Two male Rabbits started fighting

[KobeAndDex]

Im a new poster here, so sorry if Im posting this in the wrong section.

Me and my partner bought two baby male bunnies aged 6-10 weeks from Pets At Home (UK baed pet store). In the last couple of weeks one (Kobe) has started showing signs of dominant behaviour, trying to hump Dexter, chasing him, harassing him etc. At first this only seemed to happen when they were out side of their cage. However, in the last week I have noticed this happening once or twice in the cage.

The other day I came home to find Kobe (the bun showing more dominant signs of behaviour) with a bit of a scratch on his nose, and in the last couple of days he has had another mark appear in his ear. Dexter has a mark on his nose and quite a nasty scratch on his back. Previously I had witnessed no fighting or really aggressive behaviour, until we let them out this morning. A big fight broke out outside of the cage between the two, but neither me or my partner saw what started this. We separated them straight away, but they both live in the same hutch (one stayed out in the living room). However, most of the time the quite happily cuddle up and play with each other. Neither is more nervous of the other, only when Kobe tries chasing or humping Dexter.

We want to keep them together really, and do not want to give one up. We have just bought a bigger cage for them with levels that can be closed off. So if there is a big problem they can be separated easily. We still want them to bond and be house bunnies, sharing their time together.

Does anybody have any tips on how we can get them living happily together? They cant be neutered for at least 2 months according to our vet.

I really am a newbie as far as keeping rabbits is concerned, but I love my boys and dont want any harm coming to either of them.

Thanks

Mark

[peppypoo]

If they have begun to fight, separating them now is the best option until they can be neutered. However, you can keep them in close proximity so that they can see/smell each other. Do remember to hold of bonding them until a couple of weeks after the operation, so the incisions can heal properly and won’t tear open again with stress.

[LBJ10]

Yes, sounds like hormones. The problem will likely continue until they are both neutered, so it would be a good idea to separate them now so no harm can come to them. Like Peppy suggested, it is helpful if they can still see and smell each other during that time.

[KobeAndDex]

OK, thank you for your help guys. I thought that would probably be the case. Hopefully their new cage wont take too long to arrive. Would it still be OK to let them both out to play together in a supervised environment?

[peppypoo]

The main thing I would be concerned about is if their behavior escalates and they begin fighting more frequently, giving them the opportunity to express aggression will make it more difficult eventually to bond them post-neuter. Also, on the off-chance that one of them turns out to be female (this is more common than you might anticipate, since baby bunnies are notoriously difficult to sex) you might run an accidental pregnancy risk too.

[KobeAndDex]

Thanks Peppy, we took them to the vet to have their first vaccinations last week and both are definately boys we are told. The fighting seems to have really calmed down now, Kobe does occasionally try to hump Dex, but this is never in the cage, and we always manage to stop it before it actually happens. The only problems we have now are Kobe pooping everywhere but his litter tray and both bunnies chewing and ripping up our carpet!!

Thanks for everyones help

[DUSTBUNNY-CLYDE]

just went through this with my boys!! they were together from 9 weeks till 13 weeks old and loved each other then all of sudden they started humping all the time, fighting, spraying, pooping everywhere!! separate them immediately, bunnies will get so aggressive and you don’t want them to hurt each other or even kill each other. and you don’t want them to hate each other for the future. I put mine in 2 separate cages right next to each other, so they can see, smell, and groom through the cage. I put an exercise fence up in the garage ( we call it the berlin wall) so they can play and run. they lay and play through the fence. just got them neutered a month ago and now having short play dates in a neutral territory to bond them again!! it’s going pretty good, a few scuffs here and there. hopefully ( the berlin wall) can come down soon and they’ll be happy half brothers again!! best of luck with your boys!!

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