Why the sudden change in behaviour??

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 3 years, 5 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 05/31/2021 at 7:13 AM
  MaddieJC15
  Participant
  4 posts
  I have 2 female rabbits, they are sisters so have grown up together. They’re currently 7 months old. Neither are spayed. I am 15 but I do try my best to look after them. They were happy up until last night.
  
  Before yesterday they were getting along just fine, and then all of a sudden late last night they started humping and nipping each other, and they keep peeing! They did it all night and were so loud I didn’t sleep. One rabbit is now terrified of the other rabbit and will not go anywhere near her. When I let them both out to run today, she refused to leave her cage to join her sister.
  
  I decided that maybe I should let one out at a time so I did, but she decided to pee on my bed, she has never done this before.
  Is this a territorial/hormonal issue? Will I need to put them in separate cages? I will get them spayed but due to COVID it was made difficult.
  
  PS. Both are on panacur for E. cuniculi as they live together (Vet said one had a suspected case)
  
  Thank you!
- 05/31/2021 at 7:15 AM
  Wick & Fable
  Moderator
  5813 posts
  They do need to be housed separately from now on, yes. No play time together at all– they’ll be fine separate. Rabbits do not really acknowledge the “family”– parents and siblings are still likely to fight and even mate with each other. It is very common that siblings will be fine to be together, but once hormones hit, which is happening for you now, that “baby bond” breaks. A baby bond is a temporary bond. A real bond (i.e. bonded pair of rabbits) occurs when 1) both rabbits are fixed and 2) they go through a bonding process to ensure they have established a safe and secure relationship dynamic.
  
  Make sure you look into an exotic vet, not a dog/cat vet, to get your rabbits spayed.
  
  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.
- 05/31/2021 at 9:42 AM
  Bam
  Moderator
  16964 posts
  I agree with Wick. Rabbit puberty, especially in girl rabbits, often manifests very suddenly, like the flipping of a switch.
  - 05/31/2021 at 10:36 AM
    MaddieJC15
    Participant
    4 posts
    Thank you I understand.
    
    Once they’re both spayed can I start the bonding process?
- 05/31/2021 at 9:48 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Agree with the others. This is a common problem unfortunately, for some more info you can check out this pinned post:
  
  “Help! Why are my rabbits fighting?!” By DanaNM
  
  . . . 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.
- 05/31/2021 at 11:54 AM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Yep, once they are spayed and have some time for their hormones to settle, you can start the bonding process. They can be housed side-by-side in the mean time though (just make sure they can’t nip noses through the fence). You should wait at least 3 weeks after spaying, but it can take longer for hormones to fully stabilize. Some people opt to wait 4 weeks or so, then try some sessions and see how things go. If things still seem really hormonal with them, you can give them more time.
  
  . . . 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.
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