Fighting Bunnies...

[smithrc]

[EDIT : Title changed after latest development!]

Hi folks...

Gizmo is having a bit of a problem with his brother...

Pickle seems to think his brother is actualy a girl...
and he's umm... molesting him

Now i know its probubly just part of them growing up... but does anyone know what i can do to curb it?

poo old gizmo is looking a bit traumatised. Pickle actually had him pinned down at one point, trying to have his wicked way with him.

any tips?

 

[smithrc]

ok - apparently its a dominance thing....

and we should just let them work it out!

 

[SnowyzMom]

Sometimes there do seem to be mixups in nature. Have you seen that picture of 3 deer going at it? One female, with a male and another male going at the first male. Yeeesh. All I could think was, next minute she collapsed under the weight of both of them. I was also wondering what the buck in the middle was thinking! I bet that threw off his concentration!

Here's hoping your bunnies work it all out AOK.

 

[smithrc]

we seperated them just before the first post...

and said sod it, sort it out just after the 2nd post...

they have and are now sat calmly watching TV next to each other.

phew.

(if rabbits could hold a ciggerette - they'd have one now )

 

[smithrc]

ok folks... It's just gone a bit wrong....

they both decided they wanted to be the dominant male.

what the last site failed to mention was that if they start to circle around each trying to mount the other, SEPERATE THEM IMMEDITALEY!

They circled and circled, then ALL HELL broke loose....

In trying to seperate them Lorna got nipped and scratched and gave up, leaving me to wade in!. I ended up with one rabbit attached to my hand by its teeth and the other still trying to fight!

anyway i have just devided their hutch in two and put TCP on our wounds!

 

[smithrc]

Just before people say about them both being male...

they are only 12 weeks old!

we were told that problems like this wouldn't come up untill they were sexualy mature after 5-6 months old... and they would have their bits removed before then to keep things calm.

I'll be calling the pet store tomorrow to check their age!

and then the vets to see about getting them snipped earlier than they suggested.

 

[SirMinion]

This nearly always happens when keeping two bucks together, even if they're siblings and have grown up together.

Only one solution.. time for a trip to the vet to have "a couple of things seen to" If you get my meaning.

Once they've both been done, all aggression will vanish and you'll have fluffy bunnies again.

 

[AquaSeaFoam]

actually, i've always read its fine to get them neutered whenever their testicles descend. so have a peek lol my last bunny was about 4 months when it happened. Here is a nice site about house rabbits.
HTH
EDIT: besure to go to the health section of that site and read about the spay/neuter procedure. Its important to have a vet that is experienced with rabbits, if they tell you not to feed your bunnies prior to the surgery ask them why. Rabbits can't vomit so there is no need for this worry, and rabbits should never be allowed to get empty digestive tracts.
Good luck with the lil guys!

 

[smithrc]

Lorna has been into the vets today

they are booked in for monday

If the vets say they are developed enough then it'll happen the same day (and £102 later they will be umm a little lighter!)

tonight they are fine - not trying anything on

 

[Stagette]

I tend to agree with whats been said previously, i kept rabbits and bred them for years and bucks technically aren't compatable together and will fight to the death especially if theres a doe around however if they are neutered then that can help solve it as it banishes aggression. Although i had two rabbits both unneutered bucks from different litters and one was a lot older than the other and they lived together for years quite happy jumping on each other, infact the young one died protecting the old one from a fox so sometimes it can work out!

Goodluck at the vets

 

[smithrc]

slight change of plans...

Gizmo got nicked in the fight... and looks like he's got an infection as his lip is all swollen up..

off to the vets in an hour

 

[Stagette]

Aaaawwww im sorry to hear that, sounds like hes come off the worst, i wouldn't worry too much they will probably give you a course of anti biotics for him and tell you to look out for any sign of an abcesses if it isn't already that, i imagine its just swollen from impact of fighting but always best to get it checked out by a professional!

Hope he's feeling better soon

 

[smithrc]

thanks

I'll try to get a piccy of him before we go - it looks sore (like its already an abcess)

 

[smithrc]

Good news from the vets, It's not an abcess and she gave him an antibiotics shot as it was likely to develope into one due to it being on his mouth.

and the best news... they are fine to be snipped!

I think we were told porkies about their age when we bought them

p.s. i did get a piccy but i dont have my new card reader yet

 

[Link]

Get them 'chopped' mate, that normally works.

Also get a bit of Vick vapour rub. The stuff you put on your chest when you have a cold. Put a little bit on the back end of the least dominant one. Not on his nether regions though, above his tail. That should help till the hormones get reduced.

They might have been older than what you were told. They normally start scrapping when they're approaching the age when they can reproduce. Its earlier in males.