What’s normal for my buns regarding “fights”?

[mia]

My resident bonded pair normally fight; it’s just normal for them and here’s always at least a little fur flying. Once or twice a year it can get really bad. They also do chases and crash into things most mornings and usually there’s fur flying during this too. Usually Baozi will chase Mantou and nip him in the back during the chase. Mantou eventually needs a break and Baozi will either continue another round on her own or also take a break right beside Mantou. Sometimes they go for another round or two.

These two have a special relationship and have never been the cuddling pair; they just sit closely side by side. Baozi knows Mantou loves his food and will lunge at it so she has to get out of the way or face a slap; Mantou knows that Baozi gets scared easily and he may be slapped if he accidentally startles her. Baozi will also grunt/growl during the chases and she also does this during the first few mins of nose rubs as well as after when she’s had enough nose rubs.

I got NewBun a few weeks ago. How do I know what’s normal in terms of fights/chases/etc when it comes to this new member? When there’s large amount of fur flying and aggression from both sides, I knew it was bad and they were not ready. It’s died down but Baozi will chase NewBun and nip. NewBun is really fluffy and has a kilt so he’s naturally protected a bit. When Baozi and NewBun have the x-pen between then, sometimes Baozi will stick her nose/mouth in between the bars to nip NewBun’s kilt. When I leave both sections open, it’s completely random which pen I catch them in (2 of the 3 together or all three together). I also hear grunts/growls frequently from Baozi. At the same time, I’ve seen Baozi and NewBun running side by side, investigating things side by side, as well as grooming each other, rare but has happened. Two of these three things Mantou is not interested so it makes Baozi really happy to have somebun to do these things with.

[Stickerbunny]

Hmm. I am not sure. My two are not cuddly, but they don’t fight (Stickers got mad once, spent a few days trying to eat poor Powder and I separated them for a few days and they never fought again). Good luck, hope someone with more moody bun experience drops by for you.

[jerseygirl]

It sounds ok atm. Normal reaction to a new rabbit. It sound like your girl Baozi is somewhat territorial or insecure? It’s normal i think to see tussles at times. What ever the trigger, they often take it out on their bond mate. Jersey and Rumball have short lived moments like this. Important thing is it peters out and doesn’t eacalate into a full on fight. When you have teeth latched on and them spinning in a fast circle it’s bad.

I think it’s promising if she’s already lessening aggression and curious to hang out near the new rabbit. The pen barrier between them can create some interesting antics. It gives a sort of safety net for them to test the waters with each other.

it’s just normal for them and here’s always at least a little fur flying. Once or twice a year it can get really bad.

That is interesting.
One if the former forum leaders here had a pair that used to fall out once a year. They’d patch up again though.
Do you think it coincides with their moulting?

NewBun is really fluffy and has a kilt so he’s naturally protected a bit.

A kilt! That’s a very cute mental image. Lol
It’s a lionhead or cross?

[mia]

It sound like your girl Baozi is somewhat territorial or insecure?

I go to a bunny meetup and the typical behavior is Baozi tiptoeing to the back of a bun who was 4x her size and looks like she pushed him with both paws which of course freaks out the other bun and caused a chain reaction of other buns freaking out. Baozi then sits on the other side just watching everyone scrambling. Eventually people commented that it looks like she just enjoys antagonizing other buns. But yes, she is territorial, insecure, emotional/bipolar?, and/or just a typical female dwarf bun.

Do you think it coincides with their moulting?

Yes, about the same time! I very rarely have to brush them even during molting since they’ll just fight the fur off. NewBun is a lionhead; I have to keep practicing saying he has a kilt (instead of a skirt) since he’s a boy .

 

[jerseygirl]

Lol @ Baozi. What a girl!
Those buns certainly keep life interesting.

[mia]

They were all totally bonded for a month. Now I woke up to a huge “fight” and there’s fur all over. It’s not the same as when they weren’t bonded but it seems very nasty at times. Circling and fur pulling but then immediately followed up head down asking to be groomed and nudges. Then on goes another round. Cannoli (NewBun) does the same back at Baozi and doesn’t seem to mind fully participating. Mantou doesn’t really care to participate and Baozi goes and prods him – she jumps over him, two front feet tap his head, lands on the other side, and sticks her nose in asking why he isn’t doing anything. When he does respond, Baozi goes into full chase grunting and pulling fur.

They aren’t moulting but Baozi is developing a skirt.

I need a bunny psychologist.

[Author]

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