Bunnies fighting

[Jane Rabbits]

We have two 12 week old sisters who have been loving and sharing their space happily for the past 3 weeks. Yesterday the bigger size bunny has been biting and chasing her sister. Neither appear unwell so not sure what is going on. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[TheBuns]

Hello and welcome!
Are they both fixed? If not I would suggest that you separate them till you can get them both fix.

 

[zuppa]

Hi, this is a very common issue, sisters looked bonded because they were just babies at 9 weeks when you got them. Now they are changing they are becoming sexually mature (usually begins between 12-16 weeks) and they are getting territorial and trying to sort out who is the top bun here so if they already started they will keep chasing and humping each other and also can start fighting which is quite dangerous so you have to watch them, if there's any smallest signs of aggression you should separate them immediately.

 

[Jane Rabbits]

Hi, this is a very common issue, sisters looked bonded because they were just babies at 9 weeks when you got them. Now they are changing they are becoming sexually mature (usually begins between 12-16 weeks) and they are getting territorial and trying to sort out who is the top bun here so if they already started they will keep chasing and humping each other and also can start fighting which is quite dangerous so you have to watch them, if there's any smallest signs of aggression you should separate them immediately.

Thanks...I read you shouldn't get them desexed until 6 months old? So this could continue until then???

 

[zuppa]

There's two main scenarios. First, if one of the buns is more submissive they may just sort it out and you will have a pair where one is dominant and other is submissive they can be quite happy together but sometimes submissive one can grow into another dominant and they will keep discussing their dominance with some fur flying around as well.

Or they can be both dominant and that can get really nasty as they can go into a major fight which can lead to serious injuries and often would need some stitches or even surgery.

They are 12 weeks now so if you want to spay them usually vets would take them from 4,5-6 months, until then you can keep them separately, if there were no major fights you can keep them close so they can still see and smell each other, or if there was a major fight it would be best to separate completely with a solid board between them or move into different rooms so they can absolutely forget each other and after 4-6 weeks after fixing you can try reintroducing them again, please do some research on bonding two fixed females, there's plenty of video tutorials on youtube and prepare neutral territory for bonding sessions etc.

 

[zuppa]

Thanks...I read you shouldn't get them desexed until 6 months old? So this could continue until then???

Yes many vets only take for neutering from 6 months, but some vets from 4 months, it depends on your vets experience.

This is natural for rabbits to discuss their dominance, fixed rabbits usually calmer and easier to bond.
This will continue 4-6 weeks after desexing as well so it would be best to wait until hormones calm down and only then start bonding sessions and it is important that you do it in a neutral territory, unfamiliar for both.

I am sorry for you should be very disappointed now but this is so common, people getting sisters or brothers from a petshop because they heard that rabbits are social animals and better in pairs but sellers unfortunately never warn what will happen after a few weeks when they grow into teenagers.

That's why we always suggest getting already fixed rabbits from a rescue and not 8 week babies from a petshop.

If you are completely new to rabbits bonding is not always easy and there's no guarantee that they will bond even we know they are sisters. You can try rehoming one of them and keep one and fix her at 6 months and wait about two months after surgery then get another fixed rabbit as a companion for her, female would bond easier with a male so look at 6+ months neutered male in your local shelter or maybe craiglist or somewhere people rehoming their pets.

 

[zuppa]

But also as I said if you are lucky they may bond through a bit of discussion it could last a few weeks or months and you should watch them if there's no aggression between them as they can seriously damage each other.

I have a pair of intact females 2 year old mother and 11 months daughter, I bonded them over Christmas and they are doing good, daughter is submissive one and mother is bossy, but they are not aggressive and live together no major problems.

Other bonded trio I have 2 sisters and their half-sister they are 7 months now they stay together since 8 weeks and they had some discussions around 4-5 months then sorted out their dominance and being good girls groom each other etc, but sometimes they are having a conversation but nothing major sofar, I keep watching them.

If you see any aggression signs you should separate them.

If you had boys it even more strict, 2 unfixed males very rarely can be kept together as they can kill each other, with girls there's more hope but they also can be very territorial.

 

[zuppa]

Here's a video on bonding fixed rabbits just for your information

 

[Jane Rabbits]

Zuppa thank you so much. You have a wealth of rabbit knowledge! We bought the sister's on gumtree from a lady who had had 3 litters. She didn't mention anything about this unfortunately. I am hoping we can help them to bond as my children have one bunny each and it would be so hard to see them go. I appreciate your help

 

[zuppa]

Zuppa thank you so much. You have a wealth of rabbit knowledge! We bought the sister's on gumtree from a lady who had had 3 litters. She didn't mention anything about this unfortunately. I am hoping we can help them to bond as my children have one bunny each and it would be so hard to see them go. I appreciate your help

No problem, good luck with your bunnies