Stealing food?

[Lucky Star]

My rabbits are two brothers, George and Cinnabun, about six months old. They are bonded and love each other and have never fought. However, this morning I noticed George trying to steal a piece of lettuce from Cinnabun. Cinnabun ran away and backed into a corner of the cage, but George kept grabbing the lettuce from Cinnabun’s mouth. Cinnabun is very laid back and did not try to attack George, but I was shocked by this behavior and am fearing that this could lead to fighting. Has anyone had this happen? It wasn’t like it was the last piece of lettuce, they had an entire hay rack full of lettuce, but George kept yanking the lettuce out of Cinnabun’s mouth. George has always been VERY obsessed with food, but I have never seen him take some right out of his brother’s mouth. Typically they enjoy sharing food, but it was clear to me that Cinnabun was not trying to share the lettuce piece with George. 

[LongEaredLions]

My bunnies always do seem to want what is in each others mouth, like what the other is eating is better that what is in the bowl…
I don’t think it is really a problem, mine have done it for ages and nothing happens.
Sometimes they just don’t notice there is more lettuce in the bowl.

[Stickerbunny]

Oh god, my two do this all the time. Even if I give them BOTH the SAME size piece of fruit, they have to fight over one piece. Or, if I give them a WHOLE PLATE of veggies, they both want the same exact piece. It’s never lead to a fight, just a “Hey, gimme that *run away* *chase* “NO GIVE ME THAT!” *run away*” until one of them gets bored enough to go grab one of the many pieces of food available in the plate.

[Lucky Star]

Ok, good to know that they probably won’t fight! Today they started doing it with their fruit treats and Cinnabun started doing it back to George. I was so scared that they would start a fight and I would have to jump in and save them.

[LBJ10]

Leopold takes stuff from Wooly’s mouth all the time. I would only worry if there is aggression with it.

[Lucky Star]

LBJ10- I don’t think there is any aggression, but Cinnabun will back into the corner and try to get away. There is no thumping and the whites of their eyes are not showing. They aren’t biting each other or scratching each other except they are trying to get the food from each other mouths. And afterwards they show no hostility towards one another, even cuddling and grooming each other. I think the thing I am most worried about now is that one will accidently miss the lettuce and bite the other. Would this destroy their bond?

[LBJ10]

What you are describing doesn’t sound aggressive at all. I doubt he would accidentally bite the other. It just sounds like he’s being pushy, which is pretty common behavior in bonded pairs.

[Stickerbunny]

My two always run to a corner to try to hide their food as well. They haven’t missed and bit each other even once. Buns are pretty good about where they bite.

[Lucky Star]

Ok, thanks so much! I feel much better about it! I am not nearly so worried about them anymore. I’m glad to know that they aren’t trying to hurt each other to get food.

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