2 of my bunnies have been very very happily bonded for about 2 1/2 years now, Petey and Jess have always lived beside each other up till their bonding, they lived inside in a spare bedroom and their bonding went so smoothly at the time, there was no scuffles, no mounting, no chasing, they just sniffed each other and immediatly snuggled up together, for the past 2 years they have been very happy, always washing each other, snuggling up, looking after each other, I couldnt have asked for 2 happier bunnies.
HOWEVER........... last September due to putting our house on the market my happy house buns had to be put outside into hutches, bought them the biggest hutches i could afford (Lavender lodges from P@H) anyway, they have got along fine seeming to enjoy the outside living, BUT over christmas we had the startings of squabbles in the marital bunny hutch:roll: suddenly the chasing and mounting which they had never done started, the main culprit is Jessica, she always seems to start it, obviously loose fur has been pulled out from Pete, it doesnt happen all the time but from what I can make out it seems to happen more if they go for some days without getting out into the run (due to bad weather, i dont like my bunnies getting cold and damp) but even the other day when they had a good long time out playing in the run while i was cleaning they started off ok playing together then when i gave some carrot tops Jessie started getting a bit bossy and the the chasing and mounting started and then it just went on and on, Petey submits until he gets fed up and then he chases and mounts her, im not too worried because like i said it isnt happening all the time but I want my happy contended pair back and i dont like to see them at each other. I am a little over protective of Jess to as shes blind in 1 eye so im always worried Pete will knock her other eye and hurt her.
Has anyone had this happen with bonded pairs before, I would have understood it if they had started it as soon as we put them outside with the change of living quarters etc, but they were fine for at least 3.5 months before they started this.
do you think it could escalate to where I might have to separate them? could they see it as a game or are they just 2 strong willed buns who wont argree on who is boss??
HOWEVER........... last September due to putting our house on the market my happy house buns had to be put outside into hutches, bought them the biggest hutches i could afford (Lavender lodges from P@H) anyway, they have got along fine seeming to enjoy the outside living, BUT over christmas we had the startings of squabbles in the marital bunny hutch:roll: suddenly the chasing and mounting which they had never done started, the main culprit is Jessica, she always seems to start it, obviously loose fur has been pulled out from Pete, it doesnt happen all the time but from what I can make out it seems to happen more if they go for some days without getting out into the run (due to bad weather, i dont like my bunnies getting cold and damp) but even the other day when they had a good long time out playing in the run while i was cleaning they started off ok playing together then when i gave some carrot tops Jessie started getting a bit bossy and the the chasing and mounting started and then it just went on and on, Petey submits until he gets fed up and then he chases and mounts her, im not too worried because like i said it isnt happening all the time but I want my happy contended pair back and i dont like to see them at each other. I am a little over protective of Jess to as shes blind in 1 eye so im always worried Pete will knock her other eye and hurt her.
Has anyone had this happen with bonded pairs before, I would have understood it if they had started it as soon as we put them outside with the change of living quarters etc, but they were fine for at least 3.5 months before they started this.
do you think it could escalate to where I might have to separate them? could they see it as a game or are they just 2 strong willed buns who wont argree on who is boss??