bonding problems

[bsupertramp]

I have been trying to bond a recently desexed teenage male, Harry, with a 7 or 8 year old girl, Jemima, who was never desexed. This year we lost two rabbits, leaving this girl all alone, so we decided to get her a friend. We had never bonded any of our rabbits before.

We waited a month after he was desexed before starting the bonding, and while waiting we had them near each other at all times. When Jemima has free roam of the room, and Harry is in a cage indoors, she always sits next to him, even lays down next to him. But when we've tried letting them loose together outside, she goes to attack him. I know that this is her showing her dominance, but we've had them together about 10 times now and she hasn't calmed down at all. There hasn't been any mounting either, and Harry seems to be very scared of her, thumping and running away if she steps near him.

Harry does seem to want to be friends with her, when I hold them at the same time, he starts to groom her. But then once I've been petting them together for about 10 or 15 minutes, Jemima gets upset out of the blue and nips him, and me when I try to separate them.

What are we doing wrong? Is there any hope of them bonding?

 

[Runestonez]

Intact females can be very territorial about their "space"...
I would suggest trying your bonding exercises some place neutral...that neither bunn goes...

 

[SweetSassy]

I think them being next to each other where they can see each other is a good thing. And then when you want to put them together you need to put them in a neutral area like a bath tub. I put towels down for mine and put them in the tub. Start out with short periods of time and work your way up.

Bonding can take weeks/ months. It can be a slow process. Sounds like Jemima needs more time. And you may need to go slower. Good Luck!

 

[bsupertramp]

Thanks for the advice
I had read about the bathtub idea but my mum wasn't convinced at first, but now we're going to try it tomorrow
I hope it works!

 

[elrohwen]

I would spay her - unspayed females can be very territorial and if she's intent on protecting her space from him there might not be much you can do. Spaying is better for her long term health too.