Hair Loss/Pulling

Question
Hi, Our family has 2 Netherland Dwarfs, Both are female and are in the same cage. We purchased them for Showing and Breeding and LOVING! They are 6 months old. One of them seems to be overly aggressive towards the other and has been seen biting/hair pulling on the other. This bunny chases and then half "mounts" the other pushing her down into a dominated position. Then she bites or pulls hair out. The hurt one squeals and then we all cry!!!We obviously try to stop this before it happens but we can not be at home 24/7. Although we homeschool so we are at home more than the average. They get a variety of food; Romaine Lettuce, Pellets, and Timothy Hay. We give them lots to chew on. They are out of the cage for 3-4 half hour sessions per day. What can I do to help them bond better? And could the aggressive one simply be bored and over grooming her cagemate. Could the less aggressive one be pulling hair out during the night? The hair loss is on the back area...right where the other one holds her down at. I will schedule a Vet visit next week. What should I do in the mean time?

Answer
Dear Michelle,

If you love your bunnies, you will immediately separate them into private cages, even if they are adjacent so they can still see/smell/visit with each other.  It is cruel to keep them together if one is being bullied and tufted by the other, and it will certainly affect her health in the long run.  If the aggressive female is being mean enough to make her squeal, then there is no love lost between them, and the kindest, best thing to do is keep them separate.

Before you breed, please read this very important article:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/breeding.html

It is very difficult to keep two intact rabbits of the same sex together in peace, and unless the girls are spayed, this will continue.  When you schedule that vet visit, you should also discuss the spay/neuter:

www.rabbit.org/vets

www.rabbit.org/health/spay.html

The hair loss on the submissive one's back is likely due to her being constantly mounted by her cagemate.  The only way to stop this is to separate them.  It is natural behavior for an intact rabbit to act this way, but it is *not* natural for two intact rabbits to have to share such a small space together, so this will be the inevitable outcome.  I just cannot work, and no amount of bonding can override the power of the sex hormones driving this behavior.

I hope this helps.

Dana