Fighting again

[Shmoo06]

I read through some threads, but I feel like I need to make my own.

My (neutered) boys will be a year old next month, and they have been living together now for like 4 months(give or take). Yesterday, there was some humping going on and a little chasing, but it didn't last for very long. I go to work at 3 on Sundays, and they were fine this whole morning. When I got home tonight I noticed things were extremely out of place in their pen like they had been thrown from one place to another, and there were pellets thrown everywhere.

I honestly couldn't even see Mumbles when I first got home, and I thought he had escaped. I eventually noticed that he was hiding in one of the houses, and Stitch was in the litter box right outside of the house. I open up the pen like I do when I'm home, so they can run around my living room. Stitch came out and hopped around, did his thing, but Mumbles stayed. He wouldn't come out. When Mumbles finally decided to come out like 30 minutes later, Stitch started chasing him, and I have honestly never seen them be that aggressive before. Stitch is just getting really mean w/Mumbles and had me terrified.

Luckily, it's easier to pick them up when they're fighting, so I grabbed Stitch and he's now in my bathroom. I don't really know how to go about things now. I read that this could happen as they get older, so I'm not extremely shocked. I just don't know what I should do now. It's such a pain to separate them, but I know I need to. The bathroom is about the size of their pen, so I know I'm going to have to alternate to let them run and get more exercise.

How often should I try putting them together? I just need some guidance. Thank you!

 

[pamnock]

I would try short sessions in a small enclosed area with close supervision so you can intervene immediately at any sign of aggression

 

[agnesthelion]

If the fighting was as aggressive as you say I would encourage you seperate them for a good 2-3 weeks so they "forget" about each other. Then start bonding from square one again with dates on neutral territory.
Sorry this has happened. I have a bonded pair so I understand how important it is they get along. I hate to say it, but it's the same sex bonds that have the higher chance of sporadic fighting like this I hope you can rebond them. Keep us posted!

 

[Blue eyes]

Sometimes a fight can begin when one of the rabbits is out of sorts. If one is not feeling well or has an as yet unseen infection or tummy troubles, that can trigger aggression too. As you have them separated, keep an eye out for any sign of some physical factor.

 

[Shmoo06]

Hm. I haven't noticed anything too different except last night Stitch almost fell asleep in my arms, which he has NEVER done before. I've never been able to get him on his back while holding him, but last night I was able to. He just laid there and almost fell asleep, which is really strange. I've heard of the trancing thing, so I don't know if that could have been what happened. Stitch was binkying this morning. Would they still binky even if they're sick? Could Mumbles be the ill one? I haven't noticed anything extremely different or out of the ordinary except Stitch basically attacking Mumbles and Stitch almost falling asleep in my arms.

I've noticed Stitch is leaving poops outside where Mumbles is like they would do before I had them together.

Today is actually my birthday, so I took tomorrow off and wed is my normal day off, so I have time to take them to the vet. It is below zero here though, so that's another concern if I were to take them.

 

[ldoerr]

Good luck with it. I am going through the same thing with my girls.

 

[Shmoo06]

Question: When I have them separated, should I make it so they have no interaction at all? The way things are set up now, they can still touch each other while one is out getting exercise. They have the same exercise area, so I alternate them. Their main cage was in the exercise area(my living room), so Mumbles is still in there(he has bigger problems when changing his surroundings, so I don't want to change a lot for him). agnesthelion, by the "forget about each other" comment I'm assuming having them have no interaction is best.

I just have no idea how I'm going to be able to do that.

 

[agnesthelion]

The forget about each other technique is used when a fight or fights is so aggressive it may have scarred the buns from forming a bond again. Rabbits actually have very good memories about fights and if they still don't have trust in their potential mate to be that can severely hinder a future bond. Since we can't see your buns or their fighting we have no idea if that's needed or not. You can only say if you feel like they arent trusting each other so follow your gut
So, if you feel like they will rebond without needing to forget each other than allowing contact between the bars is fine (as long as they aren't biting each other through the bars) but if either is still acting aggressive or scared then what I mean about forgetting each other is putting their cages in two seperate rooms to do that.
Any update with their actions since the last fight?

 

[Shmoo06]

Update: They're living together again. When I first put them together, Mumbles was still scared of Stitch, but Stitch wasn't being violent or anything. It took a while for Mumbles to warm back up to Stitch, but they appear to like each other again.

Hopefully it lasts.

Thanks again!