My Unaltered female rabbit suddenly became dominate over neutered male

[Kat9055]

I had my three yr old male netherland dwarf neutered in early 2013. This past summer, I got a baby (10 wk) holland lop female. I kept them separated the first month with short playdates. When she was about the same size as him (and they have been getting along great) I moved them into a huge, three story hutch together (with two llitterboxes).

I haven’t had any troubles with them together these past 3 months together, but suddenly she became very pushy (asserting her dominance). She is always on top of him. not usually humping, but instead, she will rest her paw on his back, her head on his neck, etc. At first, he seemed bothered, but after a couple days, all settled down. He LOVES her company and they get sad when I separate them. 

I thought things would be fine like this, but I talked to a “bunny-expert” who has a ton of experience raising and judging rabbits all over the world and she said it was dangerous to keep them together and that the female can suddenly become very aggressive and injure, or even kill, the male. Now I am kind of freaked out. I have been trying to separate them at night, but they keep breaking through to be with each other (a joint effort).

I did a ton of research on keeping neutered males with unaltered females, and I don’t remember reading about this being a serious issue. There are no vet clinics that alter females around me (only males), but I plan to get her altered when I move in 6-weeks.

Please, anyone have advice!!? 

[LittlePuffyTail]

It’s very normal for your female to want to be dominant. In the Wild the female is the one in charge of the warren and your bun is now into hormone time.

I would definitely get her spayed asap. It’s true that a rabbit fight can cause serious injury. If they were my buns I would keep them together only when I could supervise (unless further aggression starts which would require complete separation.) I would house them side by side where they can see and smell each other whe your not around. Like side by side condos. Until you get her fixed.

[jerseygirl]

I thought things would be fine like this, but I talked to a “bunny-expert” who has a ton of experience raising and judging rabbits all over the world and she said it was dangerous to keep them together and that the female can suddenly become very aggressive and injure, or even kill, the male.

Could her advice have been regarding both unaltered male and female together?

ETA: Adorable avatar btw

[Kat9055]

Nope, that is what I thought, but she said even if he is neutered and they have lived together months, it was still dangerous.

[Kat9055]

I think you are right. I just need to make the separation walls more secure. They HATE being away from each other and love cuddling, so even if I block off the entrance between the levels, they are experts at escape! The whole hormone change thing has just started, so no damage done. 6 weeks and she can be fixed! (even though they will be separated after that until the hormones are out of her system.)

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Kat9055 on 10/07/2015 5:44 AM

Nope, that is what I thought, but she said even if he is neutered and they have lived together months, it was still dangerous.

I wonder if she also meant not keeping both altered male and female rabbits together?  I know there are some people that say rabbits are solitary and shouldn’t be paired up at all… I have read that on a breeders site before.  

If you do end up doing a divider, can you use wire so they can still see, smell and lie next to each other? I have a friend who I am certain kept her unspayed female with her desexed male nethie while she saved up for a spay. The difference though was her rabbit was older. I dont know if she had them together when the female reached puberty. Probably not, but I’ll try find out. 

[Kat9055]

I have a 3 story condo that is good sized out of wire cube pieces and I divided it up, so they can still smell and see each other. Penny has been marking her territory like CRAZY! I am SO EXCITED to get her spayed. I wish I could get her fixed sooner than December!

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