I need help with my two bunnies

[Kkrijger91]

Ive had zippy (teddy dwarf, male) for 7 months now. He is around 9 months old. We decided he needed a friend so we got another bunny: pixie (she is around 3 months old and a holland lop). We have had her a bit over a month. They both took to each very quickly and only had a little fight after the 2nd day. They have been inserperable since. Zippy licks her and they snuggle up to each other.

Last night i came home and my boyfriend told me they had fought 2 times. Ive inspected them both and there’s no wounds apart from a bald patch on zippy. Im really worried that this will be their new thing fighting we sepereated them for a bit and then took them to the kitchen (neutral terrain) they seemed fine there and sat next to each other sniffed each other a bit and all seemed fine.

Just to be safe we kept them separated last night and this morning. Ive just sat with them again in the kitched for an hour and all went well so i took them back to the living room. Seemed to go fine but when zippy started following pixie she charged at him. Just now pixie tried to go upstairs in the cage (which we have screwed shut as to keep them apart last night) so she couldn’t go very far and zippy ran to her and grunted a bit. It didnt go any further than that because i moved zippy to the side.

Now they are following each other and being cute. Zippy keeps licking pixie and she seems to be allowimg him to do it. And then I’ll hear a little grunt from one of them.

I have no idea how to deal with this ? can anyone please help?!?!

[Mikey]

If they havent been spayed and neutered, thats your reason for the fighting. Hormones cause rabbits to fight. A 9 month old male can also get a female bunny pregnant, so by keeping them together you are asking for babies. I suggest separating them for up to a month after they are both spayed/neutered so they have time to heal and drain their hormones, then try to bond them again

[tobyluv]

Definitely keep your bunnies separated until Pixie has been spayed, and Zippy has been neutered (if he isn’t already). At 4 months of age, Pixie’s hormones are kicking in, which is why the fighting has started now. Rabbits can severely injure each other when fighting. Hopefully, Pixie is too young and isn’t already pregnant if Zippy is not neutered, but do not take a chance on that or on fighting if they are together. Keep them apart.

Here are 2 good articles on bonding:

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx

http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

[Kkrijger91]

Thanks everyone for your advice! Zippy has been neutered anout 3 months ago. We are just waiting for pixie to be old enough to also be spayed!

[Kkrijger91]

Thanks everyone for your advice! Zippy has been neutered anout 3 months ago. We are just waiting for pixie to be old enough to also be spayed!

[Author]

Messages