Bonded rabbits fighting

[BenjaminBunny]

Hi all, I am new to the forum, but am having some massive stress with my two bonded bunnies at the moment, so thought I would join up for some help and advise. So my names Ben, and my little rabbits names are Mr Buns and Bella. So Mr Buns we have had for around 2 years now (neutured) and Bella we rescued in November from a shelter, she is also spayed. They have been happily bonded since November and living together free range. Saturday night we were awoken to bangs and chases in the middle of the night and fur everywhere. Since then its been hell. They cannot even bare to be near each other. We tried to put into a carrier to go for a car ride to stress them but before we even left the house they were attacking each other in the carrier.

There have been no changes to any diet, routine, environment, both have been to the vets this week, as I thought maybe one of them was ill, but both are in perfect shape. They have just lost all love. Today they have been seperated whilst I have been at work, and as soon as I got home and put them together it was awful. Like nothing I have seen with fighting and fur pulling so they are seperated again. I just dont know what to do or where to start with getting them to like each other again. I have called the rescue and she has suggested that I return Bella, but I really dont think that I can do this, So any help or advice on where to go from here or what to do next would be great, Currently they are in seperate play pens next to each other.

Thank you in advance.

Ben

[Luna]

Hi! You are right to separate them for now. I think when a real fight occurs that they are supposed to be separated for a while (a few days or more?) before they are reunited.

[Mikey]

Stop putting them together. Something broke their bond. They see one another as threats to *kill* right now. Theyll need to be completely separated for as long as it takes to rebond them. They may never bond again, so be prepared for that, but dont give up if it takes longer than a few months; some rabbits just need a longer time to cement their bonds.

Start by getting them both cages or pens, and keep the cage/pen about six inches apart. They can see one another and smell one another, but they cannot reach one another. Make sure there is a cover on the cage/pen as rabbits will find a way to escape if there is no cover. They each get their own toys and litter boxes for their new cages/pens. Each cage/pen also gets a stuffed animal in the cage. Every morning or every night, swap the bunnies. Let them mark it up, and try not to clean too often so they can swap scents around. After they stop marking and show no aggression, start actual bonding sessions in a neutral territory in your house. You can create a neutral space by deep cleaning any rooms you want to work on bonding sessions with the bunnies.

[BenjaminBunny]

Hi. Thank you both for your response. I have gone and done as you said. We have cuddly toys, and all brand new rabbit stuff so their is no scent on either of them. They will be swapped this evening. So far no aggression through the bars. They seem to just stand opposite each other and look at each other. A few times their have put noses through the bar as if to touch each other. Will keep you updated. Praying this is going to work and in a month or so they will be back to being loving. I am hoping this is a just a touch of the seasons changing and she’s a grumpy cow haha and will calm down 🙂 thanks again

[Author]

Messages