For the past couple of days, my two bonded boys have been fighting. The situation is this:
They live free-range in my bedroom. No cage, ever. Everyone is spayed/neutered.
They are brothers and have been bonded since they were born, pretty much [3 years]. Last November, a young Dutch bunny named Bella came into our lives. She was a rescue whom I was fostering and later adopted; she didn't come to actually live with the boys until around January. We tried having her living with the boys until about May. They just weren't getting along. So she went to live in another part of my house. But she was miserable so I put her back with the boys this summer. They have been okay ever since. Bella has become dominant of Newman, Benner's position over Newman has been constantly challenged.
When Bella goes to hump Newman, he simply lies down and accepts it. If she gets carried away [she has no manners] he will turn and nip her, and she will hop off. When Benner tries to do this, Newman runs from him. He always has. But up until a few days ago he ONLY ran. Now he is fighting back.
Is this a sign of the end of an era? Are Benner and Newman going to break up? Is the stress of two dominant bunnies just too much stress on their relationship? Is there anything I can do?
I have a back-up plan if there is a break up. It's obvious that Newman and Bella are crazy in love. So Benner would have to live elsewhere. I have a few locations where he could live, my only worry is that he'd be lonely without a mate, since he's been with Newman his whole life. He also would probably have to be caged, at least at night, which I doubt he'd like.
They live free-range in my bedroom. No cage, ever. Everyone is spayed/neutered.
They are brothers and have been bonded since they were born, pretty much [3 years]. Last November, a young Dutch bunny named Bella came into our lives. She was a rescue whom I was fostering and later adopted; she didn't come to actually live with the boys until around January. We tried having her living with the boys until about May. They just weren't getting along. So she went to live in another part of my house. But she was miserable so I put her back with the boys this summer. They have been okay ever since. Bella has become dominant of Newman, Benner's position over Newman has been constantly challenged.
When Bella goes to hump Newman, he simply lies down and accepts it. If she gets carried away [she has no manners] he will turn and nip her, and she will hop off. When Benner tries to do this, Newman runs from him. He always has. But up until a few days ago he ONLY ran. Now he is fighting back.
Is this a sign of the end of an era? Are Benner and Newman going to break up? Is the stress of two dominant bunnies just too much stress on their relationship? Is there anything I can do?
I have a back-up plan if there is a break up. It's obvious that Newman and Bella are crazy in love. So Benner would have to live elsewhere. I have a few locations where he could live, my only worry is that he'd be lonely without a mate, since he's been with Newman his whole life. He also would probably have to be caged, at least at night, which I doubt he'd like.