Are they fighting now?

[angoralvr]

I don’t understand this. I was downstairs with the boys last night and they were playing and cuddling like normal but then Acorn decided to bite Henri’s boy parts! I have no idea what this is about. Henri just hopped away a little bit and didn’t really do anything about it but then Acorn did it again. I picked up Henri and found that Acorn had actually bit him! I wasn’t sure what to do about the whole thing so I seperated the boys because I couldn’t let Acorn keep biting Henri.

I took Henri upstairs and cleaned the bite. It doesn’t look that bad but I am not sure what else I should do about it. Should I be putting anything on it?

Why do you think Acorn decided to go after Henri’s boy parts? I just don’t get it! Should I keep them seperated now? I have some pictures of them together cuddling last night that I will put up later. . . they don’t look like two bunnies that aren’t getting along, and I know this is the first time this has happened because I groom Henri everyday.

[charlie82]

hmmm…was it an aggressive bite or nip? Did Henri try to mount Acorn? obviously he bit hard if he has caused a wound. I can’t remember if your bunnies are neutered or not??? I would be nervous keeping two unaltered males together. Even though they might get on well for most of the time they will usually always have spats, I think if the wound is serious enough to need treating I would be cautious when they are together and would definitely have them neutered for peace of mind. That’s just my personal opinion though, others may have better advice! 🙂

[Sarita]

I agree – it might be best to separate the boys until they are neutered since Acorn is showing some aggressive signs.

[Beka27]

yeah… when are they going in to get neutered?  i don’t remember if you said you had a date or not yet.  Henri is certainly old enough… i just don’t remember what age Acorn is.

[angoralvr]

They are both old enough and they are both hormonal for sure. I have an appointment set up on February second but since I decided to change vets, the new vet wants me to bring them in for a wellness exam first. The woman did say that there shouldn’t be any problem with setting up the surgeries for one day that week so I am seriously hoping that I can get this all done the week of February second. I can’t wait until the boys are neutered!

[angoralvr]

I am not sure if the nip was really aggressive or not but like you said, it was hard. Acorn has bit me before once or twice and I can tell you from personal experience, when the little boy bites, he means it! I think he is just getting too territorial with all the hormones. He has been chasing my cats around a lot more now too.

[Beka27]

i really hope you can get it done that week too!  they’re definitely hormonal.

[angoralvr]

Since they are seperated again. . . I have Acorn in his crate and the crate is close enough to the cage I just made that the boys can see each other. Would you guys still suggest giving them out time together or do you think it would be a better idea to seperate them for that for now too? If I seperated them for that, then I would probably give Henri some time out upstairs and while Henri was upstairs, I would allow Acorn access to the run and bunny condo and then switch them after Henri got some time upstairs and let Acorn come upstairs.

[Beka27]

i would think they can have supervised out time together since they’re okay most of the time.  but at the first sign of aggression you should separate them again.  it would be nice for them to not lose the bond in the meantime.

[angoralvr]

That’s what I was worried about. . . I actually got a video of Acorn biting Henri because I happened to be playing with my camera at the time. I’ll post the link to it, I think you guys should be able to see it.

http://s85.photobucket.com/albums/k61/melsld/?action=view&current=MOV01433.flv\

Let me know if that doesn’t work. I am not sure how to post videos so I just put the link to it in my photobucket.

[BinkyBunny]

It worked for me. So you said he bites his boy parts? or did you mean around his boy parts? I know serious bites have happened when one bunny mounts the other’s head. But from the video it looks like Acorn is trying to show is dominance by owning the place and making Henri move. It also might be that when he sniffs in that area, he may smell henri’s unneutered bum, and it sets off his instincts to fight for territory and dominance. Just be sure to watch the bite so that it doesn’t become infected/abscessed.

I also noticed that it looks like the fur around henri’s eyes are damp. What is that from? Does he have an infection or tooth issue?

[angoralvr]

The fur around Henri’s eyes isn’t wet, just a little dirty from Acorn deciding to pee on him. He did it not long after I gave Henri a bath too, I think he was unhappy that he smelled like a clean bunny instead of smelling like himself.

[BinkyBunny]

OH, got it…poor Henri. Such indignity. )

[bunnytowne]

in the wild  male buns fight for territory/dominance etc. and sometimes they try to castrate the other male. be very careful.  my neuters got along til they turned 1 yr then 1 starting biting the other hard. after that I seperated them and they would still lie by the others cage and no harm came to them if so one could just hop off with the other in the cage. unable to follow they took turns beign out

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