Hiya
I posted previously regarding a friend for our house rabbit Harvey. We had him neutered and we have (just over three weeks ago) adopted a spade female called Honey. We have had them in separate cages next to each other and have been swapping them over so they go into each other's cages.
We have then been introducing them in neutral territory (the kitchen) for about half an hour at a time (or sometimes less when the fighting breaks out!). We have tried to do this every other day as time permits.
Sometimes things have gone well and we have had a bit of mutual grooming and they have lay down by each other but more often than not it ends in a big scrap with fur flying everywhere.
It started off that Harvey was clearly wanting to be the dominant one and Honey, being new, wasn't so sure of herself. However, she is settling down in our house more and is making it clear that she will not give way to Harvey. Harvey will not give way either and gets fed up if she ignores him and if she nips at him then he will nip back at her and won't let it go (think Scrappy Doo from Scooby Doo!).
I have read back on the previous posts of people bonding rabbits but I haven't found anything on what to do if they keep fighting and no one wins the dominance battle. How long could it take? As I say sometimes it goes OK and they will play nicely but more often than not we have a lot of nipping, jumping and fur flying. We then tend to pull them apart and hold them near each other and try to calm them and then go again.
Any ideas?
Love Louisa xx
I posted previously regarding a friend for our house rabbit Harvey. We had him neutered and we have (just over three weeks ago) adopted a spade female called Honey. We have had them in separate cages next to each other and have been swapping them over so they go into each other's cages.
We have then been introducing them in neutral territory (the kitchen) for about half an hour at a time (or sometimes less when the fighting breaks out!). We have tried to do this every other day as time permits.
Sometimes things have gone well and we have had a bit of mutual grooming and they have lay down by each other but more often than not it ends in a big scrap with fur flying everywhere.
It started off that Harvey was clearly wanting to be the dominant one and Honey, being new, wasn't so sure of herself. However, she is settling down in our house more and is making it clear that she will not give way to Harvey. Harvey will not give way either and gets fed up if she ignores him and if she nips at him then he will nip back at her and won't let it go (think Scrappy Doo from Scooby Doo!).
I have read back on the previous posts of people bonding rabbits but I haven't found anything on what to do if they keep fighting and no one wins the dominance battle. How long could it take? As I say sometimes it goes OK and they will play nicely but more often than not we have a lot of nipping, jumping and fur flying. We then tend to pull them apart and hold them near each other and try to calm them and then go again.
Any ideas?
Love Louisa xx