Bonded rabbits chasing and pulling fur

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 12sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 3 months ago by bumpkin93.

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- 07/19/2018 at 1:35 PM
  bumpkin93
  Participant
  76 posts
  Hello everyone. My boys the past two days have been playing in a different area of the house. We used to have two dogs and the carpet has been cleaned and shampooed since before we got the rabbits. This is a new play area for my boys. They have gone through a proper bonding process at the rescue I adopted them from.
  
  Today and yesterday, they were playing in the hall and one was chasing the other one. I noticed that he must’ve pulled some fur out of the other buns’ back. There are no bald spots. I saw it on the carpet. I observed them. He isn’t fighting or nipping him, but wanted to know if this behavior is normal, or if it could be the environment they are in because we had two other pets in the house before?
  
  In addition, he will chase, and then they both will start binkying and playing a few minutes later. I just wanted to know if this is normal, or if I should be concerned, or have them in a different play area that’s more neutral.
- 07/19/2018 at 1:45 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  The new smells probably caused them to have a little tiff, as you suspected. I’ve seen this happen at my local rescue when bonded pairs come in together. Sometimes the new environment sets them off and they’ll have chasing bouts.
  
  How are they now? Are they still chasing a lot? If so, does it resolve on it’s own after a few seconds or do you have to intervene? Are they good otherwise (grooming, cuddling, etc.)? When they chase and it leads to binkying, are their ears back or forward? If forward, that’s playing, so no worries there. If back, it’s aggressive.
  
  For now, I would keep them from going into the new area, and observe them closely. If it seems like things are a little tense between them, you can also do a little stress bonding session with them to help re solidify things. You might even want to do the stress session in the new area. You can put them in a pen together and vacuum around them, or take them on a car ride together. You can also try what I call “couples therapy” if you notice they aren’t grooming each other as much, and put some banana on their heads.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 07/19/2018 at 3:42 PM
  bumpkin93
  Participant
  76 posts
  Thank you so much! I appreciate it. I’m new to bonded pairs, but not rabbits. Their ears are up when binkying. I don’t have to intervene. They stop on their own. They are back to grooming each other. Even within the area. I will try some stress bonding to solidify them a bit more because they are probably going to be playing in the area for the next couple weeks. I don’t want to do that to them, but I don’t have a choice due to circumstances at the moment.
- 07/19/2018 at 6:34 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  That sounds good!
  
  Sounds like the initial chase was a little dispute (hence the fur clump), but now they are just playing.
  
  The stressing should help cement their bond a in the new area, don’t feel too bad about it. It always feels horrible to stress your bunny, but if it can make their bond stronger it’s worth it!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 07/20/2018 at 10:21 AM
  AlinaDTweet
  Participant
  2 posts
  Hi so I have eight bunnies total but, two of my bunnies are being mean to each other. I got Skylar from a local breeder about one month ago and. She is about seven months old I have another bunny name Sunny who is usually the sweetest bunny of all. Lately ever since we introduced Skylar to Sunny she has been trying to bite her. When I hold Sunny down and let Skylar sniff and check Sunny out Skylar bites her ears and face. Why does she do that?
- 07/20/2018 at 12:15 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By AlinaDTweet on 7/20/2018 10:21 AM
  Hi so I have eight bunnies total but, two of my bunnies are being mean to each other. I got Skylar from a local breeder about one month ago and. She is about seven months old I have another bunny name Sunny who is usually the sweetest bunny of all. Lately ever since we introduced Skylar to Sunny she has been trying to bite her. When I hold Sunny down and let Skylar sniff and check Sunny out Skylar bites her ears and face. Why does she do that?
  
  You’ve only had Skylar a month and already you’ve introduced her to Sunny? That’s way too fast. You need to let Skylar settle in for AT LEAST a fortnight – preferably a month. Then you pre bond for at least a month. THEN you do short physical introductions.
  
  Why are you holding Sunny down and letting Skylar sniff her? That must be terrifying for Sunny, especially as she is being bitten…
- 07/20/2018 at 12:20 PM
  bumpkin93
  Participant
  76 posts
  Yes, nor looking forward to it, but today they’re much better. No chasing they’re binkying everywhere lol.
- 07/20/2018 at 12:22 PM
  bumpkin93
  Participant
  76 posts
  Posted By AlinaDTweet on 7/20/2018 10:21 AM
  Hi so I have eight bunnies total but, two of my bunnies are being mean to each other. I got Skylar from a local breeder about one month ago and. She is about seven months old I have another bunny name Sunny who is usually the sweetest bunny of all. Lately ever since we introduced Skylar to Sunny she has been trying to bite her. When I hold Sunny down and let Skylar sniff and check Sunny out Skylar bites her ears and face. Why does she do that?
  
  That is a lot of stress on your rabbits. I’ve never gone through a bonding process, but I do know they’ve been introduced WAY too quickly, and not in a positive manner.
- 07/20/2018 at 5:00 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Hi Alina,
  
  It’s recommended to start your own thread to avoid confusion.
  
  Both bunnies should be spayed/neutered, and allowed time to heal and for hormones to settle before beginning bonding. It can be a lot of info, but I recommend reading the “Bonding Info” section under the “Bunny Info” tab at the top of the page to get a crash course.
  
  The very basics are:
  both should be spayed/neutered
  pre-bond for 4 weeks (cage swaps to allow them to get used to each other’s scent)
  then, in supervised sessions, allow them to interact in neutral territory (somewhere neither rabbit has ever been)- do NOT allow fighting, but do allow them to move around and explore.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 07/20/2018 at 5:06 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Posted By bumpkin93 on 7/20/2018 12:20 PM
  
  Yes, nor looking forward to it, but today they’re much better. No chasing they’re binkying everywhere lol.
  
  Glad to hear they are doing better!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 07/29/2018 at 11:06 AM
  bumpkin93
  Participant
  76 posts
  Posted By DanaNM on 7/19/2018 1:45 PM
  The new smells probably caused them to have a little tiff, as you suspected. I’ve seen this happen at my local rescue when bonded pairs come in together. Sometimes the new environment sets them off and they’ll have chasing bouts.
  
  How are they now? Are they still chasing a lot? If so, does it resolve on it’s own after a few seconds or do you have to intervene? Are they good otherwise (grooming, cuddling, etc.)? When they chase and it leads to binkying, are their ears back or forward? If forward, that’s playing, so no worries there. If back, it’s aggressive.
  
  For now, I would keep them from going into the new area, and observe them closely. If it seems like things are a little tense between them, you can also do a little stress bonding session with them to help re solidify things. You might even want to do the stress session in the new area. You can put them in a pen together and vacuum around them, or take them on a car ride together. You can also try what I call “couples therapy” if you notice they aren’t grooming each other as much, and put some banana on their heads.
  
  Thank you for all your help. Chewie started chasing Snickers again aggressively, and I noticed Snickers’ behavior changed. Chewie wouldn’t groom Snickers, but expected to be groomed by him. Snickers also was skittish the last day or so which is unlike him. I did some more stress bonding with them and I’m happy to say I’ve actually seen Chewie grooming Snickers again and hopping over to cuddle him. Snickers is less skittish as well.
- 07/29/2018 at 2:46 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Glad to hear the stressing helped! You can do a few more stress sessions just to really cement things.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 07/29/2018 at 3:49 PM
  bumpkin93
  Participant
  76 posts
  I probably will to cement things. I think the new environment really set them off, and they’re gonna be stuck in it for a couple weeks. I don’t want things to get worse again.
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