Worried about bunnies fighting!

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 2sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 1 month ago by Wick & Fable.

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- 09/27/2018 at 9:04 PM
  Megan
  Participant
  1 posts
  A little background – I have 2 pet rabbits that I rescued about 3 months ago who are a mother (almost 2 years old) and daughter (15months). The live in a 42 square foot enclosure (plenty of room to run around) and always have enough to eat and lots of toys. Typically they never fight. Their usual interactions are lying next to each other and occasionally grooming each other. Neither is fixed.
  
  One issue I’ve been noticing is regarding a dog cage they have in their enclosure. It was what they originally came to me in and I thought it would be a good comfort item, plus a nice place to sleep for them to have so it sits open in their enclosure that they can get into and out of at will. However, I’ve noticed that often when the older rabbit goes in, the younger rabbit runs in after her and chases her out aggressively and then sits in there. It makes me uneasy because I rarely see aggression between them and I’m worried there could be a fight someday when I’m not around. There’s never any biting (the older rabbit usually runs away at full speed) but it has a very aggressive nature to it.
  
  Sorry for the long explanation, any advice, information, etc. would be greatly appreciated!
- 09/28/2018 at 11:39 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Hi there,
  
  Unfortunately since they were never spayed it doesn’t sound like they were bonded properly. Given the aggressive nature of the interactions I would separate them (but if they can be near each other, but unable to nip each other, that would be bettter for them). Things could escalate to a full on fight very quickly, as you were worried about.
  
  They likely got along as the daughter was a baby and not hormonal. She is pretty old now, but sometimes things can be fine for a while, but then things start getting testy.
  
  Then you should get them spayed (which should be done for medical reasons anyway, as female rabbits have about 75% rates of uterine cancer by age 4 if not spayed), and allow time for their hormones to settle (several weeks). Then you can go through the bonding process with them.
  
  . . . 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.
- 09/28/2018 at 2:04 PM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  Dana brings up the most important points. To highlight, rabbits do not acknowledge family units, so whether rabbits are siblings or parent/child, the same bonding procedures must be employed, just like two rabbits who have no blood relation. It seems odd and is one of the most common misunderstandings with rabbits. As Dana stated, the bond you initially observed is more likely because the daughter had no hormones so no territorial instincts were making her act aggressively.
  
  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.
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