Bonded pair suddenly fighting

[bashfulbunny]

My bunnies have been bonded and living together for 5 or 6 months. My girl, Binky, is a little temperamental and stubborn and doesn’t like being touched by humans, even now, and my boy, Bashful, is very loving and cuddly and gives me lots of kisses… They’re both neutered and spayed and up until now we haven’t really had any issues with them two living together. They’d sleep in cute spooning positions and cuddle up to each other constantly, and any time I went near Bashful, Binky would get the hump and jump infront of him.

The other night my partner, who has always always always dreamed of having a continental giant (and had rabbits when he was a teen before his mum got rid of them) decided he wanted a little baby of his own as my two were here before we got together (we live together at my parents, he was the one who bonded my two as I struggled to do it before). We went out and brought home a new boy, Barnaby. An 11 week old agouti French lop x continental Giant. Of course we should have done more research, as he is unneutered and his hormones set off Binky as soon as he was in smelling distance. Of course I didn’t dare put him near their hutch and was planning on keeping them separate anyway, maybe even keep him as a house bunny once he outgrew the hutch we built him. But like I said, the minute he was in smelling distance Binky started attacking Bashful.

The minute this happened I moved Barnaby downstairs and out the way, put them in a pet carrier with hay (which they didn’t fight in at all) and cleaned the room and their hutch top to bottom with white vinegar. This didn’t seem to help as she continued to chase Bashful around their hutch as soon as I put them back in.

It’s been a few days and although they’re fighting less they’re still chasing and still fighting. 60% it’s not even Binky attacking, it’s Bashful running away from her which seems to aggravate her as she loves him and he seems terrified of her. Since they’ve been bonded he became very reserved and different to himself, and since they’ve been fighting he’s been running to me for help (on laminate flooring which he HATES and avoids whenever he can, so I knew something was wrong) and he’s been very cuddly which hasn’t happened for months….

Do I keep trying to bond them and let them chase or do I have to accept the facts and keep them separate? I feel bad because I feel like Bashful doesn’t want to be near her whereas it’s all Binky wants, even if she does attack him… It’s gotten to the point where I haven’t seen Bashful eat, and I currently have them separated trying to get him to eat something.

We’ve found a new home for Barnaby because of all of this and he leaves tomorrow, as sad as I am about this because he’s literally another Bashful, so sweet and gentle, and I know my partner loves him so much already. But I know his new home will treat him well and I know it’s best for my buns.

[tobyluv]

I’m sorry that things didn’t work out with the new bunny. Bringing a new bunny into the house can sometimes cause a bonded pair to start fighting or to be agitated.

I think that you should keep Binky and Bashful apart for a few weeks, then start rebonding them. Since Barnaby will no longer be in the house, you hopefully will be able to get them back to how they were before.

[bashfulbunny]

Is that what is causing her aggression? Because he’s still in the house/his scent is still in the house? I’ve cleaned the room with white vinegar/water solution top to bottom but obviously she can probably still smell him from downstairs, or even on me when I come up from where he is. I’m going to hate giving him up, especially since he’s come out of his shell so much since being here. But I can’t wait to have my bonded babies back together

[tobyluv]

Rabbits have a keen sense of smell and they are also very perceptive, so they will know when there is a new rabbit in the house, even if they are not housed near each other. A rabbit can definitely get aggressive or defensive or have a change in personality or habits when another rabbit comes into their territory.

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