Henry has become aggressive

[luna]

Hi guys,

 

Iv been keeping a close eye on Henry and Poppy over last few days and Henrys behaviour has been really disappointing. For the most part they are sitting cuddled up together grooming each other but when it comes to floor time in the living room Henry flips and becomes a totally different bunny. It is strange because they get on fine at first and then out of no where he lunges at her.

 

Lastnight Poppy came up on the couch to me and Henry was on the other side of the room. His ears purked up and he practically catapulted himself across the room up onto my lap and chased her off. From this moment on he seemed to be so aware of her whereabouts in the room at all times and seemed quite anxious.

 

Everything seemed fine for a while again. They were up on the couch together binkying around and then he started biting her bum again and i saw him lunge one more time on the floor and he had a clump of her hair in his mouth. So i put them both back in their cage where they started grooming each other. Everything seemed fine.

 

This morning i got up and i saw him mounting her ( which he does at least once a day still) but then he was kinda using his two front paws and started burrowing/scratching  her back. It was really weird…she is usually very passive but this action must have caused her some distress as she thumped and ran away from him. Now they are cuddled up again and he is grooming her. Thats what i dont understand. One minute he is being mean and next minute he is grooming her. I really want this to work out as i  am going back to college full time in september to study vet nursing and will be moving down the country and probably wont have as much room as i have now. It will make things very difficult if they are living separately

 

I will be going away for 3 days on Friday and have a friend coming in to feed them but my friend does not have great experience with rabbits unfortunately so am worried in case they have a huge fall out while i am not around! Any advice would be great… xx

[MarkBun]

My guess is that Henry is trying to show Poppy that you are his and not hers. When back in the cage where Poppy can’t get to you, his agression lowers. I wouldn’t be worried about leaving them together when you’re gone for 3 days and, in fact, it will probably be very good for them. That way, they can bond with one another without you inviting jealousy issues.

[luna]

Thanks Markusdark, thats reassuring to know that going away at this time isnt the worst idea in the world i had them out together in the living room lastnight as my boyfriend hadnt been there the night before and i wanted his opinion on how they were getting on. The same thing happened again…

so we got the squirty bottle out this time and picked Henry up and moved him away when he showed signs of aggression.  He kept making a bee line for her bum so i would keep picking him up and sitting them beside each other while petting and reassuring them both. I shouted at Henry a few times as well because i was so frustrated with the situation. I think im doing everything wrong. I probably shouldnt be petting him at all when he is behaving that way. It is probably reinforcing his spoilt bratty behaviour but when i see him all wet from the bottle he looks so miserable and i feel i need to help him dry off Sometimes i think having a real child would be easier that having rabbits …Lol!

[MarkBun]

Try petting Poppy instead when the trouble starts. If Henry comes over grunting, just push his head down to the floor and say “No.” He needs to stop thinking he can get away with everything. Even if he does.

[luna]

Thanks Markus. I think Henry may think his name is “no” at this stage I say it to him so often. They were out again this evening and it went a little better. There was still some biting and chasing from him but then she flopped on the ground and seemed really relaxed but that soon ended when she got another nip.

 

Henry did a very quick flop beside her at one stage too but then decided he was bored and he saw her bum and thought he might chase her. She doesnt get too upset for the most part. There was plenty of binkying and mischief between them this evening I had a little photo shoot  so will post them in the lounge section tomorrow!

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