Bunnies fighting after 4 years being close friends

Hi,

I'm new to this forum, and looking for a solution for this problem.

I have 2 bunnies: Busmalis and Patatje (Little Potatoe in English). I have them since at about 4 years, both from the Wildlife Rescue Centre where I work. Busmalis is a male bunny, Patatje the female. They are both neutered.
It took 1 week to couple them. It went easy; in the beginning they chased eachother, riding, but no fighting.

Until June this year they have been very close friends, they were always together. Except for 1 time that they were fighting, when another bunny stayed at my place for some time: but that was easily solved by moving this other bunny.

They live indoors and have the whole 1st floor which is at about 80 m². They are never in a cage. They have their 'corner' with cardboard, their litter box, toys and they adore the place in front of the stove . Both are very sweet to people, and they show that they are enjoying themselves.

Anyway, all went great until June. We were on holiday for 1 month so we decided to bring them to a friend who has bunnies as well. They have been there before and that went perfect. Her 2 bunnies live outdoors, so there is no contact. Now she took care of a 3th female bunny of a rescue centre which leg was amputed. This bunny didn't stay in the same place, but 2 rooms further. Plan was to move her new bunny outdoors after her leg was healed, but then she got 5 babies.

And since then problems started in between Busmalis and Patatje. Now they are biting, fighting, chasing, ... Back at home (after trying first) I gave them a time out for at about 2 weeks. I prepared a neutral place on the 1st floor where they never have been. I've put 2 cages next to eachother, and every day, several times I let them run together in this place. There is a box where they can hide and I try to distract them with some sweets. Like they say in some manuals/forums I try to leave them together for as long as possible, and split them up before they are fighting so they have a good feeling when they go back in the cage. But that's almost impossible. If I wasn't there to distract them, I'm sure they would start fighting immediately.
Busmalis looks afraid and runs to the box a lot of times, but they are both attacking and biting.

Does somebody has advice? How long can it take do bond again? Or is bonding impossible when they are fighting so hard?
I don't want to split them up and rehome 1 of them, and I hope I can find a solution. If not, I have to think of rehoming which will be a sad decision, but the interest of the rabbits is the most important issue. But I want to try everything that is possible first.

Thanks a lot!

Sophie

Hi Sophie,

Sorry I don't have any advice but just want to say that I sympathise with you, It never ceases to amaze me how complex these little critters are and you really wonder what goes on in their minds. I sincerely hope someone can offer you advice, other than what you have done so far.

Can you look at the triggers of the fighting? Is it maybe that one of them is now fighting through fear afterm aybe the other instigated something originally?

Also, have both had a full vet check? Fighting can occur if one is not well and whilst it's likely it's to do with the upheaval, medical problems shouldn't immediately be ruled out.

It's difficult to know if that's the trigger, but Busmalis is showing fear. Patatje is not scared and is checking this new room constantly. But they both attack suddenly, when they see eachother.

They had a detailed vet check in April. This veterinarian is specialised in rabbits and discovered the beginning of teeth problem with Busmalis (his teeth in the back of his mouth, no idea how they are called in english ). He didn't show any problems at home, was eating normally and showing normal behaviour. So I was glad that she discovered this in a very early stage. So she operated him, and he recovered well.
At the end of May I went back for a check-up and everything looked very good.

Since 2 days I have a major break through!
Putting them together in a cat transport box and 'scare' them by walking around, helped. In this box they don't fight and they even start licking each other. This evening they were outside the box in their neutral area, face to face, flat on the carpet, enjoying the cuddling. Not yet enjoying eachother, they both want attention of the other one, but they don't want to give it (one puts its head underneath the other one, and the opposite). They are still not ok, and the days before it got quickly into fighting again, but it's improving. Oef!