Did My Rabbits Fight?

[DoriAndChewie]

So I’m a first time rabbit owner and have 2 little girls named Dori and Chewie. They are both about a month old, according to the vet last week, and have been getting along fine since I got them about 3 weeks ago. The first night we brought them home they mounted each other a few times which I stopped(not knowing the sex at the time and fearing more rabbits) by lifting Dori off Chewies head but have they been fine as far as my knowledge. But just now, after hearing some strange noises in their play area I found them both on their backs with what looked like Chewie holding Dori by the neck and both of them kicking the hell out of each other with all four legs. I panicked and shoved a cereal box in between them and they both ran to separate rooms of their giant play forts I made for them. A fair amount of fur game out of each but I think they were more mad at ME for using the box to break them up.. I had to bribe them both out their hide away but they are now acting like it never happened. I dont want to come home to a dead bunny. Do rabbit random fight like kids or is this bad.

[Azerane]

Hello, unfortunately yes, your rabbits have had a fight. I’m not sure how old they are, you say one month which I know can’t be right if you’ve had them for three weeks, and judging by your profile pic. In any case, I assume they are fairly young. Young rabbits can not be truly bonded until after they are spayed or neutered. As much as young rabbits may get along with each other or an adult rabbit, once puberty hits and hormones kick in, things can turn very serious very quickly as you have discovered. Even though they may appear to be getting along again, there is no telling when a fight may once again break out.

Rabbit fights can be very dangerous and there are cases where rabbits have killed each other. Nasty injuries are not uncommon so it is important that you keep them in separate cages/play areas. You will need to keep them separated until at least 6 weeks after they have both been spayed. This allows time for physical healing, and also a reduction in hormone levels which will make it easier to bond them. During this time to can do pre-bonding work to keep them familiar. Keep them near each other, but keep a 1 inch gap between their areas as bunnies are known to bite noses through bars. You can swap which area you keep them in, and switch toys and food bowls etc between them to keep them used to sharing those things with the scent of the other bunny on them Once the time has passed, you will then need to start bonding sessions with them in a neutral area (a sectioned off area of your house where neither rabbit has been before) to get them to bond. This may take days, weeks or months, and there may be chasing and nipping, but in the end you will have two properly bonded rabbits, who will not randomly get into fights.

[DoriAndChewie]

Well my vet said “about a month” 1 week ago and I had them for 3 days before the i took them to the vet and they arrived at the pet store the day I bought them. They were 1.5 and 1.67 pounds. My vet said she wait until 4-6 months to spay them so i have to wait another 2 at least since she is the one saying they are 1 month now. Also if it changes anything for some reason when I got home today and said hello to them they both look at me recognized me and rain like bats out of hell up to their 3rd floor house like I attack them or something. They just been being weird all around today. My cage for them is a 6’x4′ corner of my room with a second level (1’x4′) that leads to a small 3 floor with a house for them to sleep in. Will they notice that once gets all the extra space and resent me? Also can I take them out into the play area together when I’m around? Because other then this fight they seem to like playing with each other. Even now they are cuddling on the second floor together.

[sarahthegemini]

Yes, of course that is a full on fight. But no, rabbits do not fight like children do. When they fight they can kill one another. That’s why bonding properly is so important. You can’t keep them together if they are fighting like this.

I’m still confused on how old they are. Rabbits shouldn’t be taken from their mother until they are 8 weeks/2 months so it’s possible the pet shop is not being very ethical in regards to the animals they are selling.

[DoriAndChewie]

Yea, I read online about them needed to be 8 weeks to leave their mother and asked the vet but she said not all places listen to those rules. She even took picture with them because they were so tiny and she has her own rabbits. It was a “Pet’s Plus” which I believe is a chain shop but they were sold as “Baby Rabbits for 54.99”. I have them back together ATM but am working on a cage separator. I just built such a giant cage before I don’t know how to split it up fairly. Dori seems to have “learned her place” and places her head under Chewie now so i think they be ok until i’m done. There is no way I can bond them before I neuter/spay them and again after..

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By DoriAndChewie on 6/03/2017 9:58 AM

Yea, I read online about them needed to be 8 weeks to leave their mother and asked the vet but she said not all places listen to those rules. She even took picture with them because they were so tiny and she has her own rabbits. It was a “Pet’s Plus” which I believe is a chain shop but they were sold as “Baby Rabbits for 54.99”. I have them back together ATM but am working on a cage separator. I just built such a giant cage before I don’t know how to split it up fairly. Dori seems to have “learned her place” and places her head under Chewie now so i think they be ok until i’m done. There is no way I can bond them before I neuter/spay them and again after..

Gosh it’s a shame pet shops do that, it’s so immoral but all they care about is making a sale!

It doesn’t necessarily have to be 100% equal, you could switch them around so they stay in each other’s part of the enclosure every day or every few days. It’ll help them to stay accustomed to each other’s scent.

BTW, Dori sticking her head under Chewie is her asking for grooms

[Mikey]

If thats them in your profile picture, theyre much older than a month. I would put them at 3 months.

Yes they full on fought. They need to be completely separated. keeping them together at all is risking another fight thats just as bad or much, much worse. You should rethink keeping them together, especially since they are both acting hormonal (fighting for dominance). Remember, if they can reach one another, they can and will fight again.

[DoriAndChewie]

I will separate them but still unsure of for how long this should be done. Like… can they still have play area time together if i’m watching and can break up any fights and only separate them at night/when i’m not around to watch them? Or do then need zero contact with each other now.

[DoriAndChewie]

I will separate them but still unsure of for how long this should be done. Like… can they still have play area time together if i’m watching and can break up any fights and only separate them at night/when i’m not around to watch them? Or do then need zero contact with each other now?

[sarahthegemini]

They can not have play dates. They have to be kept seperate at all times.

[Mikey]

No play dates. Any time spent together can lead to fighting, and the more fights they have, the less likely they will ever bond in the future. So, zero contact until they can be spayed. Once they can be spayed, start prebonding (swap their toys, litter boxes, bowls, ect) up until a month or two after they are spayed. After a month or two after they are spayed, you can start actual bonding.

[Mikey]

I also recommend getting a second opinion from a new vet. They really, really do not look to be a month old if that is them in your picture. If your vet cant age a rabbit fairly correctly, you really dont want them doing surgery on your rabbits in a few months, either. Are you sure this vet you took them to is rabbit certified? Has taken classes for rabbits and has worked on rabbits hundreds if not thousands of times?

[Author]

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