Resocializing Three Little Rescues

[datenshi]

Hi, I'm Rob. I'm the new owner of three young bucks, which we're in the process of getting neutered (two down, one to go). We never planned to have bunnies, but this spring my brother and I were driving through a park near my house when we spotted two little white rabbits browsing dead leaves! We quickly found a third (charcoal grey) nearby. They have clearly been pets before, especially Peter Rascal, the friendliest - they are even OK with snuggling, although it's not their favorite, and we can get each of them into a little harness without much trouble.

We kept all three so as not to separate them - they would snuggle, share food and follow each other, and might be from the same litter. The problem is, they're growing up, and even neutered they can be a little nasty. I am hoping to resocialize them to each other so they can share common space, browse together, etc. Right now they are all in separate cages and they can see each other, but not touch noses.

Here's my tentative socialization plan:

- Get the bunnies used to being on the leash alone (partway through this step now - they're resigned to the harness and are hopefully learning to associate it with freedom)

- Take two leashed rabbits out at once, give them separate little piles of treats, let them approach, tug them away if necessary ... repeat steps with all combinations of bunnies

- Take three leashed bunnies out, same way

- Let them browse together, leashed without a human on the other end, giving them plenty of space in our looped chicken-wire enclosure

They will probably chase each other and tussle, like they do now. Is this natural play/dominance behavior or should we be worried? Do you have any tips to make this less stressful on the bunnies?

Thanks!

 

[SOOOSKA]

Hi Rob that was great of you and your brother to save the bunnies. I'd love to see pictures of them.

I'm a little weary about the harness thing and reintroducing them with harnesses on.

If they get scared/or start to fight and start running in every direction they can really hurt themselves.I had tied Buttercup years ago with a harness which he just did not like and was scared when he had it on.

One good way is taking them for car rides together or putting them in a laundry basket then on top of a dryer that is on so the vibration.

This is just my opinion, I'm not saying it's correct.

Good Luck

Susan

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat:

 

[Yield]

What I did with bonding my rabbits, was I put them in the bathtub and ran the vacuum cleaner. The tub made it hard for them to get a grip to attack and the vacuum make them nervous and so they looked to each other for comfort. Congrats on the new bunnies, and good luck on getting them to be nice with each other =)

 

[Wabbitdad12]

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