Hi,
I could really use some advice as everywhere ive searched doesn’t completely relate to my situation. I am new to having rabbits and ever since i got my two i am absolutely in love and i have become obsessed. Ive been getting such enjoyment out of them and think they are lovely pets. I feel i have dedicated a lot of time and effort in to doing whats best for my two bunnies and i have been none stop researching everything that i can do for them and i am keen to learn as much as i can about them.
well anyway, I got two male rabbits on the 18th Jan and i believe they are about 5 months old, according to the age the pet store gave me. I had them both neutered on the 17th Feb and everything went perfectly and they healed really fast. I have had no worries about anything to do with the rabbits and they seem to be settling into life with me very well and i have come to learn they both have unique personalities. They are in a spacious pen with plenty of stimulation and have regular time outside of this too, with the run of two bunny proofed rooms. I also stick to a routine with the times they are let out and fed etc, so they are used to the day to day happenings.
All has been well between the two rabbits who happily play together, sleep side by side and groom each other. Up until yesterday morning when i have come to feed them. Rick and Daryl were sitting side by side in the litter box but i noticed Rick looked as though something had spooked him. Upon closer inspection i can see lumps of his fur all over the pen and he has a piece of his ear missing (about 2cm in size). This has absolutely devastated me and i am really upset that i havent heard the commotion in the night to possibly intervene. Rick has allowed me to clean his ear and this doesnt seem like it is affecting him.
I rearranged their pen so that i could give them both a space but ensure they can not get at each other. Rick spent about an hour or so being a little bit jumpy when Daryl approached him but there were no signs of aggression from Daryl. I spent most of the day just observing them yesterday and it didnt take long before they were seeming like everything was back to normal. I reintroduced them after a couple of hours under supervision only and their behaviour seemed fine. They were separated last night because i am too nervous to leave them alone together as i dont want this to happen again.
Today has been pretty much of the same. no unusual behaviour. Although this afternoon i have noticed daryl trying to hump rick again and this only happened before they were neutered. Rick has also started putting his chin on the floor when daryl is sitting above him. I thought everything must be fine and i thought i could turn my back and go to the kitchen and as soon as stopped supervising them Daryl has gone for rick again, luckily there is no serious injury, just fur all over from rick.
Its quite sad because it seems as though rick isnt quite sure why this is happening and there has been no sign of retaliation, he seems to just accept it. Daryl is also all of a sudden getting this angry look in his eye after they have been separated.
I really am so unsure as to what to do as i dont want to do anything that might have really serious effects on them and i am trying to minimise the situation as much as i know how. Is there any way past this? Its really upsetting as my partner is saying there must be something wrong with Daryl and I should get rid of him. To me this is not an option as i have committed to both of these rabbits equally and care about them regardless of their traits.
Also i dont know if this helps but Rick is very outgoing, will always pop up to say hi and then pop off to explore and play. Whereas Daryl has always appeared rather timid, taken longer to explore areas and has only ever tried new food if he has seen rick do this first and if hes sharing the same piece, he also tends to do the odd thump when he comes out of his pen and it almost seems like its a reassurance for him and he does this regardless of the situation he is in because when he comes out to play he always seems very happy running around and doing binkies.
I know this is a long post but i am grateful for any advice anyone can offer.
thank you