Bonded Pair not so Peaceful

[Sasha]

Lupe and Buffy has been together for more than a year now.  They never have a big fight ever since they’re bonded. They’re staying in the same area at night or when I’m out, never been seperated. And eversince my schedule’s change, I get to hang out with my bunnies more often. Lupe has always been the outgoing type and like to be cuddled while watching TV with me, she had been an only bunny for almost 2 years until I got Buffy.  While Buffy from the start is more mellow, and doesn’t really like to explore that much and lounges alone So in certain times when I’m a home they spend time at different area. They would chase each other when they meet in the hallway and there’s nipping involved. It happens mosty when I give them treats. But no hair pulling or anything serious. It makes me little anxious though. And they don’t groom each other as much. So is this normal in bonded pair? Does any of your bonded pair fight at all?

[Stickerbunny]

I can only say what my pair do, since it’s the first pair I have been around for extended periods of time and no, mine don’t fight at all. Nightly Powder grooms Stickers, but she’s never groomed him back. There has been no nipping since the bonding process was over, then only a few times in the beginning. No chasing, except in play. And mine are nearly always in the same room together, though occasionally they will hang out in different rooms, but never for long.

It almost sounds like a bit of territorial behavior still exists for your two, are they both altered?

[Sarita]

I have a pair that I bunny sit that acts this way when it comes to food and treats. The female is very food anxious and does not share well…which what it sounds like in your case.

What I would suggest for treat time if they have this treat anxiety is to give them treats separately. Give the dominant treat offender their treat first and then take the other one apart and give them their treat.

[bunnyfriend]

Some rabbits can get a little more aggressive around food time (survival instinct), sometimes my male rabbit will literally take food away from my female rabbit’s mouth. Now I’m just in the habit of feeding them in separate rooms or will sit down and watch them.

I too am wondering if they have been spayed/neutered?

[Sasha]

Lupe and Buffy are both females and spayed. I do realize mostly whenever I give them treats and they get excited and jump all over the place, that’s when the nipping starts. They do still nip each other sometimes even without the treats but not that often. So I think food can be one of the cause. I’ll start giving them treat in seperate areas to prevent fighting.

[Elrohwen]

My girl still chases my boy if there is food involved and I’m not quick enough giving it to them. When DH is making them breakfast she’ll often chase him away, then once the food goes down she’ll chase him away from whichever bowl she wants (we try to put the two bowls of veggies far enough apart that Otto can have his own at least until she calms down). Otto’s also good about waiting for the food in an area where she won’t chase him.

She’ll come up behind him and nip him in a bum sometimes, even pulling hair out. So for them, it’s normal and as time goes on the boy gets better at dealing with it – instead of running when she nips him, he turns around to face her and asks for groomies – then she gets confused and forgets that she was going to chase him … lol.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Aww El how cute!! Must take a video of that

[Author]

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