Safe to home rabbits together?

[mugelbbub]

Long story, three years ago we got three sibling rabbits. We thought a boy and two girls, turned out to be two boys and a girl. We found this out on snip day and after a pretty nasty fight. So now we have two neutered boys and a full girl. After the fight, which resulted in a torn ear and other injuries that healed, boy bunnies were housed separately, one with the girl, one alone. The girl had definitely chosen sides in the fight, we housed her with her buddy. Quite often, they get the run of the garden, all enclosed, with places to hide. I used to make them take it in turns, because of the fighting, but after a while I trusted them and they are all fine hanging together. Now, they go into each others hutches and lay together, grooming and eating together, all three, especially in the sunshine. They haven't fought in over a year. The question is, can I house them all together again? The lone bunny is in an old and broken hutch, that someone gave me, when there was a lot of fighting. Its also sad that he is alone. What do people who know about these things think?

Do you mean all three are together when you let them out?

Yes, when I let them out, I do both hutches, they are all in the garden together. They are out most of the day, from 9am until 6pm. The doors of the hutches are open all day too. They go in and out all day, but are often are all in the good hutch together, or on the lawn. The labrador is also about, in and out (of the house, not the hutch). I just went to put them away. I had to take the lone bunny out of the good hutch, where he was all snuggled and move him on his own.

What size is the good hutch ?

Double decker.
Height – 105cm
Width – 120cm
Depth – 50cm

I'd say if they aren't fighting when they are together and will lay and groom each other then they will be fine housed together.

Have a look at the rabbit welfare website for what size hutch they should have. A playhouse or shed is better than a hutch.

Thank you for your advice. Maybe, I'll wait until we can go out again and treat them to a better hutch, although they do have space to run in the garden. I thought I add a couple of photos.

Or look at 'runaround' they sell rabbit Warren kits and you could get a pipe and join the two hutches together.

I’d try them again if they seem friends now. Perhaps hormones have settled? The only spanner in the works is it’s not a good time to risk needing a vet! Is there any way of putting the hutches together so there’s somewhere for the sole bunny to hide if need be?

Op have a look at the Rabbit Welfare Association website [[https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-housing/
here]]

Are they locked in their hutch at night? I understand minimum living space for two rabbits is 3mx2m, so I wouldn’t put three in 1.2mx1m, they won’t have nearly enough room for a start, which could lead to fighting.

OP just reread that the hutch is a double decker- I have a double decker attached to a run in a shed with access to a large run outside at all times. I think my double decker is similar in size, and wouldn’t tempt fate by locking my relatively recently bonded pair in it - there’s no space to hide/run if things get boisterous.

We had the same issue with sibling fighting and gradually they all started to get on. It's lovely to see them all running a round in such a good space.

If the hutch is simply for overnight protection from any risks I'd say for now I'd use the good one, or as someone else mentioned look at runaround, you can get a tube to link the two hutch's together which would be the perfect stock gap.

The bunny's love the runaround tubes.