We got our two female rabbits about 8 weeks ago. They are both just over 18 months old and we bought them off a family who had kept them in a hutch outdoors together since they were little. They hadn’t been spayed so we got that done about 6 weeks ago. They are called Rick and Morty.
Before they got spayed they were the best of friends and got on really well. After they got spayed Rick showed some signs of aggression like grunting and nipping towards us and Morty but we didn’t worry too much about it as we read on here that it wears off after a while. The aggression towards us did wear off but sometimes she would continue to grunt/nip at Morty when she was being annoying.
In the last week or two I have noticed Rick getting super aggressive towards Morty. During the day they free roam between the back yard and the house and sometimes Rick will chase Morty around grunting and nipping at her and Morty appears to get quite freaked out.
At night we lock them in a wooden hutch together and we never used to have any problems but now as soon as they get in the hutch Rick nips and grunts at Morty and Morty and chases her around the hutch until Morty goes up into the litter compartment (where they pee n poop) to get away. She also does this when Morty is trying to eat sometimes. It’s been getting harder and harder to get Morty into the hutch at night and I think she is scared to go in with Rick. We have no problems getting Rick in there.
I’m not sure if Rick has become possessive over the hutch and/or food or if she just doesn’t want to be housed with Morty at night anymore? I have noticed that one of them has been peeing in the corner of the hutch which they never used to do and I read that it can be a sign of marking territory.
During the day they still snuggle and clean each other a lot so they are still bonded. I’m not sure if Ricks just asserting her dominance as the alpha bunny or what. I’m thinking about separating them at night but was wondering if anyone had any thoughts??
Morty has always been a lot more energetic, friendly and curious and Rick a bit more timid and lazy. Morty explores the whole house and spends equal time inside/outside whereas Rick chills outside most of the time and when she comes inside she stays in the main room on the rug and has never ventured down hallway into the rest of the house (and shows little interest in doing so).