Bunny Aggression From Pets?

[dogmom10]

Hey all. I have two mini lop bunnies that are sisters, aged about 7 months old. We do have appointments to get them spayed, but not until the end of April. That’s the soonest we could get it. (Omicron is booming in my area & most businesses are implementing similar rules as the first shut down of the pandemic) My buns seem well bonded. They groom each other frequently and love what I call tandem petting wherein they lay side by side so I can pet them together. Thelma is the sweeter, mild mannered bun who is also a bit chonky. Louise is thinner, way more curious/outgoing and definitely aggressive at times. I handle them & bond with them daily and they seem to trust me. They run to me as soon as they see me & often ask me for pets. Louise, however, is getting a bit out of hand. They spend late afternoons & overnight in their room due to predators (raccoons & feral cats) that reside in the yards behind our apartment’s yard. It’s a fairly large enclosure with multiple structures for them to dig in, hang out in, climb on, etc. They are also provided lots of toys and things to chew, although they don’t seem to care much about the toys. During the day, they are outside in their enclosure with their hutch & weekends they get full backyard access. Because my complex’s management frequently has to cross our backyard during the week, we keep them enclosed for ease of access. I do not think they are lacking in the care/stimulation department. Louise digs aggressively in her igloo thing when inside. That is the only thing she digs in & will do it, fairly consistently, for upwards of an hour. When outside, even when given access to the igloo, she could care less about it or even digging. It’s strictly inside that she does it. She also humps poor Thelma to the point of terrorizing her and she can get very aggressive with me. I feel I need to reiterate that Louise does like & trust me & will stay within my presence if given the option. Last night, after a long pet session (like 30 minutes or so), Louise went to hump Thelma. I gently intervened by gently pushing Louise away because she does it so often Thelma now spends an inordinate amount of time hiding, but again, this is a behavior that only presents when they are inside. She’ll try to hump Thelma outside a little, but quickly gives up & seldom chases her around like she does inside. After I intervened, it was like Louise went nuclear. She started to chase & aggressively hump Thelma, biting at her & just being generally forceful. I naturally tried to stop it because I feel bad for poor Thelma. Thelma really does not present any of these same behaviors. She’s just super sweet. Well, then Louise attacked me, scratching me & bit me so hard she drew blood. I let out a loud screech & gently pushed her away from me. That did stop her behavior. Thelma hid in one of the enclosures, visibly panting & upset. I waited a minute or two & then gently pet Louise for a couple minutes before leaving the room. Directly after she did a full bunny flop. After discussing separating them with my fiancé, I returned to find them cuddled together & grooming each other. I’ve noticed my petting Louise seems to exacerbate to her digging & humping behavior. Is it possible me petting her excites her? Should I separate them? Help! I know they need to be spayed & will be, but is there anything I can do between now & then to help? I’m just so worried that she’s going to hurt Thelma. She’s pulled out fur several times, but she was actively trying to bite her last night. It was an alarming experience & I’m just at a loss.

 

[Blue eyes]

With those hormones active, the behavior is only going to get worse. This isn't good. It's a shame you're forced to wait so long to get them spayed. Is there any chance of finding a different vet who might be able?

Unless you are actively monitoring them, they should not be allowed together. They've (Louise) already shown aggression. If that escalates or Thelma feels the need to defend herself, they could end up in a blood-drawing fight. If that happens, aside from potential injury, it could prevent them from being able to bond after they are spayed.

If you do monitor them together, I'd suggest having an oven mitt or large piece of cardboard to separate them. I still have a small scar on my wrist from when I tried to stop an aggressive rabbit. She wasn't after me, I just instinctively tried to stop her from getting at the other rabbit. So an oven mitt can save you from that.

Consider carefully where you want to house them while they are housed separately. Those areas will become their respective "territories" which could become a point of contention after their spays. If their separate areas can be somewhere other than the places you want them to share (after their spays), that would be ideal.

 

[dogmom10]

With those hormones active, the behavior is only going to get worse. This isn't good. It's a shame you're forced to wait so long to get them spayed. Is there any chance of finding a different vet who might be able?

Unless you are actively monitoring them, they should not be allowed together. They've (Louise) already shown aggression. If that escalates or Thelma feels the need to defend herself, they could end up in a blood-drawing fight. If that happens, aside from potential injury, it could prevent them from being able to bond after they are spayed.

If you do monitor them together, I'd suggest having an oven mitt or large piece of cardboard to separate them. I still have a small scar on my wrist from when I tried to stop an aggressive rabbit. She wasn't after me, I just instinctively tried to stop her from getting at the other rabbit. So an oven mitt can save you from that.

Consider carefully where you want to house them while they are housed separately. Those areas will become their respective "territories" which could become a point of contention after their spays. If their separate areas can be somewhere other than the places you want them to share (after their spays), that would be ideal.

Thank you so much!! Unfortunately, I live in a relatively small town and I could only find one vet who treats rabbits. I call a couple times a week though to see if there have been any cancellations. Apparently, bunnies are very popular and there haven’t been any cancellations yet. I love them both dearly and we’ve only had them a couple months. They’re fine during the day and seldom does Louise bother Thelma when they’re outside. It seems to be strictly inside. Luckily, their enclosure is modifiable, so I can separate it into two pens at night that will prevent Louise from bullying poor Thelma, but will allow them to lay next to each other with fencing between them. We affectionately refer to Louise as a “fuzzy black demon.” She bit me that hard one other time in a similar scenario. Mostly, she’s very sweet with me and everyone else, is abundantly outgoing and curious, as well as a very skilled escape artist. I feel so bad that we have to wait so long. I was not adequately prepared for bunny puberty! Can you shed light on why Thelma seeks her out? Last night, after the kerfuffle, I was watching them closely and Thelma hopped right over to Louise and put her head under Louise for grooming. It’s weird because she’ll hide a lot from Louise, but will also seek her out. Will separating them at night harm their bond? I’m assuming not since you suggested it, but I’m trying to learn as much as I can. I read a lot on bunny behavior, but the info I find can be…confusing, sometimes contradictory to common sense and often just vague. Any information/education is welcomed. I’m a dog behavior modification trainer and know basics, but want more detailed info on my buns. It’s of the utmost importance to me that they’re safe, healthy and happy. We’ll do whatever is necessary to give them the best life possible. Here they are in all their cuteness “foraging” for food on their snuffle may. Louise is the black one.

 

[Blue eyes]

The problem with hormonal behaviors is that they are so erratic and unpredictable. The pair may be loving and cuddly one moment but they could suddenly turn to aggressive demons. Thelma's hormones may not yet be in full swing. As those hormones fluctuate, they will continually affect/alter the behavior of both of them.

When you said Thelma sought out Louise (the current aggressor) and put her head down, that's an indication that Thelma is asserting dominance. Head down is a demand for grooming and not the submissive behavior as often assumed.

Their current "bond" is considered a baby (temporary) bond (regardless of how it may seem). However, if they get into a serious fight, that can indeed destroy their chances of bonding for real -- after their spays. The possibility of them fighting if left together is a greater risk than separating them. They could remain in side-by-side enclosures so they still see each other. (Unless they become aggressive through the separation.) Separating them is not a risk, it is a necessity. The real risk is chancing a serious fight. Full out, tumble fights are serious (can even be deadly) and such a fight can escalate in mere seconds. If you aren't within arms reach to stop it, such a fight can prevent them from bonding after their spays.

 

[dogmom10]

The problem with hormonal behaviors is that they are so erratic and unpredictable. The pair may be loving and cuddly one moment but they could suddenly turn to aggressive demons. Thelma's hormones may not yet be in full swing. As those hormones fluctuate, they will continually affect/alter the behavior of both of them.

When you said Thelma sought out Louise (the current aggressor) and put her head down, that's an indication that Thelma is asserting dominance. Head down is a demand for grooming and not the submissive behavior as often assumed.

Their current "bond" is considered a baby (temporary) bond (regardless of how it may seem). However, if they get into a serious fight, that can indeed destroy their chances of bonding for real -- after their spays. The possibility of them fighting if left together is a greater risk than separating them. They could remain in side-by-side enclosures so they still see each other. (Unless they become aggressive through the separation.) Separating them is not a risk, it is a necessity. The real risk is chancing a serious fight. Full out, tumble fights are serious (can even be deadly) and such a fight can escalate in mere seconds. If you aren't within arms reach to stop it, such a fight can prevent them from bonding after their spays.

Thank you so, so, so much!! We will keep them separated. I sincerely appreciate you explaining this to me. I would never want to endanger them in any way. Truly, I’m so grateful for the information. Are they are resources or books you can suggest for further self education?

 

[Blue eyes]

I have a "Resources" page on my website (under the "More..." tab) broken down by category. It's by no means exhaustive but enough to get one started... in addition to the website itself.
https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/
Outside of the online resources list found above, there are some (physical) books too. One of the first I stumbled across, before internet was widely used, is "The House Rabbit Handbook" (by Marinell Harriman) .

 

[dogmom10]

Thank you so much! I will definitely be checking all this out.
We separated them and surprisingly, it dramatically decreased Louise’s incessant digging. Noticeable difference, although I feel awful because their inside enclosures are smaller than we would like. It’s temporary as we’ve ordered extra panels to adjust to having separate enclosures. They keep laying next to each other though & trying to be close to each other. I know the separation is what’s needed & we’ll continue, but it still hurts my heart.

 

[JBun]

To add to all of Blue Eyes great info, the behavior you're seeing from Louise is most likely sexual frustration. The incessant digging, and getting riled up after your intervention. The differnece you saw with outside and inside behavior, could have to do with there being more distractions outside, if they have more space, that can make a difference. It could also be in part to your presence indoors.

Her aggression towards Thelma after your intervention could have to do with Louise seeing you as her 'mate', not liking you placing Thelma over her in priority, and asserting her place over Thelma in that pecking order. Which in her eyes is probably her as 'top bun', you, then Thelma. Separating is really the only good option. It can also help hopefully prevent this from becoming a more ingrained behavior for after they're spayed.

Rabbit communication, interactions, and heirarchy, with and without hormones, can be a learning curve. There's a lot of subtle body language that is very different from what we're used to with cats and dogs as pets.

http://language.rabbitspeak.com/
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Understanding_your_rabbit

 

[dogmom10]

Thank you so so much!! This is all so helpful!! I’ve raised all sorts of animals throughout my life, including rabbits, but they were never kept inside and it was only one at a time. I did not expect bunny puberty to be like this. I certainly boned up before adopting them & knew they would need to be spayed. Did not clearly grasp how extreme the behavior could be. It’s fair to say what I read on Google undersold the effects of bunny puberty. This is all so helpful & I’m sooo appreciative. Like I’ve said previously, we’re committed to giving them the best life possible and I welcome all information that is willing to be shared. I love learning, especially about animal behavior. I did not realize their social hierarchies & communication were so complex, but it’s fascinating to learn. I’m actively trying to get them in sooner to get spayed. It makes me feel AWFUL that they’re in discomfort/frustrated because of hormones. I can relate being a woman with sometimes raging hormones. Lol Are there any activities or things I can do to help them until then?
They have TONS of toys, a snuffle mat, dig boxes, things to chew & tunnels, but they don’t play with them really. They love the chews they’re given however. I spend lots of time with them, petting them and we play “reverse fetch” and tug, but it seems my petting Louise excites her. Always after I pet her, she either digs or starts trying to hump Thelma, although not anymore obviously because they’re separated. Louise enjoys the petting though, asks for pets & recently started doing a full body extension where she lays flat with feet fully extended while I’m petting her. As soon as I stop though, game on. Thelma on the other hand, calms when I pet her & will often almost fall asleep as well as give me bunny kisses. (Yes, they are pretty opposite personality wise.) Occasionally, Thelma has tried to hump Louise, but not often & not nearly as vigorously as Louise. I just want to help them as much as I can between now & their spaying, as well as after. I have noticed they are much happier outside & prefer it to inside.
Again, thank you soooo much!! I’m so grateful to have found this forum and for all the help you’re giving.

 

[JBun]

All rabbits are going to be different, so there will be a whole host of experiences that you may read about and may experience yourself, as you can see with the two rabbits you have and how their behavior differs. Some rabbits are just bundles of hormones, hardly able to contain themselves, and other rabbits that are perfectly calm and barely exhibit any hormonal behavior at all.

Some rabbits love dig boxes, some don't bother with them at all. Though it can be a good distraction for a girl bun in particular, intent on burrowing and nesting. I like to use cardboard boxes with an entrance and exit hole cut in it, high up enough to contain the dig contents, but low enough the bun can jump in and out easily. I've always used crumpled newspaper, with the bottom lined with several layers of newspaper to absorb any pee accidents. Then if the box starts getting too dirty, it's disposable and a new one is made to replace it. Storage bins are a non disposable option. For other digging substrates for indoors, shredded paper(though I found this too dusty), straw, or hay.

Some rabbits like a fleece blanket to dig around on and rearrange, though many rabbits may also not be able to resist peeing on it. Rabbit safe chew branches(apple, willow, pear, hawthorn, etc), my rabbits love apple and willow. An old paper book or phone book to shred up. Some rabbits like a stuffie to cozy up to and express their affections towards, though do make sure there are no bits that could be chewed off and swallowed. You could also train your rabbit to do some simple tricks to help focus your rabbits energy. So there are lots of options to try and help divert your rabbits energy and behavior. But every rabbit is different and won't necessarily like to do the same thing that another persons rabbit likes. It's just trial and error to find the right fit for your particular rabbits.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Toys_and_games

 

[JBun]

The other possible issue with Louise is her seeing herself as top bun and dominant over you. Yes, pretty hilarious that a tiny little fluffball can think she's the boss of a human, but it happens. This may also be why she is kicking up a fuss when you stop petting, or you stopping and then paying attention to Thelma. In Louise's eyes, she's the boss of you and you're only allowed to stop petting when she's good and ready and says so. If she's not ready and you stop, well then you get what a subordinate rabbit would get, a nip, a chase, digging at, a telling off by her, chasing Thelma to reexert dominance since it's not quite as easy to chase and hump you.

The fix for this can be complicated, as it involves you starting to show your dominance in bunny behavior. Things like, just for the heck of it, ushering her off a spot with a gentle but firm scoot, and then claiming the spot as your own. Especially after petting and she starts showing this behavior. Usher her away with your hand and claim that exact spot(sit there and stare at her after), maybe have a glove on to be safe in case she decides to try a nip, Or sometimes calmly chasing a bunny away, as a dominant rabbit might do, using your hand to firmly but gently to get her to move. Treat training can also be effective, as you then control the giving of food as a reward. So teenage hormones and dominance, you certainly do have your hands full with that one

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Aggressive_rabbits