Confused by bunnies’ behaviour

[kitmunplat97]

I’ve been separating them (female bunny) using a fence ever since the new male bunny came. They used to fight(?) through it, but after a week they just sniff each other and walk away. My female bunny also poops and pees all along the fence instead of her usual potty area. 

The thing that really really confuses me is every time they stop fighting, she lies right by the glass door behind the fence and even flops down (she rarely does that). Doesn’t that mean she’s relaxed and safe? Doesn’t she feel wary after fighting and having an encounter with a new rabbit?

Today, she managed to break into the boy’s room after bulldozing the fence down. They sniffed each other for a short bit and immediately did the circling each other thing, jumping and nipping. When she jumped into his cage unknowingly, he pulled some of her fur out too. Is this aggression caused by her entering his territory, and can be fixed by reintroducing them in a neutral space, or will they never get along? 

ps: they were both neutered months ago

[tobyluv]

That aggression may very well be because the female entered the male’s space. You need to make sure that they are kept separated until you can properly bond them. I find that a good way to bond is to have an x-pen. Put the bunnies in it along with yourself. It could also be helpful to have another person in there with you. Each of you can kind of hold a bunny down on the floor, petting them, while they are near each other. Then let them go. Some scuffling and humping is normal, but if the scuffling escalates into actual fighting, you are there to break it up and separate them. Rabbits can severely injure each other when fighting, so you have to be careful.

Here are 2 good articles on bonding:

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx

http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

[Reesebun]

Maybe they are both very territorial bunnies. Pooping and peeing marks territory, so that is why the female is doing that. And, as tobyluv said, the aggression is most likely from the female entering the male’s territory. What breed are they? Some breeds are more territorial than others.

Tobyluv I used to live in South Carolina! sorry that has nothing to do with this topic

[Author]

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