Help! We have recently rescued a Flemish Giant Rabbit (called Mr Magica) about 3 months ago he is a lovely bun and very inquisitive. He has been known to bite sometimes, but it is generally when he is being picked up or when we are in his way - he seems to be very bossy! He is a house rabbit and he lives in our kitchen/dining room area which is bunny proofed and is completely litter trained.
I have had rabbits before and know that they are social animals so decided it would be kinder for him to live with another rabbit. This is where our problems have started. We have adopted another bunny, also a rescue one, she is smaller than him (he is a giant!) and is very placid and calm and loves being cuddled. We have kept them in separate cages so that they get used to each other and he is allowed out as per normal. We introduced them on neutral ground (our bathroom) and he started biting her and jumping on her. He has pulled out large clumps of her fur on her back and she now has bald patches and some scabs.
She is so frightened of him than when I tried to introduce them again, a couple of days later, he ran at her growling and she ended up jumping onto my lap and stuggled in my arms (I was sitting on the floor at the time). He is obviously not happy her being around as he has also decided to jump on my dining room chairs and rip and bite the material (he has never done this before)!
I'm really not sure if there is any hope, she is such a lovely bunny and he is a big bully - is there anything we can do? Because of his size i am scared he is going to hurt her. Is it kinder to not try and introduce them again? And has anyone ever had a similar situation which has turned out OK?
What do I do next?
I have had rabbits before and know that they are social animals so decided it would be kinder for him to live with another rabbit. This is where our problems have started. We have adopted another bunny, also a rescue one, she is smaller than him (he is a giant!) and is very placid and calm and loves being cuddled. We have kept them in separate cages so that they get used to each other and he is allowed out as per normal. We introduced them on neutral ground (our bathroom) and he started biting her and jumping on her. He has pulled out large clumps of her fur on her back and she now has bald patches and some scabs.
She is so frightened of him than when I tried to introduce them again, a couple of days later, he ran at her growling and she ended up jumping onto my lap and stuggled in my arms (I was sitting on the floor at the time). He is obviously not happy her being around as he has also decided to jump on my dining room chairs and rip and bite the material (he has never done this before)!
I'm really not sure if there is any hope, she is such a lovely bunny and he is a big bully - is there anything we can do? Because of his size i am scared he is going to hurt her. Is it kinder to not try and introduce them again? And has anyone ever had a similar situation which has turned out OK?
What do I do next?