Just brought home a 5 week old female bunny, and now bonded 3 month old bunnies are fighting?!

[Bunny_Mommy]

I just introduced my tiny new female bunny to my bonded bunnies, Storm (large female mini/standard rex mix) and Oreo (small female mini rex/dutch mix) and they seemed to be licking and getting along with the little rabbit, but a few minutes later, I saw Oreo and Storm chasing each other in circles (Oreo seemed to be the aggressor) and Oreo was bitting Storm and she was crying out in fear. I immediately separated them and Oreo had a chunk of Storm's fur in her mouth. Storm and Oreo were INSEPARABLE from when I got them 2 months ago, until this morning before I got the other bunny.

Besides spaying them or getting rid of one, what can I do? I though bunnies only fought over males? Do I need to get rid of the new bunny? So disappointed, I thought they would be friends...

 

[Popsicles]

I’m a bit confused that you got your bunnies 2 months ago, but in your title it says they are 3 months old, were they only a month old when you got them? That’s very young to be separated from their mum.
It can often be the case that adding a new bunny will break existing bonds, as the hierarchy has to be worked out all over again and sometimes that delicate bond just can’t be recreated. Your two bunnies are also very young, so any bonds made before puberty aren’t really considered true bonds. Quite often people will post on here saying that their two baby bunnies who were best friends stop being friends once hormones kick in. Females can be particularly aggressive when not spayed. Unfortunately if they are fighting it seems unlikely they will become friends again. You can try taking away the new bunny and see if they go back to as they were. The best thing to do would be to get them spayed, kept separated until hormones settle down, then try and bond them completely fresh, in a neutral area. Even with spayed rabbits, you can’t be certain they will get on. And getting 3 to bond is even more difficult. I know @Blue eyes has a good link that describes the bonding process in more detail.

 

[Blue eyes]

Popsicles is correct. Baby bonds don't count as true bonds. It is possible that the original two would have started fighting eventually even if you never got the 3rd rabbit. The introduction of the 3rd, just kicked it into high gear.

Rabbits can be very picky about which other rabbit they will bond with. Baby "bonds" don't count as true bonds. Any intact older rabbits, if they bond, can have a falling out at any time. Fixed rabbits tend to have more stable bonds.

So now you have 3 intact females, all still young. The original two are about the age when hormones may kick in and that is often when disagreements begin. Introducing a 3rd rabbit to any pair of rabbits is risky -- even if they are all neutered.

Whether Storm & Oreo bond again is anyone's guess. They probably need to be separated for awhile. I'd be inclined to return the 3rd rabbit just to simplify matters (and because she is a bit young to be away from momma). Once the other two are spayed, they may decide to bond.

You can read here for more about bonding.

 

[Bunny_Mommy]

I’m a bit confused that you got your bunnies 2 months ago, but in your title it says they are 3 months old, were they only a month old when you got them? That’s very young to be separated from their mum.
It can often be the case that adding a new bunny will break existing bonds, as the hierarchy has to be worked out all over again and sometimes that delicate bond just can’t be recreated. Your two bunnies are also very young, so any bonds made before puberty aren’t really considered true bonds. Quite often people will post on here saying that their two baby bunnies who were best friends stop being friends once hormones kick in. Females can be particularly aggressive when not spayed. Unfortunately if they are fighting it seems unlikely they will become friends again. You can try taking away the new bunny and see if they go back to as they were. The best thing to do would be to get them spayed, kept separated until hormones settle down, then try and bond them completely fresh, in a neutral area. Even with spayed rabbits, you can’t be certain they will get on. And getting 3 to bond is even more difficult. I know @Blue eyes has a good link that describes the bonding process in more detail.

Sorry, my math skills are awful. I got them at 8 weeks, and now they are a little over 3 months old. I agree, I felt uncomfortable getting this new bunny at under 6 weeks. The owner's reason was that "the mom stopped nursing them days ago and they eat normal food).

For the about a week, I was noticing that Storm and Oreo were cuddling less and not together 100% of the time like they used to be, but they still follow each other, give kisses and relax together. About an hour after the fight, I saw them going to the litter box together and Storm was laying down under Oreo. They seem alright now that I have the little bunny in my room.

Thank you so much for your insight. I had several intact rabbits for years in my late teens and they never fought unless a buck (their Dad or Brother) was around. Will it be alright if I keep the baby in the unused hutch in the living room, or will her scent cause trouble? I tried to re-introduce Storm to the new bunny again, but she lunged at the baby, and the baby tried to fight back

 

[Blue eyes]

As long as the original pair can see, or smell the 3rd bunny, it is likely to cause issues.

 

[Bunny_Mommy]

Popsicles is correct. Baby bonds don't count as true bonds. It is possible that the original two would have started fighting eventually even if you never got the 3rd rabbit. The introduction of the 3rd, just kicked it into high gear.

Rabbits can be very picky about which other rabbit they will bond with. Baby "bonds" don't count as true bonds. Any intact older rabbits, if they bond, can have a falling out at any time. Fixed rabbits tend to have more stable bonds.

So now you have 3 intact females, all still young. The original two are about the age when hormones may kick in and that is often when disagreements begin. Introducing a 3rd rabbit to any pair of rabbits is risky -- even if they are all neutered.

Whether Storm & Oreo bond again is anyone's guess. They probably need to be separated for awhile. I'd be inclined to return the 3rd rabbit just to simplify matters (and because she is a bit young to be away from momma). Once the other two are spayed, they may decide to bond.

You can read here for more about bonding.

Thank you for your response. I was fearing this would happen, but I thought so far, so good since they are almost mature.

Well, when the little bunny is not around, they seem neutral minimum, but they were cuddling a bit a few minutes ago. I will read up more on the link that you posted. I just wanted three happy bunnies that are friends/sisters. Would I be alright with keeping the baby in the hutch in the living room (Storm and Oreo are free roaming bunnies), or will her scent cause issues? I am thinking about giving her back, but she is so cute and I wanted a smaller bunny who is nice and affectionate like Storm (Storm is super heavy with very sharp claws). This bunny is half Lion Head, which I hear are very friendly bunnies.

 

[Popsicles]

If they can smell her it is likely to cause issues.

 

[majorv]

Like was already said, your older two are starting to feel the hormones and so it can quickly get volatile between them. Your little one is now stressed, which at that young age, can easily cause health issues. It doesn’t matter how friendly the rabbit’s temperament is, hormones can change all that.

 

[Bunny_Mommy]

So, during the day of the incident (Friday), Oreo did chase Storm occasionally even later that night, but I have not seen any fighting nor any fur on the carpet as of Sunday afternoon; despite close monitoring. Storm and Oreo did seem to tolerate each other after that day, and on Saturday, they were grooming each other's head (Oreo was usually the one that did most of the grooming), lying together and following each other in a friendly way (like jumping on the futon, going into my room and mimicking each other). But this could be because they are still going through puberty.

Please note that on Friday night until late Saturday morning, I did have Oreo in my room all night, with the door closed, and after that was when I saw an improvement in their relationship. The little bunny (Princess) has been in the cage in the living room, but other than Oreo apparently trying to scratch Princess through her hutch, her presence has not seemed to affect the relationship between the older two. That link from @Blue eyes was very helpful, and I plan to find an exotic animal Veterinarian in Arizona to spay Oreo ASAP/once she is 4 months old. Oreo is extremely skittish, not very loving and despises being held. If spaying does not calm her at least 50%, then I am afraid that I may need to rehome her. Her breeders were not very honest about her temperament, and when I tried to check her ear for wounds (it almost looks like Storm bit or scratched her right ear), she struggled and would not let me check for even one second, and it was so bad that she laid down panting extremely hard, almost like she was having a heart attack. Regardless, they will both be spayed at some point because they have became a bit destructive and are now pooping where they used to not. Most of all, I would like for them to be friends with Princess.

Sorry for the long post.

 

[Blue eyes]

I plan to find an exotic animal Veterinarian in Arizona to spay Oreo ASAP/once she is 4 months old.

Her breeders were not very honest about her temperament,

Regardless, they will both be spayed at some point because they have became a bit destructive and are now pooping where they used to not. Most of all, I would like for them to be friends with Princess.

Not sure where you are in AZ, but this is the vet used by Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue:
Donald Holmes DVM
Pecan Grove Veterinary Hospital
655 W. Warner Suite #111
Tempe, AZ 85284
(480)598-3669

Mention Brambley Hedge Rabbit Rescue for a 10% Discount

2nd office is

North Kenilworth Veterinary Care
342 W. McDowell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-374-3091

I wouldn't blame the breeders for what they might have told you about the bun's temperament. The temperament of baby rabbits can have absolutely zero to do with what they will be as adults. Hormones can completely change a rabbit's personality. The sweetest baby can become shy. The withdrawn baby can become outgoing.

Once all are spayed, they may be able to bond. Just bear in mind, that once they are introduced, it is still possible that the 3rd bun will disrupt or break the bond of the original two. You could wind up with the baby bonded with just one of the original pair leaving the other one out. Or you could wind up with all three refusing to bond. Or you could get lucky and have all three get along.

Be sure to reserve some neutral space for when it comes time to bonding. Needs to be where none of the rabbits have been.

 

[Bunny_Mommy]

Thanks so much for the information! I live in Tempe and will call them tomorrow. Will follow your advice, thanks so much