food and behavior

[borgchick]

I have two female dwarf bunnies, about 1 year old each. The silver one is named Jasna, the brown one named Perdita.

I got them a few months ago as a bonded pair. I have documentation from the previous owner that they were spayed.

When I got them, they were the most loving couple. They would snuggle and groom each other all day. When I let them out of their 3 level bunny condo, they would run around the play pen area binkying and all happy. Perdita was always the dominant one, I caught her humping Jasna on numerous occasions and Jasna never thought much of it.

Then one morning last week, they started attacking each other like mad. Basically fur flying EVERYWHERE.

As such, I've had to separate the 3 level condo into 1.5 levels per each bunny. Since then I've tried to reintroduce them a few times, and each time failed with more fur flying everywhere. And the most recent time I tried breaking them up from a fight, and Jasna gave me quite a nasty bite.

So I have a few questions:

1) I know you are suppose to give them unlimited hay, but what does that mean? Does that mean when I get a bag of hay, I should just dump the entire thing in a container of some sort, and let them get at it? I have been basically filling their food bowl with hay each day 3 times a day (before I leave for work, when I get home, and when I go to bed) There is always hay left over in the bowl or scattered around the cage, so I thought if they were hungry, they'd eaten all the hay. I do also give them fresh veggies (romaine, celery, carrots) most days.

2) The previous owner fed them only alfalfa hay, but at their age (1y), they are suppose to be eating timothy hay. So I switched them over to timothy hay maybe a month ago. They certainly weren't happy at first, but then sort of settled down to eating it. Perdita still doesn't eat too much of it, while Jasna appears to have adapted. I've tried two brands of timothy so far, but that doesn't seem to make much difference.

3) Any ideas on what could be causing the sudden change of behavior from loving to angry and attacking?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

So I have a few questions:

1) I know you are suppose to give them unlimited hay, but what does that mean? Does that mean when I get a bag of hay, I should just dump the entire thing in a container of some sort, and let them get at it? I have been basically filling their food bowl with hay each day 3 times a day (before I leave for work, when I get home, and when I go to bed) There is always hay left over in the bowl or scattered around the cage, so I thought if they were hungry, they'd eaten all the hay. I do also give them fresh veggies (romaine, celery, carrots) most days.

2) The previous owner fed them only alfalfa hay, but at their age (1y), they are suppose to be eating timothy hay. So I switched them over to timothy hay maybe a month ago. They certainly weren't happy at first, but then sort of settled down to eating it. Perdita still doesn't eat too much of it, while Jasna appears to have adapted. I've tried two brands of timothy so far, but that doesn't seem to make much difference.

3) Any ideas on what could be causing the sudden change of behavior from loving to angry and attacking?

Thanks for your help!

~1) I just give mine several large handfuls-however much they'll possible be able to eat in a day or two. Basically, it just means make sure they won't run out.

~2)When my old bunny Jelly was a baby and I switched her, she was mad for a long time about the switch. She refused to hardly touch it. Just don't give in, and as the vet recomended to me, maybe mix in several kinds of hay to provide interest.

~3)As far as the fighting, I'm not sure. I've never had bunnies who were bonded. Jelly and Speckles, my first two bunnies got along ok, but only got to excercise loose together for short supervised times. Maybe someone else knows more than I do on this.

 

[tamsin]

Unlimited hay just means they always have have available, so you put in enough to last from feeding to feeding with a little left over in case you misjudged. You don't have to put the whole bag at once

For some reason fresh hay always tastes better, so even if there is some laying around, they always seem to pounce on the new handful.

Many things can set rabbits off, from one being under the weather, a misunderstanding, the smell of another rabbit/animal or just spring. If you are trying reintroductions make sure it's on completely neutral territory.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat: We had 2 that were together for more than 6 years that started fighting and had to separate them with no going back. Don't know why.