2 Males fight in open - advice needed

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 10 months ago by Love4Bunny.

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- 04/18/2016 at 2:46 PM
  Redjokel
  Participant
  2 posts
  So I have got a pair of rabbits for the first time (previously had singles).
  
  I’ve got a good setup plenty of space in the hutch and let them out onto the patio/into the house regularly.
  
  They’re both crossed males (Chester and Harvey) had them three weeks or so now. They get on well in hutch, even saw.them cleaning each other at weekend.
  
  Problem is in open spaces they sometimes run and jump at each other. Then tonight they’ve had a fight, I stopped it, cooled them down brought them inside and all was good, then When on the patio they fought again. Back in the hutch now and is all good snuggled up.
  
  Not really sure what I can do? Or if this is pretty normal and I’m being soft. They’re only young (born Jan) so maybe they are establishing an order? I’m planning on neutering them when old enough/big enough.
  
  Constructive guidance is welcomed?
  
  Thanks in advance.
  
  J
- 04/18/2016 at 3:27 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Youll want to keep them separate until theyre both neutered since theyve stated fighting. Itll only be a matter of time until they fight inside of their shared hutch. Find a way to separate them until a month after they are both neutered, then start the bonding process
  
  To bond, start in a neutral territory. Put them right next to each other and pet them. After several minutes, put them back in their nonshared cages/hutches. Do this about once an hour until they dont seem stressed out,t hen watch them for abour an hour at a time in the neuteral territory, always putting them back into their own cages afterwards. When thats fine, leave them there for 2 hours. Then 3. ect
  
  After theyre fine in the neuteral territory, bring them to the hutch they will share. Again, put them in together and pet them for several minutes then into their own cages/hutches they go. Do this a few times before leaving them in there for an hour+ together. Once theyre fine (no signs of aggression), move them to the place they used to fight. Start the same way, short petting sessions until theyre calm, then longer sessions. Break up any fights and always end them on a positive note. Keep putting them back into their own separate cages. While you are around and they are within eyesight and hearing range, you can put them in the shared hutch, but i wouldnt leave them in there while you arnt nearby, yet
  
  Once they arnt fighting in the place they used to fight, allow them full access to the patio and their shared hutches. I still wouldnt leave them alone over night, yet. Give it a few sessions with no fights before thinking about leaving them over night together
  
  Good luck!
- 04/18/2016 at 3:32 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3311 posts
  Welcome to Binky Bunny! You should separate Chester and Harvey until they have been neutered, then re-bond them afterwards . It’s better to wait 4 weeks after surgery, to be sure that all the hormones have been flushed out. When rabbits fight, they can severely injure each other. The fighting will only get worse as they go into full blown puberty. You can keep their cages or pens near each other, but do not let them be together again until they have been neutered.
  
  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/
- 04/19/2016 at 2:13 AM
  Redjokel
  Participant
  2 posts
  Thank you Mikey & tobyluv for the responses.
  
  All was OK this morning and there was no evidence of anything but harmony! I’ll separate them when I’m home from work tonight and get the ball rolling!
  
  I’ve followed the fourm a while, so great to get a positive response to my first post!
  
  Thanks again.
- 04/19/2016 at 2:13 AM
  Love4Bunny
  Participant
  878 posts
  I would wait to have them share the space they fought in till after they’ve been neutered and the bond “cemented” a little bit more. If they are still territorial in any little way, my opinion is this will cause tension and will probably result in a fight. You wanna make sure they really get along (establish a pecking order of sorts) before you put them somewhere one/ or both have been before. I made the mistake of doing this prematurely with two whom I had to bond from scratch, and it didn’t turn out the best at the time.
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