whining/squeaking

Question
I have a year-old female dwarf that has been GREAT since I got her.  She has been very affectionate and well-behaved.  I recently rescued a 3-month old female bunny and after some time, they got along great.  Now though, my older rabbit seems to not be happy.  She is getting more and more aggressive towards the other rabbit, and even me sometimes.  The thing that worries me is the noise she is making.  It is a squeaking, or whining, and doesn't always corrispond with her agression.  Sometimes I reach in and pet her and she will wimper.  Is there something wrong with her?

Answer
Hi Jackie,

first, I'd make sure your second bunny is truly a female.  It can be easy for someone to sex them wrong, especially at 3 months, the testicles may not have descended (and anyways the boys can pull them back up if they want to).  Your first bunny is exhibiting signs that are common in a pregnant female.

Did you ever see the new bunny mount your first female bunny?

If this is not the case and your second bunny is really a female, then it is an issue of dominance and she may be attempting to protect her territory from another female bunny.  So she gets more aggressive at the female, and sometimes you, especially perhaps if you have the other bun's scent on you.

My first gut feeling though, is that your second bunny is an intact male and he has gotten your girl pregnant.  Pregnant females generally don't want to be around males after they are pregnant, and they get more aggressive at defending their cage area from others, and they really don't like being picked up or handled when pregnant, and some will whimper even at a gesture to try to pick them up.  These symptoms sound like what your girl is going through.

Please have your second bunny sexed by a good rabbit vet.  You will need to get him fixed and she should be spayed as well.

Write me back with any more questions and let me know what you find out.

Lee