First experience of “spring fever”. Help!

[Amundawah]

Hello!
My buns were newly bonded at Christmas and everything since seemed great. Until today. First I should mention we just moved house at the weekend, so they’re in a new environment but have been fine the last couple of days in a restricted size space which we will expand gradually until they get the whole of the downstairs. Also they’re both senior rabbits, both around 9. So today Lola my normally quite placid, respectful girl started humping, chasing, fur pulling and nipping her friend. I immediately rang the rescue we got our other bunny from (who bonded them, because I was instantly worried moving house had broken their bond) and asked for advice and she told me it’s most likely spring fever.

My question is, when do we intervene? Or do we not at all? She’s pulling out loads of fur and the biting looks quite vicious, there’s been no actual fighting or locking on though. And I’m giving them as much distraction as I can, which seems to work for a time and then they go back to the chasing. I’ve never experienced this before as they’re my first bonded pair and I wasn’t really prepared. How long does it last? Am I in for weeks of this or will it settle down?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tonibun]

Firstly, are they both neutered and is the new Rabbit a boy? It sounds like your female has become very territorial brought on maybe by your move. You could try them side by side, allowing the female time to settle in your new home then re-bonding them in a neutral area.

 

[Amundawah]

Yes, both neutered! And yes, they’re a boy and a girl.

I’ve read so much conflicting information about putting them side by side, and about how it’s better to just keep them together to not break the bond and let them work out the hierarchy again in the new area. They still haven’t had a proper fight, it is just all fur pulling and nipping and now the boy is also giving as good as he’s getting, like he’s trying to tell her the behaviour isn’t allowed. Which is a lot more normal for them. When they got home after bonding (it was into the space she lived in before so wasn’t neutral at all) and she didn’t do any of this, he was definitely more dominant and telling her what was allowed. So do you think separating them is still the best move if they seem to be communicating a bit more now?