I have two pairs of rabbits both a neutered male and a neutered female and I can’t work out what their relationship is in either pair (who is dominant and who is submissive) I’ve looked for all the signs such as grooming etc but it still doesn’t seem obvious to me. Is this normal?
Working out rabbit hierarchy?
- Thread starter Katie94
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Apollo’s Slave
Well-Known Member
It doesn’t sound too problematic. I’d look for the rabbit that circles the other or harbours toys and food for himself (that’s probably the dominant one)
Submissive rabbits usually crouch to the other rabbit as if it’s saying ‘I’m not a threat’.
Your dominant rabbit will likely groom less often and for shorter times than your submissive bunny
Thank you I just find it kind of strange that at feeding time both rabbits always run up to the front of the cage at the same time so neither will hang back to let the dominant eat first. They will also both quite happily try and take food from the other. They always used to be in a grooming stale mate all the time so I’d see both rabbits bow their heads but neither really groom. I do see more grooming now but it comes equally in both sides usually one starts grooming and then they immediately swap. I guess I’m just worried that they haven’t worked it out properly.
