Hi Everyone, first time post looking for some help!
A bit of back ground info
We have two bunnies, Flopsy 2 1/2 years old, pedigree dwarf lop, un-neutered female and Womble, 1 year old, half netherland, half english male and fixed. Flopsy was a rescue bunny who previously lived on her own (her owners moved overseas), then spent until August last year on her own and thats when we got Womble as company for her. They both live outside and have the run of the garden. They lived in seperate hutches (but next to each other) until Womble was old enough to be fixed (about 2 months after he first arrived), then they bonded by being let out together and playing. The first time they were out together they had a little scrap, but quickly got over it. By the onset of winter, they were partly bonded and were living together in the same hutch. All winter they were great, and even when we brough them in for a week of -10c temps, they were fine.
Flopsy is very affectionate (and even very articulate) and is a groomer (grooming me and Rach!), however she doesnt like to be picked up, Womble is a bit timid, but likes being handled, can be picked up, but isnt really a groomer, however out of the blue about three/four months ago he started returning the favour to Flopsy and started grooming back. Since then, they got on ok in the garden, groom each other ok and everything ok (apart from Womble being a bit timid towards me)
Now, this is whats happened recently.....
We recently had a two week holiday and whilst we were away, we decided the rabbits should be left in their hutch, in our garden as not to upset them moving them to boarding or a family members house. The neighbour agreed to let them out and put them in the hutch, a family member agreed to clean the hutch and monitor food and water.
Since getting back off holiday everything was fine for more or less the first week, then Flopsy has started showing aggression towards Womble when they are out in the garden. She charges him and chases him. There has been an instance of a large clump of fur being ripped from Womble (no blood, no bad fight). This seems to be worse when they are out in the garden together and either one of us is out or both of us are in the garden. In the hutch they sit together, groom each other, eat together, sleep together drink together like nothings wrong!
Tonight they seemed to be getting along alright, then flopsy sat next to me on the stairs, Womble approached me and she charged him. He got out the way and stayed alert and she went for him again. I shooed her off, everything was fine again, then as i moved away (unluckily in the direction of womble) she went for him again. He hid under the hutch and she went in it so we seperated them. Flop snapped a few times in the hutch when she caught sight of Wom. Wom wouldnt go near the hutch. Flop went upstairs (where they tend to live) and tucked into her food, Wom then entered the hutch and everythings fine again.
They had been bonded so well now this is starting off and we are a bit lost about whats causing it and what to do
Rachel thinks that Flopsy is trying to claim me as hers and keep Womble away from me (this makes sense given tonights situation) however this doesnt make sense for them to be fine in the hutch!
any ideas or suggestions anyone?
A bit of back ground info
We have two bunnies, Flopsy 2 1/2 years old, pedigree dwarf lop, un-neutered female and Womble, 1 year old, half netherland, half english male and fixed. Flopsy was a rescue bunny who previously lived on her own (her owners moved overseas), then spent until August last year on her own and thats when we got Womble as company for her. They both live outside and have the run of the garden. They lived in seperate hutches (but next to each other) until Womble was old enough to be fixed (about 2 months after he first arrived), then they bonded by being let out together and playing. The first time they were out together they had a little scrap, but quickly got over it. By the onset of winter, they were partly bonded and were living together in the same hutch. All winter they were great, and even when we brough them in for a week of -10c temps, they were fine.
Flopsy is very affectionate (and even very articulate) and is a groomer (grooming me and Rach!), however she doesnt like to be picked up, Womble is a bit timid, but likes being handled, can be picked up, but isnt really a groomer, however out of the blue about three/four months ago he started returning the favour to Flopsy and started grooming back. Since then, they got on ok in the garden, groom each other ok and everything ok (apart from Womble being a bit timid towards me)
Now, this is whats happened recently.....
We recently had a two week holiday and whilst we were away, we decided the rabbits should be left in their hutch, in our garden as not to upset them moving them to boarding or a family members house. The neighbour agreed to let them out and put them in the hutch, a family member agreed to clean the hutch and monitor food and water.
Since getting back off holiday everything was fine for more or less the first week, then Flopsy has started showing aggression towards Womble when they are out in the garden. She charges him and chases him. There has been an instance of a large clump of fur being ripped from Womble (no blood, no bad fight). This seems to be worse when they are out in the garden together and either one of us is out or both of us are in the garden. In the hutch they sit together, groom each other, eat together, sleep together drink together like nothings wrong!
Tonight they seemed to be getting along alright, then flopsy sat next to me on the stairs, Womble approached me and she charged him. He got out the way and stayed alert and she went for him again. I shooed her off, everything was fine again, then as i moved away (unluckily in the direction of womble) she went for him again. He hid under the hutch and she went in it so we seperated them. Flop snapped a few times in the hutch when she caught sight of Wom. Wom wouldnt go near the hutch. Flop went upstairs (where they tend to live) and tucked into her food, Wom then entered the hutch and everythings fine again.
They had been bonded so well now this is starting off and we are a bit lost about whats causing it and what to do
Rachel thinks that Flopsy is trying to claim me as hers and keep Womble away from me (this makes sense given tonights situation) however this doesnt make sense for them to be fine in the hutch!
any ideas or suggestions anyone?