For the last 6 months we have had Rosie and Jack. They are bonded and have been no trouble at all. Because of this we thought we would get another bonded pair with the aim of getting all 4 of them together eventually. Last Tuesday we got the other pair, two brothers, aged about 6 mths. One of the brothers had only been castrated on that day. The other one had been done previously.
All seemed to be going well. We have the pairs in 2 hutches in the same room and let them out alternately. Rosie and Jack don't seem to be disturbed by the newcomers very much at all, apart from a bit of nose touching and sniffing of the new boys.
The boys seemed a bit lively but seemed to get on well together, but this afternoon I heard a lot of banging and when I went to look they were rolling around on the floor in their house fighting. This went on for quite some time. The bunny who was doing all the attacking was the one who had been neutered for some time and who I thought was pretty laid back. The other bunny is slightly smaller, a bit timid but had been mounting his brother for the first couple of days, so I thought he must be the boss.
I know there is a lot going on for them at the moment, but how do I deal with the fighting between the 2 brothers. At the moment my husband has split them up, but would it be safe to put them back together and has anyone any ideas what might have triggered all this and how to deal with it?
I wonder if I have bit off more than I can chew with trying to bond two pairs, as I have very little experience with rabbits and I know a lot of you have had success with this.
Please any help would really be appreciated.
All seemed to be going well. We have the pairs in 2 hutches in the same room and let them out alternately. Rosie and Jack don't seem to be disturbed by the newcomers very much at all, apart from a bit of nose touching and sniffing of the new boys.
The boys seemed a bit lively but seemed to get on well together, but this afternoon I heard a lot of banging and when I went to look they were rolling around on the floor in their house fighting. This went on for quite some time. The bunny who was doing all the attacking was the one who had been neutered for some time and who I thought was pretty laid back. The other bunny is slightly smaller, a bit timid but had been mounting his brother for the first couple of days, so I thought he must be the boss.
I know there is a lot going on for them at the moment, but how do I deal with the fighting between the 2 brothers. At the moment my husband has split them up, but would it be safe to put them back together and has anyone any ideas what might have triggered all this and how to deal with it?
I wonder if I have bit off more than I can chew with trying to bond two pairs, as I have very little experience with rabbits and I know a lot of you have had success with this.
Please any help would really be appreciated.