Three fights today, Molly is frightened of Owen

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

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LOut of the blue Owen and Molly had a fight this morning. I wasn’t awake yet, but Bas broke up the fight quickly by picking up the first bunny that he could reach. Nobody was hurt, but their cardboard hiding box was overturned, toys were scattered and there was fur everywhere.

When we put Owen back in the pen after a couple of minutes they were fine and even napped against each other a large part of the afternoon. There was some mutual grooming.

Around 5 in the afternoon there suddenly was a fight again, and we quickly broke it up. This time it didn’t go well when we put them back together: Owen attacked Molly so fiercely that she became afraid of him.

We didn’t know what to do, so we left Molly out of the pen while we contacted the bonder. Molly was breathing fast and it seemed like she was looking for reassurance from us: she nudged both of us a couple of times. She was too nervous to be petted but she wanted to make contact.

The bonder is at a loss too… She just advised us to buy a herbal valerian calming supplement that goes into their food.

I’ve divided their pen in half by two extra fence panels. Molly is a lot more relaxed now. We’re hoping that this blows over and that we can slowly reintroduce them tomorrow.

 

Owen and Molly were considered bonded a couple of weeks ago, but there still were some small squabbles and mounting. There was some circling and the occasional tuft of fur, but never close to as fierce as today.

The main theme of the squabbles was grooming: Molly wanted to be groomed more often than Owen supplied, so she chased him if he denied it.

Molly has been spraying and pooping again, she does that every time when they disagree. Today there was a lot: big streaks of pee all over their hiding box. According to the vet there’s nothing he can do: she’s been spayed and everything was removed.

 

I really hope that they’ll calm down with the supplement, and that they can be put together again 😥

[DanaNM]

Ugh this is disappointing!

I wonder if the transition from the bonder’s house to home was too abrupt? Do you think the bonder could take them back to work with them again?

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

There’s nothing that she says she can do. She puts it down to either puberty or a wrong match 🙁

Molly seems to have perked up from the temporary separation: she’s playing, flopping, munching hay and eating.

Owen sits in one corner of his part of the pen and only comes out to use the box.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

I really really hope that it’s just puberty. Molly seems to struggle with her self-esteem: one moment she acts all confident and she demands grooming, the next she’s a little bundle of nerves.  She’s been demanding grooming from Owen a lot lately, and I think that she met Owen’s limits today.

The change in behaviour after separating them by a fence is pretty clear: Molly is less confident when she’s alone, but a lot more sociable. Owen is grumpy, ignores everyone and rattles the pen again. Molly stopped spreading poop and pee soon after we separated them.

We let them out to play in turns tonight. Owen just ran around a bit and didn’t socialise at all. Molly immediately joined me on the sofa, and she sat with me for a while.

After that she went to the bedroom where Bas was playing video games. She flopped next to him and stayed there for a big part of the evening. She seems very focused on the rest of the group.

 

The best sign that I’m seeing thus far is that they still flop together. I hope that it’ll stay this way and that we have some basis to reintroduce them.

 

[prince dorian the bun]

Aww, so sorry.  That’s rough. I have no real experience with bonding outside of Dorian and Miu, but wondering if when they were at the borders they were just stressed enough not to bicker, but now they are back home they are picking up their old habits? Do you have a friends you can try at, or some new space? Or maybe just take a break for a bit if it is puberty?

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

Yes, we did think that the time at the bonder was short, but we thought that a new space would cement their relationship.

I’ll have to give it a little break for a week, because I heard that Bas will be away for his work again. I’m in no condition to break up two fighting bunnies.

[Ellie from The Netherlands]

We let them out for a short time, and it’s very clear that Molly is scared of Owen. If there’s not a fence she thumps when she sees him and gives a little meep.

Owen is very sulky and won’t take treats 🙁

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