sooz22 Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 I have two un-neutered male rabbits who have cohabited harmoniously for over a year. In the last couple of days a change in hierachy appears to have taken place leaving one of them being constantly bullied by the other. They have never so much as scratched each other before! I have seperated them for their own good but it pains me to do so as i like my rabbits to enjoy the company of their own kind. Why do you think they have started to squabble and what caused the change in social status? Also do you think neutering would solve the problem or is there an alternative? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinderBloke Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Castrated bucks are more likely to leave peacefully together, given enough space. Has anything else changed recently? Such as, has a doe been put near your boys? Or has a new doe been introduced to your premises. How old are your boys and how long have they lived together? All their lives by any chance, perhaps from the same litter? Grinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sooz22 Posted September 3, 2006 Author Share Posted September 3, 2006 They are about 18months and one has been mated (Milo), but that was nearly two months ago now. They have lived together since they were eight weeks but they are not brothers. I had to bath Fiva (The previous dominant one) because he was covered in mud and i was wondering wether Milo (The New Bully) had turned on him because he smelt different? However Milo will tolerate my other male Marley but they only exercise together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiglet Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Neutering is probably the way to go. It creates much happier and more relaxed rabbit. It's not recommened that two male rabbits are kept together unless they are brothers from the same litter and are neutered. However, as they've been living together for some time despite being unrelated they should be ok once neutered. Whilst they are 'entire' they will continue to become more territorial and aggressive toward one another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinderBloke Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Where do Fiva and Milo live? Do they have sufficient space so that the dominated rabbit can get away from the dominant rabbit? Broken legs are expensive or terminal. We've had trios of bucks and does living happily together, including an ex stud buck, however ours have all be castrated / spayed and have had sufficinent space to get away from a dominant rabbit, without injuring themselves. My first move would be to get them both castrated, that will make them less edgy. Grinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medusa Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 I think Milo's got a new dose of self-confidence and assertiveness since being accepted by a doe. From that point on he's obviously decided to use his testosterone and be king of the castle. If you don't have them all neutered then I think you'll be facing this more and more in the future- and only neutering him won't be the answer cos then the others can bully him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baileys_mum Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 try bathing them. if they can still smell the doe it may be causing problems. it happens between guinea pigs too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrinderBloke Posted September 3, 2006 Share Posted September 3, 2006 try bathing them. if they can still smell the doe it may be causing problems. it happens between guinea pigs too If you do decide to bath them, be sure to ensure that they are fully dry before they go back outdoors. Grinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sooz22 Posted September 12, 2006 Author Share Posted September 12, 2006 Thanks for all your advice. Unfortunatly it was after i bathed Fiva that this started to occur, i wondered if it was because he smelt different that started this in the first place. However they are living seperatly for a while as Fiva seems to have lost quite a bit of weight and the vet thinks they need a rest from each other. once he is recovered we will see about getting them the snip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baileys_mum Posted September 12, 2006 Share Posted September 12, 2006 bath them both and wash the cage down so there are no smells of the doe at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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