mature bunny- suddenly nipping

Acacia is over 6 years old now. She used to nip only when I was sitting in her pen and was in her way. She's a good bunny, she's shy when she's out. We bought a couch in February or March and we take her out and give her blankets to dig and straighten out on the couch, which she loves.. However, pretty recently, she has begun to nip when we take her on the couch. She has gotten my .er... 'chest' area and mostly our sides or arms . The thing is she nips only clothes, she won't bite our skin or anything. And I don't find she bites hard, it reminds me of a warning bite. When she does it she is pushed away or put back in her condo.

I thought it was maybe insecurity from knowing her vulnerability with the cat roaming around but I put him in a room and closed the door and she still nipped. It makes my partner uncomfortable which, in turn, makes her uncomfortable.

I like having her out on the couch with us bc we can all watch tv or play video games together and I don't have to worry about her being alone but the nipping is a problem.

Do you think it's insecurity? And how can I curb the behaviour?

Do you think she might be trying to tell you to move, that you are in her way? Every once in a while Thumper will nip my sleeve but only my sleeve not my skin and usually it's when he wants to get between me and something else and so my arm is in the way.

The only thing I know that you could try is to gently push her head down like a momma bun would do.

Well, she bit my chest while I was sitting up and she was on my lap. And she really only does it on the couch, when I take her in on the bed she never nips and when she's on the floor she doesn't either.

My bf usually sits on teh couch with her and so he jumps up when she nips, this I know is reinforcement if she wants him to move. She peed on him last night.

It sounds like maybe she is claiming the couch as hers and might not want you guys on there, maybe so she can run around and play on it. You either need to try the pressing the head down thing, and let her know it's not her couch and she's not the boss, or don't let her on the couch. You can also try a loud clap and saying no when she does it, and if she does it again take her off the couch.

I will try the head thing. I know she's easily submissive as I had her trained before.

Thanks It's awful hard to be mad at her though lol

Sounds like what I'd try. Ours will dig and bite at our sweatpants and we sometimes get nipped but that isn't on purpose, they are just after the clothing and we have no idea as to why.

Well for chewing clothes, I think Acacia likes the squeaky sound it makes when she grinds her teeth on things like fleece and baby blankets. That's the only thing I can conclude bc she tries a lot of different clothing articles in her teeth. I would compare it to the sound you hear internally when pulling woolen mittens off with your teeth in the winter. Freaks my sister right out lol

i personally wouldn't let her on the couch if she shows such behaviour. Much like a toddler who has a tantrum. You simply don't give into such behaviour. It's not being ANGRY with them, it's loving them enough not to let them give in to poor behaviour as it doesn't reflect well on THEM.

Think of it as... encouraging good behaviour and discouraging poor behaviour.

I know but my place is so small and she can only come out on the couch or bed or in on my bedroom floor. Well, last night I had her on the couch and she was making forts and socialising with us and being very good. She nipped my side once, I think she was only grabbing my shirt to add to her fort but I pushed her head and she got really offended. Like, if bunnies could blush and think about what they did. I told her to be more careful. Anyway, no pee and no nipping!