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Bonding/chasing advice

B

belly

Young Bun
Evening all,

I recently took in bunny no6 and they been together for 4 weeks now. All seems ok after the initial humping etc...

They are together 24/7 and all is well. But they are in a hutch and run combo and currently I have them in the hutch as every time I open the run up the doe gets territorial and starts the chasing, fur pulling and being a general nuisance. After that the buck won’t go near her for a day or so.

What is the best course of action? Thanks in advance!
 
I assume the doe is neutered? If she was done recently, it may just be a matter of giving it more time.
Meanwhile, I would be tempted to give them some time out individually in the run so they get some exercise. 4 weeks is a long time to be shut in a hutch.
Or is there anywhere else that is neutral territory that you can let them both out together?
 
Ah sorry! They have independent time in the run of course! She was done In January so should be well settled?

They bonded indoors and were fine and they are ok in a run too. Just the hutch run combo is a struggle
 
Shimmer said:
I assume the doe is neutered? If she was done recently, it may just be a matter of giving it more time.
Meanwhile, I would be tempted to give them some time out individually in the run so they get some exercise. 4 weeks is a long time to be shut in a hutch.
Or is there anywhere else that is neutral territory that you can let them both out together?
Click to expand...

I agree Shimmer.
 
Did the hutch/run combo belong to the doe before the bonding?

I agree with finding a way that they can get some time out of the hutch either together or separately. It could be that she's frustrated from being in a small space for so long and gets overexcited when she comes out.
 
BattleKat said:
Did the hutch/run combo belong to the doe before the bonding?

I agree with finding a way that they can get some time out of the hutch either together or separately. It could be that she's frustrated from being in a small space for so long and gets overexcited when she comes out.
Click to expand...

It's a brand new one. I'm thinking it's dominance. I opened the run up today and removed any tubes/toys etc and left an empty clean space, thus far she's been OK....
 
yes, my two have to almost have 'two' of everything otherwise they get territorial. the only thing I don't have two of is litter tray & waterbowl. but I always have to buy two toys, two hidey places, two this two that, or they get super territorial and upset.
 
Update: So last night the doe for no apparent reason battered him. Fur everywhere, pig screams, the whole shabang. He was that scared he wet himself.

I've split them now and at a total loss. I've never seen the level of aggression she showed and I don't trust her with him :(
 
BattleKat said:
I'm so sorry it's not gone well after the bit of improvement you saw. :(
What's the plan now?
Click to expand...

I just don't know :S

The doe has been returned 3 times (2 of which to pets at home where she was a window bun apparently) I don't want to be another one to return her and really want it to work but they way she snapped I've never seen anything like it and I don't feel safe with them together.

My wife wants her to go back to the rescue but I feel so sorry for them both :(
 
I'd get in touch with the rescue she came from and explain, see what they suggest.
What an awful situation, I really hope you get some sort of resolution for it.

Do you have other rabbits?
 
BattleKat said:
I'd get in touch with the rescue she came from and explain, see what they suggest.
What an awful situation, I really hope you get some sort of resolution for it.

Do you have other rabbits?
Click to expand...

I would suggest doing this, too. I’m sorry it’s come to this :cry:
 
Thanks for the replies. I have spoke to the rescue and they agreed after that is best not to try again and they are happy to regime her.

Battlekat, I have 5 others (all paired) and all rescues :)
 
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