Bunnies are Fighting

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 7sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 12 months ago by Fudge and Willow.

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- 04/24/2015 at 4:23 AM
  Fudge and Willow
  Participant
  5 posts
  I have had two rabbits since Feb this year, we got them from a rescue centre and they are sisters from the same litter. They have been together all their lives. A few months ago they had a scuffle, but no blood was drawn just chasing and same hair was pulled out. They calmed down and everything was fine. After that Willow has humped Fudge a bit, but nothing too major (Fudge is top bun and Willow is the submissive). Recently, they have been getting on great! No humping or anything. However, I came home yesterday from work and found bunny fluff all in their cage, but they were cuddled in the corner. I thought nothing of it, but then I spotted Fudge ear and Willow had taken a bit of a chunk out of it . It’s not too bad, nothing salt water and a trip to the vets can’t fix. I’m not sure what to do. The vets say, as long as blood isn’t drawn don’t worry too much about it…but obv blood has been drawn this time. The vets have previously told me that we might have to separate them, but I am not 100% this is correct as I can imagine it would casue both buns distress to be apart from one another and they would be depressed. Does anyone have any advice for me? and sorry for the wall of text!!
  
  Thank you all
- 04/24/2015 at 9:35 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Are they spayed?
- 04/24/2015 at 10:03 AM
  Fudge and Willow
  Participant
  5 posts
  Yes, sorry I missed that part out! They are about 1 year and 2 months old.
- 04/24/2015 at 10:05 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  Is it possible to find out what exactly is causing the behavior – does it only happen when you are not home?
- 04/24/2015 at 10:17 AM
  Fudge and Willow
  Participant
  5 posts
  No, the first time they were fighting they were out in the garden and we were watching them. There could be a few reasons.
  
  1. They both like to run about quite crazily. I have noticed that whenever Willow accidently bumps into Fudge, Fudge gets a bit miffed and sort of blanks her for a few hours, Fudge runs away whenever Willow goes near her.
  
  2. Willow wants to be top bun, hence the humping, that has sort of calmed down recently though.
  
  3. (And this is really thinking outside the box) Recently, two neighbourhood cats have been skulking around the garden. Whenever I check on them/feed them in the morning and let them out after work they are always there just watching outside the hutsch until I chase them off. Perhaps the cats have made them anxious? My buns are outside buns (I know this forum is for house rabbits, but it’s the only forum I can access from work)
  
  From everything I have read, this behaviour of ‘fighting’ for dominant position is normal, and it crops up every so often and it calms down after a tussle, but that doesn’t stop me worrying that I am coming home to injured (or worse) buns!
- 04/24/2015 at 1:58 PM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I imagine that being outside with the cats and who knows what else could be cause for a fight. Also it is possible that the hutch is not a large enough space for them – how large is the hutch?
- 04/24/2015 at 9:03 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17238 posts
  Yes, I would look at external causes first. Going outside could lead to a feeling of insecurity that then translates into a scuffle.
- 04/26/2015 at 2:23 PM
  Fudge and Willow
  Participant
  5 posts
  The hutch is a 6ft hutch and run, run on bottom hutch on top.
  
  I have an update…they fought again today, and now Willow’s ear has been torn. It happened again when they were playing outside. They were OK for an hour then suddenly a fight. It was quite a bad one, so we have one bun inside in a pen with a cage attached and Fudge is in the hutch. Willow is clearly distressed at being separate from Fudge, she is digging at the ground and trying to gnaw the pen. I have opened the pen so she has run of the living room, but she’s wanting to go out into the kitchen (scratching at the door seperating them) and then ultimately outside I guess. I can’t risk another fight, but she’s clearly unhappy without Fudge?
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