Hi - We've had a couple of female bunnies (Truffle andFudge)for 4 weeks now, so don't know what to expect from them yet or how to deal with it. They are almost 12 weeks old and from the same litter.
Until today, they have been best friends, sitting together all the time, grooming each other etc etc. They have shared a cage happily, and get at least 5 hours out of it every day with lots of attention.
This morning, we heard a scuffle, and found them chasing each other around the cage and fighting, with fur flying everywhere. We didn't know what to do, but let them out to calm down and they seemed to get on fine again. Then, we put them back in the cage about 20 mins before we left for work just to see how they got on. Within 5 mins they were scrapping again. Truffle had been biting the bars of the cage, and Fudge had been gently nipping her side, and Truffle just went for her. When we opened the cage door, Fudge couldn't get away fast enough.
As we were out all day, we didn't dare leave them, so quickly fabricated a second cage next to their original one, which we put Fudge into (with her own water, food, litter tray, house etc). The cages are close enough that they can communicate, but not fight!.
I've got back tonight and let them both out, and left both cage doors open. Fudge seems terrified of Truffle. I tried first just putting food into their shared cage - Truffle was eating happily, but Fudge didn't dare go in, or if she did she ran out again scared. So now there is food in both cages. Fudge will go in the first cage if Truffle isn't there. And Truffle is happy in Fudge's new cage. In fact, they've been eating together from the food in Fudge's cage, but aside from this Fudge is very jittery around Truffle.
We just don't know what to do for the best. It's been suggested elsewhere that we've made a separation now and should keep them apart until they're spayed (which they're not old enough for for another 2 months). I don't really want to do that though - is there a way we can get them to be friends again? I daren't shut them in together tomorrow in case they fight again and one of them gets hurt when we're not around. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks so much.
esupi.
Until today, they have been best friends, sitting together all the time, grooming each other etc etc. They have shared a cage happily, and get at least 5 hours out of it every day with lots of attention.
This morning, we heard a scuffle, and found them chasing each other around the cage and fighting, with fur flying everywhere. We didn't know what to do, but let them out to calm down and they seemed to get on fine again. Then, we put them back in the cage about 20 mins before we left for work just to see how they got on. Within 5 mins they were scrapping again. Truffle had been biting the bars of the cage, and Fudge had been gently nipping her side, and Truffle just went for her. When we opened the cage door, Fudge couldn't get away fast enough.
As we were out all day, we didn't dare leave them, so quickly fabricated a second cage next to their original one, which we put Fudge into (with her own water, food, litter tray, house etc). The cages are close enough that they can communicate, but not fight!.
I've got back tonight and let them both out, and left both cage doors open. Fudge seems terrified of Truffle. I tried first just putting food into their shared cage - Truffle was eating happily, but Fudge didn't dare go in, or if she did she ran out again scared. So now there is food in both cages. Fudge will go in the first cage if Truffle isn't there. And Truffle is happy in Fudge's new cage. In fact, they've been eating together from the food in Fudge's cage, but aside from this Fudge is very jittery around Truffle.
We just don't know what to do for the best. It's been suggested elsewhere that we've made a separation now and should keep them apart until they're spayed (which they're not old enough for for another 2 months). I don't really want to do that though - is there a way we can get them to be friends again? I daren't shut them in together tomorrow in case they fight again and one of them gets hurt when we're not around. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks so much.
esupi.