worry about.  What I would do, however, is simply not try to pet her or reach for her food after you have given it to her.  She is trying to tell you she does not like it when you 'appear' to her to possibly be going for her food.  

Rabbits will respond to you when they don't like what you are doing.  A little protest grunt like this is the mildest 'criticism' you can receive, and it appears from your writings that it does not escalate into anything more, which tells me she is a very good-tempered bunny.  Especially considering that she is so affectionate to you and your kids at other times.

Generally speaking, however, it is best that you and your kids leave any animal alone for awhile when they are given something to eat.  Some don't mind, but many just prefer to eat their meals without distractions.  And you need to listen to what she's telling you, even though your other bunny may not have minded or been vocal about it, she is and you need to realize she has a different (and more typical of rabbits) personality and expresses herself differently.

The only thing that would make a rabbit become aggressive is abusive behavior (or perhaps becoming sexually mature and not be spayed or neutered).  Intact rabbits are more hormonally-driven and can become more territorial/cage aggressive.  But as I tell everyone, rabbits are not offensive animals - they act the way they do out of defense to something.  So if they are mishandled and/or abused in some ways, they can become aggressive and decide instead of waiting for hands to hurt them again, they will go after the hands first, hoping to prevent an incident.

But I would not worry about your little gal here.  Just respect her space when it is feeding time, let her alone to eat, and don't try to fiddle or clean the cage up while she's eating.  She will be much happier and you will get a lot less 'protest grunts' from her.  But her behavior is very controlled, she's not looking to fight with you, she's just verbally saying 'don't do that now'.

I would recommend going to the House Rabbit Society web site (www.rabbit.org) and at the top of the page, searching on the topic "behavior", "grunt", "noises".  They will bring up related articles that you can print out and read.  They have excellent sections on all aspects of rabbit behavior.  Another good book is The House Rabbit Handbook, and even, believe it or not, Rabbits for Dummies (I have my own copy).  

Glad you wrote back with your concerns.  I never mind helping someone who genuinely is concerned for their rabbit's welfare (and their own too).

Lee