Some weird things going on…

[Tate]

My rabbits have been bonded for about a month now and we moved to a new apartment on Dec 5th. It took about 4-6 weeks I think to bond them, but was ok for the most part. They have done wonderfully in the new apartment and seem so happy here! But for the last week or so, their litter habits are really going out the window. First it was a few stray poops around, then it was a bit more stray poop but still using the litterbox some, and now they flat out will NOT use the litterbox even when I put all of the poop back into it! I am going to try some new hay to see if that helps, but other than that, I can’t figure it out! Then today, they got in a huge fight when I wasn’t home… fur pulled out and every time they went near each other, there was a lot of lunging. I confined them to the kitchen and took out the mats in there so that they didn’t have a spot to get a good grip (they do not like the linoleum… I don’t blame them ) and put in a litterbox and pellets and water. Now they are grooming each other and flopped together. What the heck?! I can’t really confine them long term because one is a flemmie and not only needs to run, but she can pretty much jump over every barricade I construct. Any ideas on what caused this? I am worried that it will go downhill from here…. 

[Peony]

I am new to bunnies but I think I might be able to comment on the litter issue. With my bunny, I had hay on the floor and she would eat it not thinking anything of it. Well her mistakes increased then I figured she might be doing it because there was a lot to eat outside the litter box. So I cleaned up the hay (I still have hay stuffed in toilet paper rolls to play with, I just make sure the floor does not have a lot remaining) and she stopped with the mistakes.

 So I want to ask, how much hay and such is outside the litterbox? Do they spend a lot of time eating outside it?

[Zombie-Sue]

Sometimes new bonds aren’t that stable. Maybe the move really disrupted them? I think you’ll have to rebond them, but it shouldn’t take as long this time because you’re really just repairing an old bond.

If you’re worried about them fighting while you’re not home, you might separate them by keeping one in a different room.

[Stickerbunny]

Sounds like maybe the move disrupted the bond a bit, causing marking and then a scuffle, try rebonding starting from confinement for a few days in neutral territory and see how they do?

[Tate]

Bah! I figured as much. :/ I was hoping the move stressed them out enough and it was a totally neutral area so as to really cement the bond. No such luck! I have them confined to the kitchen, although I don’t know how long that will last with Lucy’s escaping capabilities. They have done great in there all day today by flopping and grooming each other. I may take them to work with me so I can keep an eye on them and as an added stress bonding thing. Thanks!

[Stickerbunny]

If it makes you feel any better, when my two needed rebonding, it only took a few days. So, could be really quick for them to get over it.

[Author]

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