HELP!!

[sheridan]

Ok, A quick bit of the background.
My two rexes, Furby and Ellie( both female) are bout 4 1/2 months old. They are due to get fixed on the 13th July.
About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that Furby had a big wound on her leg(which I hadnt noticed) but it was healing. I am assuming the 2 of them had a fight or something. Otherwise they were always huddled together and playing and generally happy excpet for the humping, furby more than ellie
So I separated them until I could get them fixed. I have had them separated for about 4 days and they are unbelievably sad. They arent eating as much and just sit there. If I out my hand in, Furby just comes and begs to be stoked. Ellie just sits there. (very sad)

Someone actually suggested some together and supervised time which I was more than glad to do, but heres what happened!
I put the 2 of them together. I took ellie out and put her on the floor and then opened the hutch door to furby. Ellie jumped right in.
As soon as furby came near ellie, ellie jumped as if scared and bolted. this happned a few times before furby finallly caught ellie and started grooming. just as suddenly furby tried to hump. She was immediately taken off and told off. she never tried again. She just kept grooming, but ellie just kept jumping. as if she was scared. I took ellie out and held her and stroked her to reassure. I then let her get back in and the same happened. Finally after furby had groomed everthing, ellie started to groom furby!!. She was still jumpy but no as much.

Any suggestions as to what happened or what I should do?

 

[tamsin]

That's perfectly normal behaviour after two bunnies have been seperated for a few days. I'd introduce them somewhere neuteral for a few hours and let them get the humping and reequainting themselves out of the way.

However, it might just be better to leave them apart. When rabbits are seperated and go back together it triggers humping so by letting them meet when you already know they have a history of fighting you're more likely to trigger a fight. It would be better to wait til after the op.

You could try sitting with them on your lap and giving nose rubs as they're unlikely to fight in that situation.

If possible put their cages close so they can see each other.

Tam