Should I Keep or Return New Bunny? Help!

[Cucubert]

I adopted a new bunny about a week ago to befriend my one 3 year old neutered boy Hazel. She is a 1 1/2 year old un-spayed female half his size (though they are both dwarves).

I have them both in cages right next to each other, feed and water them simultaneously and offer both equal attention. For the last four nights I have tried to get them to bond by setting up a pen in the kitchen (neutral territory), and placing them both inside with myself and my roommate to supervise.

They bickered a bit the first night but largely ignored each other. More bickering on the second night, but at the end they were both kicked out on the same towel so we had hope. But the last two nights the little girl has provoked some terrible fighting (fur flying- mainly his- and even some grappling) that we had difficulty breaking up even with a water bottle.

I would love them to bond as I worry my boy is lonely, but I also don't want either bunny injured or for him to become distrustful/fearful of me. The last two nights immediately after the fighting he has bit me or attempted to bite me while grunting in anger or terror.

Am I doing more harm than good in continuing to try? Should I keep trying? Is this normal? What are some signs that a pairing just isn't going to happen? Should I return the girl to her original owner (She said she could take her back if it didn't work out)?

 

[Tauntz]

I still consider myself a new bunny mom with my two girls. My girls have been bonded since before they left the breeder so I haven't personally had to get a pair to bond. But I think having only had your newest bunny in your home for a week, I would think it is a bit premature for a bonding. She needs time to adjust to her new home without the stress of another bunny to bond with. Having their cages close enough for each of them to see the other without the possibility of reaching the other is good. Other more experienced members with bonding bunnies experience can give you more & better advice but I think it needs more time for her to adjust to her new home & for both buns to decide if they want a closer relationship. I will be following this thread as I too am interested in learning more on bonding bunnies. Wish you & the buns the best & hope that they will like each other & want to bond together.

 

[kmaben]

I would not attempt it while she is unspayed. Unspayed does are fairly territorial and can get moody when they go through false pregnancies.

If your not going to breed her spay her first. Wait about six weeks for the hormones to leave then try again. People say you can bond any two rabbits with enough time and patience. Troller has an excellent bonding diary he kept for his two flemmies. It took several months.

 

[Kipcha]

Like it's been said, she needs to be spayed. She will be hormonal and not as willing to bond. Then wait for the hormones to die down and try again.

Bonding, from what I have seen, is rarely a quick thing. It takes months of effort and getting the buns used to each other.

 

[Blue eyes]

Once your girl is spayed and then had a few weeks after surgery for hormones to dissipate, after that you may be able to bond them. I wouldn't even be attempting to bond until then. There are no guarantees with bonding even with neutered buns, however.

From where did you adopt your bunny? Is she returnable?

Most rescues work with people trying to bond an existing rabbit with another. But they prefer you bring yours in and allow him to bunny date some of their spayed females. If an attempt is made and one rabbit simply doesn't work, then they will allow an exchange. But they wouldn't even attempt a bond with an intact female.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat:

 

[Cucubert]

Sounds like this might not work out. I'm getting in contact with the lady, who said she'd take her back if it didn't work out. Financially, I cannot afford to get her spayed and to have a more comfortably sized cage. I borrowed an old guinea pig cage from a friend thinking this would only take a week or so tops. :cry1:

Hazel used to share my old apartment with three cats that he took to right away. I sort of anticipated it being similar with another bunny.

I might try again with a different rabbit when I am more financially stable.

In the meantime: am I allowed to let the unspayed female exercise in my boy's territory? I live in an apartment, so really the only running room available is the living room- which is his territory. I want her to be able to exercise properly until I can get her back to her old home.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[DogCatMom]

She needs exercise, but not necessarily at the same time he exercises. If you're sure you're going to return the little girl, then a short period of curtailed exercise for each rabbit won't hurt them in the long run, so they can each have a "solo" exercise period until Little Girl goes back to her original home.

It's just safer that way; your boy will be safe from the doe's territorial urges.