We have two mini-lop rabbits, both females, within one month in age of each other. They have both been spayed, the first named Gracie, who is the oldest was spayed about three months ago and the second female, Haas, was spayed two months ago.
They took about a month to decide to get along, and for the past 5 weeks they have been best friends, they shared a cage, they snuggled together, everything you would expect from a bonded pair. Gracie is the dominant rabbit, with Haas bowing her head to be licked when Gracie approaches.
Now, in the last two days, whenever they are together they start fighting. They go after each other without any rhyme or reason. There are no stressors in the home, they each get the same attention, food, and have the whole run of the house. And it is not one or the other that is starting the fights, they both seem to start it.
We have NO IDEA why now they are doing this, every time we let them be together they are fighting....HELP!!!!
I have a bonded pair of rabbits, male and female, spayed and neutered. There are times they snuggle and groom and times they like to do their own things apart from each other. I had them in a double cage to begin with and once they got fixed, I cut a doorway in the wire that divided the cage. They each kept to their own sides but would visit each other. They now share the whole cage, but they still like to spend time away from each other.
I suspect that your rabbits don\'t like to be together all the time and just have had too much of each other. I would suggest seperate cages with time out of the cage together. Rabbits do hold grudges, so you may have to keep them seperated for awhile until they get over their anger. If they start getting along again and you want to keep them in the same cage, I would suggest a bigger cage like a double cage or one with an upper level. Cages like that usually have to be custom made.
Some one on this site had a great idea. They made their cage bigger by putting two cages together, but I can\'t find the thread.
I would say that if they have the run of the house then go back in their respective cages that it\'s just too close for comfort, so to speak. Maybe now that they are getting older keeping them more distant would be a good idea. Females can get very nasty -especailly is one is dominant over the other. If you are not home most of the day I would separate then I wouldn\'t have to worry.
Technically at 5 months or so is when they get sexually mature -understanding that they are fixed they still are growing up and do what older rabbits will do. Baby bunnies are always fine together until someone starts....there is always that instigator! LOL
We have gone back to putting them in separate cages, and letting them out one at a time. It has been almost a week since they fought last - when would be a good time to try and reintroduce them? We would like them to be able to be out at the same time again...
If they aren\'t getting along now chances are they won\'t get along at all. Some rabbits are funny that way -especially 2 of the same sex. I had my Lacy girl and one of my new lops out the other day -they were separated between a puppy gate and were still getting feisty. I wouldn\'t risk having an injury and removed one immediately.
The only time I introduce any of mine its strictly for breeding purposes. I would love to have my 2 new does run and play with my older 2 but thats impossible. They come in the house or out in the pen -one at a time!
Maybe someone else has a more positive option -but from my experience they are better off coming out one at a time if they fight.