Bonding Clarification

[iShiznitch]

I have not been here in a while, only ever seem to pop back up with a problem because I suck :biggrin:

Well, its not a problem per se, but more so looking for advice. As some may know, I have been looking into getting Indy a BFF. She doesn't appear unhappy at this point in time, and she's a free range bunny in my room - so there's always something for her to destroy (not to mention my room looks like a daycare centre with all the toys strewn about - but that is neither here nor there).

The many things I have read and people I have talked to have all indicated that bonding 2 female bunnies is more difficult than other pairing possibilities.

However, there is a rabbit I am interested in adopting from a nearby humane society - the same one I adopted Indy from - who has been at the society since April and really needs a home.

She's a shy little bun, but that is not a concern of mine at the moment. My biggest concern is that the CoHS does NOT allow for bunny dates, and while I can introduce an XPen in my room to keep them separate, it would *have* to be a temporary set up, because I (and Indy) would lose a lot of space.

Indy has not shown aggression to the (male) bunnies she has met, and before I adopted her these guys were neighbours at the shelter.

At the same time, she gets a little food-aggressive at breakfast time, and I'm not sure if its because I'm half asleep at 5 in the morning and am completely uncoordinated at putting her bowl down or she's just super hungry after a night of running laps around my room and jumping on and off my bed.

TL;DR?

My question is basically this: In personal experience with rabbits, have many achieved success in bonding two spayed, female bunnies? I'm willing to undertake the endeavour if I can get a little positive feedback, maybe some hints and tips. I do have a neutral space for them, and am completely prepared to go ahead with it - I just worry that if it fails than there will be a lot of stress on the rabbits and myself, which I would like to avoid.

Sorry for the essay!

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

I haven't really had much success with bonding females. Sophie and Penelope never seemed to get along. Penelope and Lillian as well as Amelia and Lillian get along at agility events, but due to the housing and different diets they are not kept together at home.
I do have a friend who has 2 females that are spayed and bonded. However, they have been together since they were quite young (I am not sure of an exact age but probably a couple months old or so). They seem to get along well. She also has another spayed female who does not get along with the other 2, but I think that is more of a one rabbit holding a grudge against the other.

Part of the issue with females is they tend to be more territorial than males. This does make it harder to bond them if one is established in the house or room. Even when spayed, they can still be territorial.
When I was fostering Thumper, she and Amelia did not get along at all. I really couldn't even let them out as Amelia would end up going after Korr since she could not go after Thumper. Thumper was intact while Amelia was spayed. There could have been other factors based on personality, but it would not have worked at all.

I think bonding really depends on the individual rabbits involved. Korr gets along with pretty much anyone. All 3 girls he has been bonded to came into his territory and after the initial shock of another rabbit in his area, he was fine. Some rabbits will only get along with certain rabbits and will hate others. Knowing how your rabbit does with other rabbits can help to predict how they will be around a new rabbit, but it is not a sure thing.

One thing you do have to consider is if they don't get along. Bonding does not always go well and it can take time. You need to be prepared to house them separately while they bond and think about what to do if they don't. At the very least, it is a good idea to keep them apart for 2 weeks just incase the new one is carrying any parasites or something.

As for the food thing, just get another bowl and feed them separately. It can be at opposite ends of the cage/pen or even having to put one into a cage so they both get what they need.

I should say that females can get along, but it can also be tricky. I am not trying to discourage you, just letting you know both sides.

 

[iShiznitch]

haha that is basically what I was looking for though. Most people I have talked too have a m/f pair or a m/m pair, but I haven't heard much on f/f pair other than it can get tricky. I'm not a huge cage-fan. OR XPen fan, if only because just letting Indy run around has been fine and efficient so far - I don't really want to disrupt that and at this point in time I don't have a TON of space where I can keep a rabbit comfortably sequestered for the long term - especially with the remodelling I have done to accommodate Indy. Since it would appear that I am most likely going to have to take a gamble with a bunnyBFF eventually I want the best odds I can get, and if other people haven't had the best luck, it may have to be something I have to pass on at this point in time.

:airborne: (I don't know why, I feel its a metaphor)

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

You should take the a look at Steven at the Calgary HS. He is neutered and awfully handsome

 

[iShiznitch]

Woah woah WOAH.

How have I missed him before? Thats actually something I might look into haha. dshgds *pinches cheeks*

I've had my eye on Elmo and Muppet. I cannot handle the cuteness of those two (as an unrelated side)

 

[piperknitsRN]

I've bonded two females before--one plucky outgoing Holland lop bunny and a mellow, much larger New Zealand bunny--both were spayed and well mannered. I guess I didn't know (and neither did they!) that a female-female bond was supposed to be one of the hardest bonds! LOL.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

We had a bonded pair of females--that's how they came to us so we can't take any credit for it. After almost 4 years, they started fighting for real and we had to house them separately--could not put them together again.

 

[iShiznitch]

That's sad to hear!

When I do (eventually) get her a BFF I want them to have the best chance possible - mostly because she *is* a free range bunny and when I move into the city I know I'll have limited space to keep two of them separate without going crazy. Even now I don't think I have long term space if it doesn't work out, just on account of the other animals in the house (and the fact that the only room they don't have access to is Indy's) - one of the dogs in particular is bossy with the cats and they have learned NOT to run - but I don't think Indy, or any bunny would stay still and that is a recipe for disaster. Puppy's got a herding instinct, but also a penchant for holding our cats' heads in her mouth.

Just slobber... everywhere.

I can't remember where I was going with this train of thought haha