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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Bonded Bunnies Fighting!

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    • summer
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        I was woken up at 6AM this morning to see my rabbits fighting! They were circling violently. 

        They have a cage connected to an x-pen so I separated them.

        They are both un-neutered males. The vet wants to wait 2~3 months before neutering because they are still small and even though Softie showed signs of puberty early (he started humping Shadow first), his testicles haven’t descended yet. They are approximately 3.5 months old.

        I moved the cage and the x-pen apart and put a partition between them so they can choose to see each other if they want. But do I have to keep them out of each other’s sight completely?

        Softie is slightly bigger and less active and is currently in the x-pen. He showed signs of puberty earlier but the vet said he could only determine that he’s 80% male so I think that means his testicles didn’t descend yet. He’s usually lazy and doesn’t exercise but now he’s really trying to get to Shadow. He chews the x-pen and tries to dig. Does that mean he misses Shadow or wants another fight?

        Shadow is smaller, more active, more extroverted and brave. He is in the cage. I noticed a lot of poo all over the cage the last week or so and I THINK it was territorial marking from Shadow. I think he just hit puberty now, but the vet easily determined he was male. He also wants to exit the cage but I’m sure it’s because he wants to go back to the x-pen area and play.

        I live in a studio apartment. I can keep them out of sight from each other but they’ll be able to smell each other. 

        The problem is my apartment isn’t bunny-proof or set up for them to be free range. Can I switch them between the x-pen and cage? They have out-grown their cage so it’s not big enough for exercise, but the x-pen is good for exercise. 

        I’m considering putting Shadow in the cage during the day and in the x-pen at night. Softie will go in the x-pen during the day and the cage at night. Would that be okay? 

        I’m fostering them and haven’t found forever homes because we’ve been really picky about the owners and want good ones for them. But now I’m worried that they’ll have to find separate homes. 

        It breaks my heart… I think Shadow would be okay but Softie gets scared easily and relies on Shadow a lot for support. 


      • missmissi
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          I thought i got 3 males in february. Two started fighting, thats when we found out 1 was female, so we took the more aggressive male back to the store i bought them from. We have a very small house, no room for separating genders etc.

          The vet said 8 months old minimal for spay or neuter, and now wre now that the store may have fibbed on the age of these guys by about 2 months! So now…. are you ready for this….? Now we have 6 babies too. We lost 2, so she had 8 total – omg that seems like alot for a first litter. Now im scampering to decide on a plan/design for and enclosure + 2 runs, 1run inside with the enclosure and another connected from the enclore by a cat door, to a larger run on our deck for daytime. A bit off topic, but funny now.

          So the babies were born on saturday May 30th, the vet accepted the male for neuter this past tuesday (after our vacation) and i noticed an immediate calmer mood. He was so sweet before, but is more docile and enjoys being petted more than before.

          Can you afford another Xpen? I understand what its like, living in a small space. Our living room is 150sqft, between a giant cage and 2 runs (keeping papa away from babies a bit longer) it is quite snug in that room right now. But its all mobile, and temporary, as may be yours.


        • summer
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            i have no space. i was already considering throwing out my dining table to accomodate for the current xpen

            if i get another one i would have to jump in and out of the xpens to go to the kitchen and bathroom areas.


          • Colin
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              I have a similar issue with my bunnies, and hopefully I am not hijacking your thread. I have two 5-6 year old sister bunnies. They have roomed together their entire lives with not too much issue. One is slightly bigger and definitely the more dominate one. Over the years she would occasionally mount her sister or chase/nip at her. Recently the chasing and nipping has evolved into biting out tufts of hair from her sister and chasing her and lunging at her. This happens at least a few times when we are home, but maybe more when we are gone. It only happens when they are in their house, not when they are running around my house. What can I do? I always thought they liked having each other around for company, but do I need to build another house? Should they be separated? Is there a way to get them to stop fighting (or the one to stop fighting)?


            • summer
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                After researching a lot and using my own judgement I have decided to separate them when I’m not home. One is in the play area and one in the cage. There is a gap between areas and I put a partition in between so they can not see each other if they want but they can see each other if they want too.

                When I am home the two areas are put back together and they can be with each other. At night they switch to the area they weren’t in during the day time when I was at work. In the morning before I go to work they are joined again and switched places when I go to work.

                Hopefully this method works until they can get neutered.


              • Bam
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                  Summer: I do think your problems come from having two intact bunnies together. They would need to be desexed, then rebonded. If the aggression between them has progressed too far by the time they get neutered so they’ve started to really consider each other the enemy, it may not be super-easy. So you should never let them “fight it out”, it only adds to the animosity and they actually can hurt each other really bad. (I know you’re not planning to but sometimes people do give that kind of advice esp with dogs, but with bunnies that are later going to be rebonded, it’s not a great idea.)
                  So it’s very clever to keep them apart when you can’t watch them.

                  Colin, I think you too should seaparate your bunnies when they are home alone. If not for ever so at least for now. They can hurt each others eyes f ex and that’s really bothersome.What makes rabbits that age suddenly develop aggression towards ech other I’m sorry to say I don’t know, but I do know it can happen.


                • summer
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                    Yes, I think it’s because they’re both intact and their hormones have started to change their behavior. I have an appointment with the vet at the end of this month for their next parasite shots so I will ask the vet again… but he has already said that they need to grow a bit more (2 months) before it’s safe for them to be neutered. In the last appointment, Softie was only determined to be 80% male so I’m guessing his testicles haven’t descended yet so it wouldn’t be safe to operate… although this is the case, he started humping and showing hormonal behavior first.

                    Shadow didn’t start humping until the night before the fight but Softie took a submissive pose and Shadow only humped for about 3 minutes and then stopped and groomed Softie. I think Softie is willing to be mounted but Shadow isn’t which is how the fight may have started.


                  • Bam
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                      IF one is a boy you really ought to separate them right away since the girl could get pregnant. I really feel I must stress this because I’m sure you don’t want à surprise litter and it can happen!


                    • Bam
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                        IF one is a boy you really ought to separate them right away since the girl could get pregnant. I really feel I must stress this because I’m sure you don’t want à surprise litter and it can happen!


                      • summer
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                          They are both males.


                        • Bam
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                          16836 posts Send Private Message

                            Oh thank goodness I misunderstood =)

                            Then all is well!


                          • A V
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                              My bonded pair fight to. If u have heard a rabbit a rabbit scream do to the other, then u MUST separate them. They only scream when they think they will die. U could wake up to a bun nibbled to death. Don’t panic, they possibly can bond again. With mine, they are separate when we can’t watch them, and together when we have a squirt bottle. Squirt in the face when somebunny is being mean. You can try taking them on a car ride and they get scared and cuddle. Another thing to try moving the cage, making a neutral territory. Also, U MUST GET THEM FIXED (if they aren’t) hormones will rage, and they cant help it. Contact ur local house rabbit society, they can offer some great bonding tips, even take ur bunnies and do their best to bond them. If it doesn’t become buds, they can sill live happy separate lives. I hope u have good luck with ur bunnies!

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                          Forum BEHAVIOR Bonded Bunnies Fighting!