Rabbit problem - hair pulling.

Ok I'm posting this where ever I can think, I have two rabbits, both are English, and both have been great together, a while ago though I noticed that the male had pulled the females whiskers out, I assumed that this was over grooming or something, I split them up, and then re-bonded them, this was fine, there was no problems for a while, although the other day I woke up to find that he had pulled a load of hair from her face, so I split them up that day, now both are in serparate areas while I am not there too watch them, but they have been together while I am there, and they are living side by side, when they are together they will binky, groom each other, and will both flop aswell, so they are as bonded as ever, so I don't think that its a sign of problems with thier relationship, and as she has no cuts or anything on her I'm taking that as another sign that they are still ok together, so I'm stumped, oh and there has also been evidence that he is eating the hair too.

So has anyone heard of this before? And any ideas on how to solve it? I have added some pics of the female as well, and they are still split up until I have some grasp as to whats happening.







ETA they live in my room, and were in a 4X8 ft area, with time out in the morning and evenings, the male is starting a bit of jumping too, and they have toys, and are fed burgess, don't know if that will help or not though. And she was also fine the night before, and was like this when I woke up, so this was done in one night.

Oh dear! I'm afraid this is known as Barbering, and occasionally happens in animals (rats, mice, cavies etc). I don't think there's very much you can do apart from separating them. But you might want to look into possible stress on the part of the barberer which may be leading him to do it. I once had a rat who barbered all her cagemates - so I paired her with a Hairless companion... result - she barbered herself instead

Perhaps a behaviourist who specialises in rabbits might have some ideas?

Well, I am not sure either and can only see 2 things that maybe a possibility. One is a dominance thing but that doesn't seem to fit as they get along fine the rest of the time. The other is that he is overgrooming her and she doesn't object so does nothing about it! It would be easier to understand the other way round though!!

Agree with both the above, but can I ask are they both neutered or have you just had one done (pressuming they are) as one maybe giving off a scent causing over grooming/preparing.

where is the fur still around is it mixed in with the bedding or is he eating the lot

Thanks for the reply, I don't know if there is any behaviourists like that around here, but I could ring up the local vets and see, I'll have a look for sources of stress for Drew aswell, although nothing has really changed since I got him, apart from him being moved into the bedroom away from the dogs, and although he liked Diesel I don't think that could stress him out could it? The other thing is that I started jumping with him, but thats just in the hallway, and he is just loose to do different jumps to give him something to do.

I've been thinking overgrooming too, Nancy has always been a bit submissive to Drew, she doesn't seem to object to anything, and only moves if he tries to mount her, well sometimes, but it wouldn't surprise me her just laying there and taking it bless her.

He's nuetered, and has been since before I got Nancy, I'm waiting to get Nancy spayed, if I do tbh, as she is still very small, and light, and with the problems I had with Drew, and my chin Magic while being done I want to wait until she is bigger and heavier. And the hair is being eaten, there is none in their run at all, but when I was cleaning out the litter tray that day I saw some faeces that was long but most of them was split in the middle, and it was all hair, so he's not only pulling her hair out, he's eating it too.

I think I would try change of diet too, but having her done will also help, if you decide not too then keeping them apart when your not there is best.

As you say they live indoors, so make sure he gets dandilion leaves and fresh grass in his diet you can buy the trays of fresh grass for them to munch, but personnally I'd just get it from outdoors.
Also there are certain herbs that are benefical to them if living indoors, there are some good rabbit sites on the web that will be very helpful, or if like me you live near a nature centre that keep rabbits give them a call.......there is one here called Called Cannonhill nature centre the number is 0121 472 7775 if you call them (they are open tomorrow) they have a coloney of rabbits and someone will be able to advise you

I do have some grass trays, we have three that they get on rotation, and they do get some other grass when we go for walks with them, but I'll look out for more dandelions and things, although they do get loads of different treats and things including Dandelion roots and apple tree twigs from PaH and people's gardens, aswell as having a high veg diet.

I'll look out for some places like that, and ring Cannonhill tomorrow, we use to have a petting zoo local who had rabbits (got my first English from there but they closed down, as otherwise I could of called them for help

I've had a look through my rabbit veterinary books and it is usually a behavioural problem - yes, they do eat the hair too, and it's usually of the face of the other rabbit/s.

Increasing the fibre content of the diet in the form of hay and straw is advised, or trying to identify any causes of stress.

Apparently reducing the intensity of light and day length can also help - as your rabbits are indoors, are they getting too much artificial light, perhaps?

Some say it is a dominant rabbit performing the barbering on a subordinate, but conversely another source says it may be a subordinate trying to rise in the hierarchy!

Virginia Richardson's book Rabbits: Health, Husbandry & Diseases also recommends adding more toys.

There's also some info here:
http://wildlife1.wildlifeinformation...n_rabbits.html

Wow, thanks, the rabbits get through at least two bags of hay a day, and always have hay in their litter trays, as well as hay racks, so I don't think its that, but going onto the dominant thing, that wouldn't surprise me, Drew is a character, and quite a strong one, whereas Nancy is the opposite, she is shy and quiet, and although they both eat at the same time when its put in, I do think that Drew is above her.

The rabbits don't really get much artificail light, well they do get some, but most the day I just leave them with the curtains open, I have seven foot windows, so it allows plenty of light in, and I would rather them have mostly natural light.

I'm just going to look at that link now

I'll see what toys I can add, I have seen a couple that I like, at the moment they only have a food ball (Drew has always had all his pellets fed in one of these) a rope ball, a rattle, a carrot which has treats hidden in, and a tree made of what looks like rope, and then whatever spare toliet roll or egg holders I get, but any excuse to buy more is a great one, I'm terrible in shops