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Fighting!! Bad news - Update 02/11

K

Kavanne

Mama Doe
Neutered m/f pair

1 year old

Came home this morning and fur is EVERYWHWRE.

I went to brush my teeth after putting their pellets down and then.. Massive commotion. Come in and they are circling and pulling more fur.

They are now Sitting at opposite ends of the room. I've given them a pile of pellets each but they both took a few and are now ignoring them!!!

What do I do??? Help!!!

The only thing I can even begin to think it could be is referred aggression as I was at the rabbit rescue yesterday and maybe my clothes smelled of other bunnies??? I've taken those clothes away and put them in the washing machine but I need to get them to eat???
 
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If they've just had a scrap you may find they need time to calm down and sort it themselves, as long as it didnt turn into a full fight, it should be okay - you may want to check them over for any wounds.

When B&G had a big tiff (my fault) - they didnt go near each other for the best part of an hour or do anythign else either, but then it was like nothing had happened an hour later.
 
Ive given them a pile of oat hay and readigrass each as well as they are eating a tiny amount but no way diving in like they would normally. And when I get home in the morning the pellets are usually gone in minutes.

Another thing is there are some people staying over the house last night, could that have set them off? It's no one they've not met before (my landlady's daughter, and my landlady's boyfriend) but I wasn't here so could they have been worried?

Could it have been fireworks?? I left the window open last night, I just didn't think about that at all...
 
GrahamL said:
If they've just had a scrap you may find they need time to calm down and sort it themselves, as long as it didnt turn into a full fight, it should be okay - you may want to check them over for any wounds.

When B&G had a big tiff (my fault) - they didnt go near each other for the best part of an hour or do anythign else either, but then it was like nothing had happened an hour later.
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Yeah I picked them both up and checked them, can't see any wounds or blood... yet! They have ignored each other for about 15 mins now... the vets are calling me back when a bunny specialist is in.
 
It could be referred aggression as you say - could the other people staying smell like other animals perhaps? Do any of them have dogs/cats etc?
 
GrahamL said:
It could be referred aggression as you say - could the other people staying smell like other animals perhaps? Do any of them have dogs/cats etc?
Click to expand...

No other animals apart from me possibly smelling of the rescue buns, but nothing's ever happened before (not that that means anything!)
 
It sort of looks like rupert has a bit of blood by his eye???

E8617EDD-9EBC-4925-B591-7A67287D311B-18020-00000A647CB58BCA.jpg


I know Saph likes to groom his eyes so I was wondering if she accidentally nipped him would this have set him off? It's def him going for her as she tried to join him in the litter tray and he chased her off.

209B3678-BBAF-478C-9C08-E328D066803D-18020-00000A6479D1C28B.jpg


6D05ACC5-6589-4CF6-99E8-FECBF662FCDC-18020-00000A6476F3A8D7.jpg
 
I'd get the eye seen Talya, just in case there has been a nail across the lens which you won't see. The vet will put in some florescence and look under a light. If it has been scratched it could get infected and ulcerate.

It was a full moon by the way last night and that in itself would often be sufficient to upset things a bit, but it could be the smell of other bunnies too. I'd always recommend different clothes for your rescue work and change when you come home.

Hope they settle and both are okay.
 
Back from the vet. Got fucithalmic eye drops for Rupert as he does have a small cut. Twice a day for 5 days. Hoping the car journey will stop the fighting!!
 
Kavanne said:
Back from the vet. Got fucithalmic eye drops for Rupert as he does have a small cut. Twice a day for 5 days. Hoping the car journey will stop the fighting!!
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I'm glad it's not nasty and the cream will help massively.

Sure it might just have been a blip, and as you say, the journey will help.

Fingers and paws crossed. x
 
Well they were alright for a few hours then it all suddenly kicked off again. I've now put a puppy pen up around their litter tray to reduce their space. They are sulking together in the litter now.
 
Keeping my fingers crossed for them. As someone who had to split my two permanently I know how traumatic these times are for us as well as them.x
 
Thanks for your replies.

Rupert lunges at sapphire when she tries to take some pellets so I've scattered them, I hope this will help?
 
Also should I clean their litter tray tonight or leave it so the smells stay?

EDIT: I've not cleaned the tray. I've had to reduce the size of the pen again, it's now only 120 x 60cm which is tiny for frenchies! Going to give them a couple of hours in that and then add the other 2 panels back in.

Come on, bunnies :(
 
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Not sure if anyone is still reading this but since last night there's been 2 fights. I've reduced their space back to 120x60 again. When I tried to stop them the second time, Rupert bit me :(

I've seen Sapphire groom him for a moment just now but I just really don't know what's going on and I don't know what to do
 
I'm reading. So sorry they are still unsettled. What a complete worry for you :(

I am not good at bonding, so can't really offer any advice, but are they in a neutral area, or just in a smaller version of their normal space? I wonder if you may have to go back to basics and bond again in a neutral space (no idea really, as I haven't had a bonded pair fall out before, but just pondering)?

Hoping things pick up, for your sake and theirs x
 
AnnieElms said:
I'm reading. So sorry they are still unsettled. What a complete worry for you :(

I am not good at bonding, so can't really offer any advice, but are they in a neutral area, or just in a smaller version of their normal space? I wonder if you may have to go back to basics and bond again in a neutral space (no idea really, as I haven't had a bonded pair fall out before, but just pondering)?

Hoping things pick up, for your sake and theirs x
Click to expand...

They are just in their normal litter area that I have cordoned off. I did think about putting them in the bath (how I originally bonded them) but I wasn't sure if it would make a difference?
 
Kavanne said:
They are just in their normal litter area that I have cordoned off. I did think about putting them in the bath (how I originally bonded them) but I wasn't sure if it would make a difference?
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I'm not sure either, as it's not like the area you have them in really belongs to either of them, because it is their shared space? It seems a bit different to two bunnies who have never met before.

I hope someone comes along who has experience of fallings-out. You must be so worried :(. Sending lots of vibes for bunny love.
 
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