Please offer me some advice. my ex bought my daughter 2 male bunnies as her last rabbit got stolen. They were from the same litter and are housed together in a large hutch with an attached run. They are about 10 months old. I was angry at him for getting 2 males as know these can fight but so far have had no problems. As i am on an extremely tight budget i have been unable to get them neutured and thought i would see if they got on ok first. Anyway this week we have hardly had them out due to daughter bein ill but had them out today and they have almost certainly have been. The smaller black one looks like tufts of fur are missing and has a couple of cuts. I feel so guilty. Rung ex up to see if he will pay for neuturing for the more dominant one to begin with but he isnt interested in helping. I have separated them and luckily kind of have a makeshift second hutch to put flopsy in. However is this my only course of action- feel awful if im going to have to keep them seperated. As i have said at the minute i cant afford neuturing.
I can't believe after all this time they have started fighting. :(. I f i can fund the neuturing with my credit card will it be too late to put them back together again? and how long could they be kept seperate before i could not reintroduce them.
Thanks

PM sooz22 she knows alot more about bonding , if you are on benifits the PDSA have nuetering service, Vets do take credit cards and neutering costs £43 ish , as i had a rescued boy done this week at Peak vets in Woodseats.
Also have they had their injections for Myxi and VHD?
you should also worm them with Panicure over 9 days or Lapizole which is given over 28 days.

As teeny says pm sooz22 she is really fantastic with bonding rabbits, I really feel for you it must be awful.
PDSA do neuter rabbits but unfortunately it is still quite expensive there as well, much more than the cost of a dog or cat, I think its because small animals are so much more tricky to do.
Wait and see what Sooz says, good luck with them , I hope it turns out ok.

I did have them wormed when i took them for a check up at about five months. Paid for some vaccinations too although cant remember which ones. I may ring vets tomorrow an see price. Its just awkward for me to get there too as i have no car and also work an have to walk my daughter to school then me to work but wil do my best. How long can i keep them separate before i need to put them back together

where abouts are you ? maybe one of us could help you

Hi

I am afraid you are in a very difficult situation. Male to male pairings are extrememly haphazard and I avoid them at all costs. The best way to keep a pair of males is to get two brothers from the same litter and have them neutered as soon as their testicals drop. Thats both rabbits right away. Same sex pairs must never be split for any period of time as fighting usually occurs on reintroduction.

Neutering just one male will not resolve this issue Im afraid they both need to be done and then kept apart for 8 weeks whilst they calm down and their hormones settle. Even then there is no guarantee of a successful rebond as rabbits sadly tend to remember those that have hurt them and will become defensive in their presence, often leading to a repeat battle.

This is not a bond I would recommend a novice undertaking. It must take place in totally neutral territory with someone who can read the rabbits body language. It could well take a couple of weeks to work, if at all and during that time they must stay together in neutral space.

I have had a few male pairs in who began to fight and were given up by the owners and most had injuries which needed medical treatment. Be under no illusion that they will fight to the death or attempt to castrate each other. Also be aware that even when neutered they may fall out down the line at some stage.

For all the above reasons I never recommend keeping two males together, male to female pairs are generally much happier.

I think what i better do is keep them separate then thanks for the advice just glad i seperated them before any real harm was done. Flopsy seems his usual happy self so i can repair the second hutch i have and just keep them apart. When i bring them in as long as i am with them can i bring them in the house together? Thanks again then

No, dont put them together at all whilst they are still 'intact'. Can you not get them neutered and a female friend each? Rabbits are really sociable creatures and need company, outdoor rabbits inparticular.

Neutering will make them nicer pets as it will improve their behaviour and prevent them developing antisocial tendancies such as spreying, mounting, chasing, nipping and territorial aggression.