Oreo & Jessica…Enemy Bunnies Help!

[skunklionshow]

Earlier this year, Jessica was viciously attacked by her cagemate, Oreo.  Jessica ended up moving in w/ me and Oreo continued to live at our school facility. 

Well we have a 1 1/2 week break b/f summer begins.  Due to some homing difficulties, I got stuck w/ Oreo.  She’s been free roaming for about an hour.  I’ve kept Jessica in her cage.  I figured w/ a cage b/t them I can see if they are agitated by each other w/o actually putting them physically together. 

I think they still hate each other b/c there’s been alot of sniffing, thumping and jumping against the cage.  I think that they both tried to get at each other through the cage.  Oreo is spayed, Jessica is not.  Jess goes in Friday for her spay and then cage rest for a week. 

Did I make a huge error?  Am I going to stress these girls out too much?  Is there no hope for them to be friends again?  Please help!

[MooBunnay]

A few weeks ago my boy hopped into my OTHER boy’s cage and they got into a HUGE fight.  I thought it would make Raymond to scared to be able to see Juli and Kramer since Kramer attacked him so I moved him into my room.  Raymond was really beat up, and when he was in my room he was refusing to eat or do anything.  Then, I thought maybe Raymond was getting sad, so I moved him back into the room where he could see Juli and Kramer and he was 200X happier. SO the moral of the story is – I don’t think the bunnies will be buddy buddy any time soon, but I don’t think bunnies hold grudges either   The thumping etc. is probably just because they know another girl bun is around. 

[skunklionshow]

Yeah…they definately HATE each other!  As I was vacumming yesterday evening, I found numerous clumps of Jessi fur near her cage.  Oreo has been attempting to bite Jessi through her cage.  Jessi’s cage has a screen top that I can easily remove for cage cleaning.  She has been attempting to climb & jump out through the top of her cage to get at Oreo.  We had to put a few books on top of her cage so she can’t break out!

She’s moved her litterbox to the front of her cage….I’m not sure why, but I’m sure this is a bunny tactic.  This morning when I went to feed the bunnies, Jess ran out of her cage and started to fight w/ Oreo.  Oreo remained in her cage.  I found a small blood pool on the floor.  I haven’t been able to find any wounds on either bunny.  Needless to say, we’ve requested that our neighbors take Oreo for next week.  They are discussing it (3 roommates) and will give us an answer on Sat. 

Jess is on total alert.  She’s jumping around her cage like a fiend and has been biting the bars (she’s never done this).  Not to mention he’s getting poop all over the outside of her cage, knocking things over, etc.  She gets spayed tomorrow and I just don’t want her recovery to be too stressful.  I think that these bunnies are holding "grudges" w/ each other.

[wendyzski]

As a short-term measure to get them to calm down a bit, try putting a large sheet of carboard between the cages so they can’t see each other and can’t bite through the cages.  They will still be on  edge, but being unable to see each other will help keep it unfocused. 

 

I picked up this trick from my local shelter – the buns have playtime in x-pens, and sometimes will try to fuss through the bars, but the cardboard helps.

[skunklionshow]

My neighbors took Oreo for the week.  W/ Jessi’s spay and subsequent not eating…we wanted to ensure that she would be feeling very comfy.

[BinkyBunny]

Keeping them apart right now where they can see each other will be much better for Jessica as she heals. Also, rabbits can bite each others face through the cage and do real damage. Part of Rucy’s lip had to be sewn on because I once made that mistake. I’ve seen major damage to eyes, noses, etc, as one bunny lounges near the edge and the other comes up and launches and unexpected assault.

On another note: Congrats on getting Jessica spayed!  I know she’s feeling uncomfortable right now and not feeling so great.   Just make sure to try and get her to nibble on something by the next morning.  Did the vet send her home with any pain meds?

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