FIGHTING FEMALE BUNNIES

[smoggy]

I am hoping you can help please – We have two female house rabbits and got them at 8/10 weeks old from a reputable petstore. They are exotics – lop eared, semi dwarf, semi harlequin, beige. They are sisters named Meadow and Willow and were both spayed at 6 months. They have reached sexual maturity now and are roughly a year old. Both bunnies have a ‘free range’ lifestyle…They live/sleep in our living room which opens into a dining room (converted playroom) They also have the run of the garden which we have bunny proofed. We bought a large second hand hutch outside so as they can shelter there if they wish.

 

Recently they have begun to fight (almost two weeks ago), at first it was hard to see who was chasing who and both bunnies had lacerations to head and body, I am certain now however that it is Willow who is the aggressor. I have been conversing with our vet and she has only come across spayed female fighting in one other bunny couple and this pair are separated to this day. She says however that she knows lots of female couples which are happy together.

 

As soon as our Buns started to fight I separated them, one had to sleep in the outdoor hutch and one inside alternating and also one in and one out at all times during the day. We introduce them to each other every day to try to keep the bond alive and as long as they are supervised and in a confined space this goes very well, they have started to groom each other but its mostly Meadow grooming Willow. We unite them mostly on their little bed (a wooden dolls bed which they have adopted) in the kitchen where they feel insecure and seek each others comfort, the floor is tiled and they hate that. Bringing them onto neutral ground in this way seems to work well…

 

As a result, today I have decided to try moving them into the kitchen. I put a bit of carpet down under a counter…their bed, baskets, chew stuff and litter tray…It is working well so far, although they are still a bit jumpy & have circled each other a couple of times. I feel that at night we should continue to keep them apart as I am still concerned that fighting may begin again. I am hoping however that housing them on neutral ground for a while and letting them into the garden separately (they were fighting out there as well as indoors) that in time their instinct to try to dominate and fight for territory might pass.

 

Meadow and Willow were a very loving pair, together much of the time (less as they got older) but they have always slept together in the middle of our carpet and dolls bed and lovingly and constantly grooming. Willow has lost a lot of weight and they both are possibly depressed. Willow doesn’t show much of an interest in the garden anymore and I haven’t seen her frolicking and running around or grazing for a while. Meadow seems quiet but is OK, if they get a chance in the open…fighting begins with the tail sniff, a chase, then fight with fur flying everywhere, they thump, tails are up and I have heard some squealing in pain during one fight. It is all so distressing and their ‘routine’ has been turned upside down to say the least. I dread having to separate them permanently, I feel this would be tragic and I cant imagine finding an owner who would give one of them a life with complete freedom in safely…I am against caging any animal.  

 

They are great characters, like cats in many ways. They lick my face and groom my hair and tolerate our children very well (the kids are continuously coached in handling them and have a special affinity with animals) We have learnt that the Buns prefer not to be held but are very affectionate with us in general. Is it possible do you think for us to work this out without having to keep them separated? Have you come across this type of fighting before? I would appreciate your advice or guidance…

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

     

[Stickerbunny]

My pair is male/female, but they had a fight that lasted for weeks and I had to keep them separated only allowing contact through the baby gate. I removed all tunnel toys, things they could get under like a den, etc under advice from Sarita. After two months of baby gate interaction, they went back to being best friends and live together again. I don’t cage either of mine, but when they had to live apart, I just kept a baby gate up between Stickers part of the house and Powders part of the house and let them each have a couple rooms. Sometimes buns fight, you may never figure out why, but dedicated bonding should rebond the two. If you have a rescue in your area, some of them will help with bonding difficult pairs.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome!!

I would take them to the vet first before trying any bonding or behaviour training. The change in behaviour coupled with weight loss worries me. Certainly bonded pairs can have issues, but this sounds to me like maybe somebunny has something going on health wise and this could be the cause of the fights.
I always say you need to rule out medical issues before looking at ways to solve a behavioural issue-a rule of thumb, a big change is likely a medical issue.

[smoggy]

Thank you very much…

 

Your advice is very helpful, i will make an appointment first thing. I have been regularily talking to our vet since their first post spaying fight. I figured that the weight loss was soley due to the stress caused by the disruption, confusion, frustration…You are right however, there could be a health issue. My vet said that as long as Willow was pooping that it was probably best not to frighten her with the journey, but its time she had a check up although i think/hope things may be improving…     

[smoggy]

Hi there

Thanks so much for your interesting reply…it gives me great hope. I will continue working on the bonding, it seems that moving them to the kitchen which is completely neutral territory is working quite well. I kept them apart at intervals during the day today as usual, one inside and one outside and will separate them for the night, but we have had a fight free day. Just some circling but mostly they have shown that they are relaxed and that is such a relief…we could cut the tension with a knife!    

[Beka27]

I would keep them together in the kitchen if they don’t fight all day. And then continue this for at least a couple weeks. You can also try removing everything if they seem territorial over toys/hidey houses, etc…

[smoggy]

Hi there
Thank you, i am amazed so far at how well the kitchen is working, i have set up a great little space for them and although they have circled eachothr a few times and Meadow is definetly nervous at times of getting bitten, it has gone extremely well. They are completely relaxed on their bed, both grooming, lounging, sleeping and content. I let them out separately in the garden and one is in the outdoor hutch at night just in case. But it is like at present that because they are confined to a small space, where they cannot chase theres nothing to fight for…I left them alone today while i nipped out which worried me, but they were wrapped up together sleeping and i hated to disturb them and thank God when i got back it was the same. They definetly seem to be in better form all around and more energetic. It would be so cool if this works, i know they say bunnies don’t forget but i am hoping that if i give them enough time to bond again that they will forget their instinct to fight. Fingers crossed!

[smoggy]

Good news on The Buns…
There has been tremendous excitement in the house and i would not have had the courage to let bunnies together again if not for advice from a breeder on an ‘irishrabbits’ forum…
The kitchen, neutral ground continues to go well but now the Buns are wandering boldly back into the living room having mastered the slippy floors and this is where Willow trys to show who is boss. There was one mouth full of fur yesterday morning but with loads of coaching and encouragement we’ve made so much progress…
Willow gives Meadow the sniff and that sends her running, so then there is a chase but that seems to be what it is reduced to now. Meadow is really nervous of getting bitten but is sticking to her guns and is not going to let Willow evict her!
I plan now to let them settle back into the living room gradually…their old stomping ground and will move their food back in soon. I will tackle the garden next. They have been fighting just as much outside unfortunately…Willow is marking everything she comes in contact with and is on the prowl. However I do think that she is responding to ‘be nice’, ‘no fighting’ and then loads of praise when a connection is made without aggression…And they are grooming, relaxed and affectionate together at times in the living room despite the nerves! Heirarchy is being established but please God with a lack of ‘blood’ at long last!
I may let them out into the garden later and see what happens, the dreadful wet weather we’ve been having hopefully will be a bit of a distraction! I long to see them grazing together again!…
The vet as said was very pleased with the girls and although she has cautioned me about letting them sleep together again and about keeping them apart while fighting…I have been working hard at trying to unite them, researching and taking calculated risks which seems to be working well.
The bond is very strong between them and my vet agrees that it is likely that i will get ample warning if serious fighting sparks up again.
I will continue to cross my fingers, keep at it and be careful!

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