Trouble between 2 male rabbits in a group of 5.

[Gaiyae]

My wife and i deceided to try and bond a group of 5 rabbits (3 females and 2 males) about a month ago. At first it seemed like a big succes, but after a few weeks together in the same pen one of the males started to chase the other male (both are neutered). Sometimes even biting.

This in turn made the other male scared. And now whenever the dominant male comes close, the other runs away in fear. Over the course of a week this behavour got more and more extreme. So we deceided to spend some days rebonding those two males seperately. With great results.

They both keep grooming each other. And lie next to one another. Not one ounce of agression to be found. But as soon as we put them back with the other rabbits in the same pen the old behavour returns (short chases, sometimes small bites with hair tufts). The dominant male becomes aggressive again and the other male has to keep in a constant state of fear again.

If anyone has any ideas on how to proceed, that would be much appreciated!

 

[zuppa]

My wife and i deceided to try and bond a group of 5 rabbits (3 females and 2 males) about a month ago. At first it seemed like a big succes, but after a few weeks together in the same pen one of the males started to chase the other male (both are neutered). Sometimes even biting.

This in turn made the other male scared. And now whenever the dominant male comes close, the other runs away in fear. Over the course of a week this behavour got more and more extreme. So we deceided to spend some days rebonding those two males seperately. With great results.

They both keep grooming each other. And lie next to one another. Not one ounce of agression to be found. But as soon as we put them back with the other rabbits in the same pen the old behavour returns (short chases, sometimes small bites with hair tufts). The dominant male becomes aggressive again and the other male has to keep in a constant state of fear again.

If anyone has any ideas on how to proceed, that would be much appreciated!

Hi, just to make sure, not only males but all 5 rabbits are neutered (2+ months ago)?

I also have this problem, two neutered males and one intact female, were bonded nicely for about one year, then one of the males (dominant) started chasing the other male. I guess because she is intact and it is spring/summer time she wanted more attention and was teasing them so they had to sort it out between them in present of a lady. Because she was stressed too much I had to remove her a few weeks ago, the boys got back really quickly and nicely. At the moment I don't know what I will do next, best would be to spay her and reintroduce. They are quite happy two boys together and she is very relaxed and happy to be alone, I will see.

In my other bonded pair (exactly one year bonded now) they were absolutely perfect together and he was a dominant, but now she is chasing him and obviously wants to mate with him, he's like sorry I am neutered but she's like I don't mind. They are still together but she is getting really bossy honestly I am not sure I don't want him to be abused. They were totally perfect all last year.

If all your girls are spayed how long ago, sometimes they still can be teasing males and that could cause conflicts between them.

I don't have just one answer to your questions just thought I'd share my own experience here as well.

From what you describe the problem could be that girls all or one of them trigger their arguments, I'd watch them closely to find out what triggers that, and I would go from there.

Please keep us updated I''d be very interested to know how it goes and see some pics if you'd like to share as well

 

[JBun]

Are you absolutely certain both males are neutered?

 

[Gaiyae]

@zuppa Thanks for the insights. Maybe one of the females is inderdaad pushing the conflict. I will keep notice. May post some pictures later.

@JBun 100% certain they have been neutered.

This morning was quite strange. The agressor suddenly groomed the other male together with one of the females. Yet later one he started chasing him again.

 

[JBun]

If after separating and bonding the two males together, you are then just putting them back into the group in their regular territory(not the neutral bonding space) without doing proper bonding with the group, that's likely your problem. I would either bring out one rabbit at a time to bond in with the males in the separate neutral bonding area. Or try bringing out the whole group to bond with the two males in the bonding area.

Even after the two males seem to be bonded on their own, it's still important to go about the proper bonding process with the rest. It's creating the problems you're seeing just putting the two bonded males back into the rabbits normal territory without properly bonding the rest of the group with them, if this is what you were doing. If not, maybe describe in more detail the different bonding techniques you've tried so far.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-bunnies.html
http://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding_rabbits_together