Rabbits are known for being used to the idea of other rabbits around them.
They prefer being around other rabbits but this is assuming they get along with the rabbit in front of them. Unfortunately, this might not always be the case even if you attempt to bond rabbits to each other.
You might end up seeing bad signs during rabbit bonding.
Bad signs during rabbit bonding can include general aggression (biting, lunging), mounting, ignoring each other, or pulling the other rabbit’s fur. It’s best to separate the rabbits if this is happening before someone gets hurt.
It is often assumed the rabbits will get along but that is not always the case. It’s quite possible the rabbits will not want to bond.
Here are the bad signs to look for during rabbit bonding.
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Bad Signs During Rabbit Bonding
1. Mounting
A good example of rabbit bonding going wrong is when one starts mounting the other.
This happens as a sign of dominance.
The mounting rabbit is showing it is stronger and the dominant one in this territory. It’s not ideal for bonding and is going to lead to general aggression over time too.
It’s best to look out for this type of behavior before it worsens.
Rabbits will often chase each other during this process too. This is another sign the rabbit bonding is not going well and it will end with potential mounting.
2. General Aggression (Biting/Chasing)
It’s also important to look at one of the more common signs of rabbit bonding gone wrong.
Let’s assume two rabbits are put in the same pen.
If they start to fight each other, this is an immediate sign there is something wrong between the two and they don’t like each other. This is not going to go away instantly and they will continue to display signs of aggression toward each other.
This is going to include a situation where the rabbit might start biting the other. This can also include chasing the other rabbit around to show they are boss in this territory.
Along the same lines, if the rabbit bonding is leading to biting in the face, this means there is something wrong with the two.
This type of aggression is not a good thing.
It will lead to considerable damage and it’s something you are going to want to avoid at all costs.
The rabbits are going to harm each other and that is the last thing anyone wants. It’s better to take the time to focus on working with the rabbits to make sure they are comfortable. If they are being aggressive with each other, it’s best to come up with a new plan.
3. Pulling Fur
Rabbits that are bonding might also start pulling each other’s fur.
This is in line with general aggression and it shows an attempt to harm the other rabbit as much as possible since they’re in the same territory.
This action happens to let the other rabbit know they are not strong enough to rule the territory. It is often common in combination with the other signs that have been listed here.
Warning signs during rabbit bonding will include fur pulling and it’s important to be aware of this as they mount or chase each other.
4. Ignoring Each Other
This is another warning sign.
Let’s assume the goal is to bond the rabbits in the same area.
This is only going to work when they acknowledge each other and are willing to share the same space.
Some rabbits tend to get aggressive but others are going to start to ignore each other. This is just as bad.
This means they are not interested in bonding with each other and don’t care about doing this. They would rather move forward by claiming their spot in the same space and staying there.
Final Thoughts
These are the bad signs to look for with rabbit bonding.
Bad signs during rabbit bonding can include chasing each other, mounting as a display of dominance, pulling the other rabbit’s fur, and/or ignoring each other. This will depend on the rabbits and their comfort in the space.
If one rabbit wants to dominate the other, it will lead to signs of aggression and it can lead to serious injury.
If this is noticed between the rabbits, it’s best to separate them until a new plan is put together to bond them.
There is nothing more important than both of the rabbits being safe in the space they are in. This includes during bonding sessions with other rabbits.
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