bonded males suddenly fighting

[NCoe17]

I have been given 2 neutered males (fog and Hog) I was told they have always lived together and get on well and love to be together. After four days of having them they started fighting and I had to separate the as one had been injured and started bleeding, he was taken to the vets and has his wound cleaned and checked, he is now all healed up but I want to get them re bonded tips please I don’t like separating bunnies that have always been together. 

[tanlover14]

Hey there —

How positive are you that they were completely bonded and what are their ages?

Since you were told that, could that possibly not be true and just something someone said to get you to take the bunnies? I only wonder because if there IS that possibility I would start the bonding process from the very beginning and go from there. If they WERE bonded like you were told, then this should make the process easier. And there is also the possibility that one of the bunnies could have become sick. Sickness can sometimes cause fighting between bonded bunnies.

Anyways, for tips on beginning the bonding process. I would start out with a stress bonding situation. Putting them in the tub together, putting them in a carrier and taking them for a car-ride, or putting them in a laundry basket and setting them on top of a running dryer/washer. Anything to stress them out. This will help them frighten and come together as a group (instinct for bunnies in danger). As they groom/cuddle begin to expand the area they are allowed together in. You could go from a carrier/laundry basket. When doing well, you can switch to the bath tub. Then move up to the bathroom floor. And then eventually back to their mutual territory. If you’re keeping them separated right now, I would switch the bunnies in between the enclosures you are using from them to get them to associate the others scent with sharing their stuff. You can also do this by putting towels in the other cages that smells like the other bun or even just switching the litter boxes up. Hope the starting tips help! Any other questions and I can help answer so don’t be afraid to ask!

[jerseygirl]

Do you know how long they have been neutered for?

Sometimes a new environment or changes to an old one causes stress and fighting. If you have other rabbits or other pets, this could certainly be a trigger also.

You could contact the old owner to find out any specific personality traits that might have been the trouble.

In November I looked after a friends rabbits that always lived in a group. Unfortunately some fights broke out at my place. They did settle again once they went home.

I think separating was wise but try keep them close by one another. You will likely need to do daily bonding sessions with them. The bathtub works well as they have little choice but to acknowledge one another, even if it means ignoring each other. You could try giving them food to share during their bonding sessions.

Hopefully keeping up their interaction and their becoming accustomed to their new home, you should start to see an improvement.

[jerseygirl]

Oops. I didn’t see Tanlovers post before. Ditto everything she said.

[NCoe17]

thank you, they were neutered when they were younger they are now about 3 or 4. They used to live in the same cage at their previous owners and she had never had any problems with them fighting (I checked with her before putting them in the same house and she was certain that they would get along as she had housed them together.) Both have been to the vet to check they are not ill. I have 7 other bunnies as I take them in for people when they decide they no longer want them. I will try the laundry basket thing as they don’t fit in a carrier together.

[jerseygirl]

I strongly suspect it’s the smell or sight of the other rabbits that set this off then. They will likely acclimatize but some bonding work with them will certainly help.

[T-Bun]

Hi NCoe17, I’m going through the same thing with my bonded trio. I took them in two months ago, and after a month, the two older buns ( a male and female) turned on the youngest (female). No better words of advice than you’ve gotten already, just wanted you to know that you’re not alone. Hang in there and good luck!

[tanlover14]

Ahhhh, I COMPLETELY agree with Jerseygirl. The sight/smell of other bunnies can really cause a bonded pair to fight. This same thing has happened to me as I just adopted a new bun bun to bond to my bonded trio. Literally, he was home for 3 minutes before my bonded trio saw him and brought out in a HUGE fight between the three of them. Even during the bonding process after all being shown to him – they have continued to have a scuffle every now and then. I would DEFINITELY do stress bonding to strengthen their bond some more. I would also try housing them somewhere where they can’t see the other bunnies. It seemed to be the sight of Simba that sets my trio off.

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