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Forum BONDING Bonded Brothers Having a Spat – HELP!!

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    • StickeeUK
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        Hello lovely fellow rabbit families,

        I have two brothers Merlin and Zapp. 

        Bit of a history : We had Merlin originally and my sister had Zapp but due to some family issues we took on Zapp as well when they had both reached 6months.

        Before bonding both were neutered and left for 2 months then we started the bonding process which was to be blunt a nightmare and I would never want to relive the experience again as i’m sure lots of you would say! I spent 3 weeks sleeping on the floor outside various parts of the house as I was slowly upgrading their space from the bathtub, bathroom, hallway, spare bedroom, and then finally the living room. BUT as i’m sure you are also aware seeing them together these last 10months is amazing they are always running around causing havoc, happy hopping, grooming each other etc etc it’s so lovely. 

        HOWEVER – Last 2 weeks they have had 3 spats! 

        One was in the middle of the night where we were awoken by that dreaded scrabbling sound. It wasn’t too bad as we rushed into the spare bedroom where they go at night and stopped it before it could be anything big. 

        The second was as I was in the living room in the evening. In ran Zapp and then in ran Merlin tail up in that aggressive way chasing him, I quickly jumped up and grabbed Merlin to let Zapp run off and after a couple of mins let Merlin go to which he hops straight into the room and starts grooming Zapp!! *face palm*

        The third was last night in the middle of the night. Again it was Merlin going for Zapp but once Zapp had hopped out the way and we turned the light on in their room Merlin stopped in his tracks. 

        I was just wondering if anyone knows why this might be happening after 10months of bonded bliss? Also if this has happened to anyone else and what it was you did or would suggest doing to help them stop the bickering? 

        I am worried as twice in December I will be leaving them for just over 24hours here on their own while I travel back down to London for a night to spend time with family and friends (like I have done a few times previously) and obviously I don’t feel comfortable doing that if they are bickering occasionally as I’m so worried that while i’m out if they bicker I won’t be here to stop it! But splitting them up op for 24hours also isn’t a option as they do really rely on each other loads now. 

        I will be so grateful to any replies, thanks in advance – Vicky


      • LBJ10
        Moderator
        16870 posts Send Private Message

          It sounds like Zapp is the aggressor here. Who was the dominant bunny?


        • StickeeUK
          Participant
          2 posts Send Private Message

            I would say it was Merlin that is the aggressor as Zapp is always the one running away and Merlin is the one chasing him with his tail in the air, and when bonding it was always Merlin going for Zapp as well.

            Zapp was the dominant one, much to Merlins disappointment he gave a good run for it while bonding but backed down in the end so i assume it’s Merlin challenging again occasionally. We haven’t had anything happen since I posted *touch wood*

            I have also seen Merlin go for Zapp as well when Merlin wanted in the tube Zapp was playing with.


          • LBJ10
            Moderator
            16870 posts Send Private Message

              Whoops, sorry, I got that mixed around. Yes, Merlin is being the aggressor here. I think you’re right. I think there is a little bit of a power struggle going on. Perhaps something signaled to Merlin that he could try to make a power grab, so to speak.

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          Forum BONDING Bonded Brothers Having a Spat – HELP!!