When Bonded Rabbits Start Fighting: Rebonding My Rabbits

Rabbits can get along well and then start fighting, even after living together as a bonded pair.

My two rabbits were adopted as a bonded pair. They are both young, neutered males. In the beginning, they slept beside each other, ate together, and spent most of their time together.

After a second, more serious fight, I separated them and started working on rebonding. Here is what that process has looked like so far.

Separating fighting rabbits after

The first fight was brief, and they went back to eating together almost immediately. About a month later, they fought again.

This time:

• They were rolling around together and pulling fur.

• The fight was harder to break up.

• They needed to be separated.

After that, they spent about two weeks in different rooms without seeing each other.

Keeping each other’s scent familiar.

Although they couldn’t see each other, they could still smell each other.

• I rotated which rabbit had access to their main room.

• They used bedding and litter boxes that carried the other rabbit’s scent.

• They continued to have separate time to exercise and interact with me.

These timings describe what I tried with my rabbits. They aren’t a set schedule for every pair.

Introducing rabbits through a barrier

After the initial separation, I set up two pens outside in neutral territory.

They could see, hear, and smell each other, but the barrier kept them apart.

I watched for:

• Eating near each other.

• Grooming themselves near each other.

• Resting and relaxing.

• Looking at the other rabbit, then going back to what they were doing.

  
  

What I was looking for was them being comfortable enough to do normal, everyday activities around each other. They didn’t need to be constantly interacting. Being able to ignore each other was one of the things I was watching for. After several days outside, I continued the barrier sessions indoors.

Comfortable through the bars doesn’t mean ready to be together

Eventually, they were back in their usual room with a barrier between them.

• They took turns having access to the room.

• They ate near each other.

• The rabbit roaming the room often lay near the other rabbit.

• They weren’t showing aggression through the bars.

  
  

After another two to three weeks, I tried letting them interact without the barrier. They fought again and had to be separated.

They looked comfortable beside each other, but that didn’t carry over to being together without the bars.

They are still separated, and the rebonding process is ongoing.

What caused bonded rabbits to break their bond?

I don’t have a clear answer.

Before the fighting started, they had:

• Plenty of hay.

• Two litter boxes.

• Toys and enrichment.

• Space to move around.

Their previous bond and the calm behaviour through the barrier haven’t been enough to get them living together again yet.

For now, they continue to spend time near each other with a barrier between them.

Watch the full video

Watch the full video below for a closer look at the process, the setbacks, and my experience working through rebonding these two rabbits.