Bonded bunnies fighting

[Meaghyean]

So, for a few months now Finny and Moe have been bonded. Finny is the dominant one and Moe is the submissive one from what I can tell. They are both fixed and have been for a few months. I came into the room one morning and noticed that there were clumps of Moe’s hair around the place. The two of them were fine and were sitting side by side and then I watched as Moe began to groom Finny.
I have noticed earlier the week though that Moe has been trying to hump Finny. She keeps trying to mount him but he usually doesnt want her doing it so he will nip her and then try to hump her. Then they just sort of stop after a little bit of back and forth.
Is this a sign of them fighting? I figure maybe Moe is trying to be the dominant bun but Finny diesnt allow her to be. Anything I can do to help them? Or should I just let them work it out themselves? I couldn’t see any bite marks on Moe.

[Bunny House]

Did you do any prebonding with them? How long have they been bonded for?
There may have been something in the environment that changed like a new smell or some new item that could have made them get territorial and fight.

A clump of hair could just be that one was mounting the other and pull the hair that they bit out.

[Meaghyean]

I did pre bonding for about a month and a half and they’ve been bonded only for 3 months. Their environment hasn’t changed, at least not that I’ve noticed.
It was a few clumps of hair, I would say about 6. It was only her fur and not Finny’s. Shes also moulting though, when I pet her I noticed a lot of hair came off. They seem fine now though. They are cuddling with each other and Moe is grooming Finny, she isnt scared of him at all. It just made me worry because it was like little hairballs roaming around the room.

[Asriel and Bombur]

Did you go through the formal bonding process? Can you tell us what you did to bond them? Because it sounds like maybe they didn’t and now they’re trying to sort out their issues.

[Meaghyean]

Well for pre bonding they were side by side for 3 weeks with about 5 inches of space between them (they stayed that way until they were actually bonded). Once they could be together without fighting I took them outside on my porch for some bonding sessions. I did multiple bonding sessions, starting at only 10min until it was hours long. I had them in my living room in an exercise pen at the end of it where they would spend hours together and cuddle. Then I let them have an overnight session downstairs in the room they would be in with me keeping near by all night. I witnessed Moe grooming Finny and them cuddling throughout the night and since then they havent been separated. The first few nights I keep their room door open so I could know if there were any fights or anything. After pre bonding the process took about 2-3 weeks. Oh I also went on car rides with them to stress bond in the beginning.

[Bunny House]

Did you do the actual prebonding or switching them in each other’s pens everyday for over a month? You can’t put them side by side and call it prebonding.

[Meaghyean]

Yeah I would switch them every night.

[Asriel and Bombur]

I just remember you had a lot of issues in the beginning with fighting so it seems odd that they were bonded in 2 weeks. Bonding usually takes at least 1-2 months. It sounds a little rush to be honest.

[Meaghyean]

I don’t know it was my first time bonding bunnies so I just went by what the internet said to do. I started outside because both of the rabbits are free roam. I would have them take turns roaming the house so both of their scents were all over. Anyways so I had one session outside and Finny would chase Moe a little bit but not excessive. That session only lasted 10mins. Then we did a car ride for about 15mins and then we’d go in a hallway for another 15mins. We did that about 3 times. Then I would set up an x-pen in the living room and watch them interact. These meetings started at 30mins then increased to I would say about 5 hours. I did this every day for maybe a week and a half. Then I put them down in their room in a sectioned off part and had them stay together for a sleep over for a few nights.
During the living room sessions they never fought, they cuddled and groomed each other. They would flop close down to one another. I all took those as good signs to keep moving on.
The only environment change that they would have would be that we are moving soon so all the objects from my room are gone. My room was directly next to their room. It started shortly after that. But I did notice Moe humping Finny even before that, but it just seemed to increase when I started sleeping in a different room.

[DanaNM]

Sometimes freshly bonded pairs can still have some kinks to sort out. Some bonded pairs will mount regularly. Sounds like it isn’t escalating? The fur pulled could have been from mounting attempts. Moving the furniture might be enough of a change to trigger a little upset.

If you haven’t already, check them thoroughly for any scabs to see if there were any serious bites.

Are they still pretty cuddly and grooming each other as frequently as before? And, are there other instances of lunging or chasing?

Sometimes it can help to do a little bonding session, such as some stressing to make sure things are re-solidified. You can try a car ride, or vacuuming around them, etc.

If neither bun got an actual bite wound, and the mounting attempts seem like they are resolving on their own, then I would just keep an eye on them. If it seem like they are cuddling less and less, and grooming less, and just generally being testy with each other, some bonding sessions should help re-cement them.

If one was actually injured, their bond may have been damaged to the point where they will need some more time and supervision. Hopefully it was just a little tiff though.

. . . 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.  

[sarahthegemini]

You’ve been given some great advice but I thought I’d throw another possibility into the mix. You said your female is moulting? Could she be pulling her own fur out? My female is moulting at the mo and I see clumps of fur around (but I’ve observed her grooming herself, moving and then a little clump is left behind) Do you think that’s a possibility? Definitely continue to observe of course but I wouldn’t panic just yet.

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