Hierarchy Fights & Bullying

In Rabbit Groups
Hierarchy fights can occur not only during the initial bonding of unfamiliar rabbits (see Bonding) but also within established groups, where such conflicts are often a regular occurrence.

Are Hierarchy Fights Normal?

Rabbits have a fairly clear social hierarchy, which was crucial for their survival in the wild. Higher-ranking rabbits have a better chance of surviving, reproduce more frequently, and are generally healthier. Additionally, rabbit social structures only work when the hierarchy is well-established. To some extent, hierarchy fights are completely normal among rabbits and are not a cause for concern.

When Are the Fights No Longer „Normal“ or Concerning?

No matter how intense the fights look, how much fur is flying, or how much the rabbits are fighting, the fights are generally normal as long as none of the following criteria are met:

• There are severe injuries (not just scratches or „accidental“ wounds, but bites that require treatment).
• The rabbits fight for weeks without any periods of peace or reconciliation between the fights.
• A rabbit presses its head against the wall and refuses to move, while the others continue to bite its back.
• A rabbit has an intense fear of the other rabbits and remains in constant flight, showing no improvement after several days.

When Do Hierarchy Fights Become „Bullying“?

Conflicts within a group are normal, but when a single rabbit is heavily targeted by multiple others, it can quickly turn into bullying. This is shown in the following ways:

• The affected rabbit can almost never eat in peace, loses weight, and is unable to fully relax, remaining under constant tension (e.g., not lying down comfortably or stretching out).
• Its character changes, becoming very withdrawn or panicked/extremely fearful.
• It is only allowed to stay in a small area of the enclosure, being bitten and aggressively chased away from other areas.
• No other rabbit in the group wants to cuddle with it.
• It is bitten, leading to visible bite injuries.
• The stress weakens its immune system, causing it to get sick frequently (e.g., mites, infections, EC, parasites, colds…).

Which Rabbits Are Likely to Be Bullied?

• Rabbits that don’t fit into the group, such as disabled, elderly, or sick rabbits living with much younger and more active ones.
• Rabbits that don’t cope well in large groups and are better suited to pair bonding — often due to poor socialization during early development or being separated from their mother too early.
• Previously dominant rabbits that have dropped in rank due to illness or age.
• Rabbits that have been bullied before and had very negative experiences in a group, making them overly fearful and anxious in future social settings.

What Effects Can Bullying Have on the Affected Rabbit?

Bullying can have a severe impact on rabbits:

• Psychological stress, sometimes leading to trauma
• Depressive behavior, even to the point of giving up (sitting in their own waste, refusing to eat, extreme withdrawal, lack of grooming, etc.)
• Extreme fearfulness and overreactions
• Chronic stress, which often leads to illness
• Harmful exposure to cold in outdoor housing (e.g. no access to shelter, no cuddle partner for warmth)
• …

What Causes Hierarchy Fights and Bullying?

There are many possible causes, but the most common ones include:

• “Spring fever”: In spring, many groups go through a renewed phase of rank establishment due to hormonal changes linked to breeding season. Every rabbit wants to climb the social ladder, as higher status means more mating opportunities (and in nature, better survival chances for their offspring).
• A rabbit ignores social rules, such as stealing food from a dominant rabbit or being overly pushy. This leads to correction and discipline from others.
• If a rabbit becomes weaker (due to illness or age), lower-ranking rabbits may try to take its place, often leading to more intense fights.
• If a rabbit dies or is removed from the group, it can trigger a complete reshuffling of ranks among the remaining rabbits.
• Rabbits in pain often become aggressive. These health issues (e.g., uterine disease) may not be visible at first.
• A rabbit that was previously ill but recovers may try to claim a higher rank again.
• Poor bonding processes: If rabbits haven’t properly worked out their hierarchy (e.g., because bonding was too controlled or too calm), the fights may emerge later, once they’re back in their territory.
• Neutering (including spaying females) changes group dynamics and often leads to a new round of rank negotiation.
• Rabbits that were temporarily separated and are reunited may need to reestablish hierarchy.
• Housing intact (unneutered) males almost never works in the long term; they can become deadly rivals even after years of peace. Two females without a male often clash during puberty (around 8–12 months), sometimes earlier or later. Mixed-sex groups are generally more stable.
• Groups of four to eight rabbits tend to be more unstable and prone to frequent fights. Very small groups or large ones (8–10+ rabbits) are often more harmonious.
• Young rabbits (1 to around 4.5 years old) typically have more conflicts than older rabbits.

What Promotes Hierarchy Fights Among Rabbits?

Many factors can increase the likelihood of fights within rabbit groups, such as:

• Food scarcity
• Lack of space (e.g., being confined to a small cage or hutch)
• Springtime (due to hormonal changes)
• Imbalanced gender ratio (e.g., 5 neutered males and one female), or same-sex groups (all males or all females)
• Groups that haven’t lived together for long (longer-established groups tend to be more harmonious)
• Dead ends in the enclosure (no escape routes)
• Extremely large space (over 500m²) can sometimes cause instability
• Lack of hiding spots or visual barriers, so rabbits cannot avoid being seen by others
• Hormonal imbalance in individual rabbits, e.g., during puberty (around 8 months), especially in same-sex groups
• Sick or recently isolated rabbits (e.g., due to neutering) being reintroduced to the group

What Can I Do to Reduce Hierarchy Fights and Bullying?

Try to identify the root cause—sometimes it can be resolved. Optimize the living conditions and eliminate contributing factors wherever possible. Rabbits that are being targeted, chased, or attacked should be examined by a veterinarian, as hidden health issues are often the cause.

It’s essential to eliminate dead ends and ensure that the rabbits can chase each other in circles. They also need a lot of space to avoid each other when necessary, as well as variety and visual barriers in the form of enrichment and setup. In group housing, it is particularly important to offer multiple levels (with several access points up and down on each level), so the rabbits can easily get out of each other’s way. In walk-in enclosures, for example, 2–3 levels can be built.

It’s also important to review the group composition (same-sex groups may not be suitable) and consider adding another rabbit if needed. Unneutered males must absolutely be neutered. Ideally, let them recover together in the same box at the vet after surgery—this helps them get along better afterward.

If you have the opportunity to temporarily move the rabbits to a neutral area, take advantage of it—this often helps the group reconnect and reduces fighting.

Do not make the mistake of separating the rabbits too soon! Reintroducing them is usually much more difficult and stressful than simply allowing them to sort out their hierarchy naturally.

When Should You Separate Fighting Rabbits?

If bite wounds occur that require veterinary treatment, the rabbits should be separated. Such serious fights usually stem from major husbandry issues—lack of space (e.g. cages or small hutches), unneutered males, or all-female groups—or if one rabbit is ill. Often, the illness isn’t immediately visible from the outside. Chronically ill rabbits usually do best when paired with another handicapped or low-energy companion, especially if they can’t hold their own in a larger group.

If serious injuries occur, it has proven helpful to remove the more dominant rabbit from the group and separate it for two weeks. In very spacious housing (e.g. garden setups or large enclosures), it can then be reintroduced—the previously underdog rabbit now has the territory advantage, and the dominant rabbit is forced to back down a bit. In smaller setups, reintroduction should be done on neutral territory.

For female rabbits, the size of the enclosure plays a key role in group harmony. In spacious outdoor environments, serious bite injuries are rare.

With male rabbits (even neutered ones), some individuals simply don’t get along. They may initially bond well, but later engage in serious fights with injuries. If this happens more than once despite a proper reintroduction, sufficient space, and ideal conditions, the rabbits should no longer be housed together. Instead, consider pairing each with a female or forming two separate groups. Keeping a rabbit alone is not an option—males usually do very well with a female companion.

„It has proven effective to group rabbits according to their activity level—for example, keeping seniors and handicapped rabbits separately from young, energetic, and healthy ones.“

„My rabbit injured/bit another rabbit.“

There are many reasons why rabbits might bite each other. However, the main causes include:

• Incompatibility between rabbits
• Lack of space or cramped housing (e.g. being locked in a hutch or cage – make sure to research proper rabbit housing. Rabbits need plenty of space, even at night!)
• Poor group composition (the rabbits simply don’t get along – see „Which rabbits are compatible?“)
• Severely bullied rabbits may eventually fight back
• Dominance or hierarchy fights within a group
• Puberty (around 6 to 14 months of age), hormonal imbalances, heat, or false pregnancy (more info on this)
• Illness or pain (such as uterine disease in females – a common but overlooked cause)
• Springtime behavior changes
• Re-establishing hierarchy after a rabbit has died, become weak (due to illness or age), or matured
• Reintroduction after separation
• Incorrect bonding process
• Unneutered males (they need to be neutered to live peacefully in groups)

In most cases, these factors first lead to chasing behavior. It usually takes several issues combined for things to escalate into actual bite injuries.

For example, this can happen when unfamiliar rabbits meet in one rabbit’s established territory, or when a poorly matched, unbalanced group experiences intense dominance fights in springtime. An often-bullied rabbit might suddenly fight back in such situations.

However, keeping these rabbits alone is not a solution!
Instead, the underlying cause should be addressed, the rabbits should be properly bonded following established guidelines, and an ideal environment should be created – so they can live happily together as a bonded pair.

At our rescue center, we often take in extremely incompatible rabbits – those that have seriously injured or even killed other rabbits, or for whom multiple bonding attempts have failed.
Because of this, we’re also very familiar with complex and challenging cases.

These range from extremely territorial rabbits who claim a territory even in a supposedly neutral area, to individuals who have developed problematic social behavior over time. We also see rabbits with hidden medical issues – particularly thymomas, lymphomas, and heart diseases – which often go undetected in blood tests because they don’t show up there.

However, with the right medication and techniques for behavioral rehabilitation, we’ve successfully bonded every rabbit we’ve worked with.