Rabbits occasionally fighting

[PSMako]

Hello everyone,

I am new to rabbits so I would be grateful for any advice, I'll explain the problem in full as it seems to be a little different from anything else I've read.

I have a 5 month old male, and a 4 month old female from a very good breeder with 30 years of experience.

The rabbits were getting along as the best of friends, when the male had the snip about 6-8 weeks ago. They were at the vets together but once they came home the female started sniffing around his backside hear the sore area, then would start chasing and fighting until they literally had to be ripped apart from eachother. Her sniffing around his back then getting more aggressive has been the start of every fight, and shes always the aggressor.

We separated them above and below in the hutch (didnt want to risk him being hurt so close to surgery), but they continued fighting occasionally when we spent time with them together. We were told this was because the female hadnt been spayed, and was full of hormones. But she was spayed about 3 weeks ago, and its still happening.

It was getting slightly worse so I decided to put them on the same floor, but separated with a wire mesh so they could smell/sniff eachother, and rotated them so they could get used to eachothers scent. For the past 2 weeks staying next to eachother there hasn't been a hitch, and we even started trusting them on their own for the odd minute here or there. But today they had a scrap where I had to pull the female off the male, where she was literally hanging off him. Since the beginning it has always been the female starting the fight, with the male being extremely docile and happy doing anything.

There is one odd point I think makes this a little unusual. Throughout all of the time they have been fighting, they have also spent considerable amount of time being the best of friends! They have spent hours getting along fine, cleaning eachother thoroughly, napping together and just having a good time. Then seemingly out of the blue she will get more aggressive and start a fight.

She is definitely a more active rabbit, usually having a little run around and binkying all over the place any chance she gets, so I am curious what can cause her to get so angry.

Is it just play fighting getting out of hand?
Am I being too impatient and have to reintroduce them together over weeks?

I am certain they are not unbonded as for the past week all they want to do is spend time together and clean each other. The female will even give the male little nudges if she hasn't received enough head licks, very cute.

I'd appreciate any advice anyone has.

Thank you,

 

[Vegan_Bunny]

Rabbits don't play fight. The problem is that it's only been 3 weeks since she was done...usually you need to wait at least 6 weeks (longer is better, especially for your doe) for her hormones to calm down.

You are also putting them together in their own territories, which could be why she is being so aggressive towards him. They need to be bonded from scratch; this means completely neutral territory (somewhere neither rabbit has been before). Separate them completely, so they can't see, hear, or smell each other until it's been at least 8 weeks since her spay and then put them into a small, neutral pen with very little items. I usually only put in a litter tray, hay and water bowl..I found when bonding my trio that they got possessive over the tray, so bear this in mind. ~

This time of year is probably the worst time to try and bond rabbits. They get something called "spring fever" and their hormones rage (even when they are neutered).

Hopefully they will rebond, but sometimes once they have fought they won't go back together. Good luck. x

 

[PSMako]

Over a period of 10 days now its only that once they shown any sign of aggression and they have spent that whole time together, mostly separated or together with is monitoring them.

I dont have any experience like I said, but I cannot believe from the past 10 days they have unbonded.

Also since they have been together they have gotten on considerably better, and I have heard from multiple people they shouldn't have been split up in the first place.

Thanks for your advice though


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[Vegan_Bunny]

Over a period of 10 days now its only that once they shown any sign of aggression and they have spent that whole time together, mostly separated or together with is monitoring them.

I dont have any experience like I said, but I cannot believe from the past 10 days they have unbonded.

Also since they have been together they have gotten on considerably better, and I have heard from multiple people they shouldn't have been split up in the first place.

Thanks for your advice though


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If they have a full blown fight, they need splitting up because rabbits can do tremendous damage to each other. If they have been fine, then perhaps they can go back together 24/7, but under supervision. Something may have triggered them to attack each other.

 

[tonibun]

I think what happened when you brought them home from the Vets your male rabbit smelt different and hence your female attacked him.

It sounds like things have calmed down now and as they are both neutered hopefully they should be able to share a happy relationship from now on. I hope so.

 

[happybun]

I think what happened when you brought them home from the Vets your male rabbit smelt different and hence your female attacked him.
.

that's very common. also, they attack a rabbit which is weak or ill. its a power thing.

 

[PSMako]

Just thought it was worth mentioning since a few weeks of hard work they've been happy bunnies ever since.

I read around a lot and some specialists said that almost any rabbits can be bonded through patience and some clever techniques. But luckily with my rabbits it was just patience and slowly introducing them together.

But I'm pleased to say all is well. Thanks for the help