House Bunnies

Question
I have a two year old male Mini Lop. A couple months back we got a Mini Rex rabbit. They currently share a cage and seem to get along without fighting. They are always cuddling together, eating together, and playing out of the cage together. My older bunny is seeming to bite his fur off from around his feet. I noticed today, that the hair right behind his head on the top has been thinned out as well. I do not think he could do that himself. I am assuming the younger rabbit has done that. I do see the younger rabbit grooming the older one quite often.
I am unsure as to why this is going on. Neither rabbit has ever been outside, and they are the only pets we have.
Is there anything we can do, or you think may be causing this problem?

Answer
Hi

the term for this is called 'barbering'.  Generally, rabbits may do this when they are bored.  The most common solution is to give them more toys and play things, as they are very smart animals and need stimulus and things that keep them busy.  Generally the rabbit being groomed doesn't usually mind as they may believe they are the more dominant rabbit.

Play items:  empty toilet paper tubes, or these tubes stuffed with hay; plastic baby keys for teething (hard, not soft); wood chew toys; wicker balls, tents, tubes; diggy piles of cut up clean old cotton towels and tshirts (cut tshirt necks and sleeves totally open); little balls to move around; tennis ball;

Make sure they have lots of fresh hay to nibble during the day, especially if they are caged when you are gone.  Also, make sure the cage is as big as you can get for them if they spend a lot of time in it together.  With two rabbits it is good to have a double decker or triple decker cage with lots of area to stretch out without being cramped with the other rabbit plus litterpans and other items.

Lee

Another potential option is to separate them when you aren't home.