New bunny, problems with aggression?

[Snaily]

So a few weeks ago I got a young Netherland Dwarf (a doe) about 6 weeks old. I already have a 6 year old Lionhead female.

 

Mabel, the lionhead, is very docile and has never bitten anyone, but usually prefers just to be left alone (she likes to be pet, but is not a snuggler). Snoopy, the youngster, is pretty active like I suspect most baby rabbits are. Snoopy likes to run and jump and climb and licks my hand occasionally.

 

They both have seperate floor pens, seperate toys and food, seperate cages. they don’t share anything, so there really is not any territory to fight over(right?). The only thing they share is a floor pen every few days when I try to socialize them with each other.

But Snoopy has been speedily chasing Mabel around and yanking fur out of her behind. At the same time, Snoopy also tries to put her head under Mabel’s chin and snuggles with her?

 

It’s like she wants to play, snuggle…and fight? Is she just trying to be dominant? Mabel basically just keeps running away and exhausts herself. They’ve been permanently seperated again after the third unsuccessful try. Snoopy becomes aggressive towards me as well during these moments, and has bitten my hand twice while this was going on and it seems like she gets MORE aggressive every time, running harder and pulling out more fur.

once seperated, they both return to normal. I do intend to have Snoopy spayed when she is older (Mabel is not spayed) I did originally consider getting a neutered male, but there were none available for adoption at any of the shelters I went to.

 

Any advice, or is this just what to expect of having two unspayed does?

[Beka27]

Oh no! Why isn’t Mabel spayed? It’s very, very important that both rabbits be altered before bonding. Have you consulted with your vet about spaying her as well?

I would definitely wait to have any other meetings until the youngster is spayed because it sounds like she’s going to be a handful. Are you open to the possibility of keeping them separately?

[MoveDiagonally]

Spaying both is essential if you wish to bond them.

I would hold off any interaction until they are both spayed and recovered. Any bonding work now won’t really help bonding later but it can hurt bonding later. Bad experiences can cause rabbits to hold grudges against each other.

[Hazel]

Both of Snoopy’s behaviors you described are dominant. A dominant bun will demand grooms from the subordinate. I know it really looks like the opposite.

Sounds like Snoopy’s hormones are getting her riled up. As the others have said, spaying will help and is essential if you want to bond them.

I just noticed you said Mabel isn’t spayed. Unspayed females have an above 80% chance of developing reproductive cancer. If you only have money to have one spayed right now, do Mabel first.

[Author]

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