Should my new 8 week old bunny be kept within sniffing distance of my older bunny?

[Tweetiepy]

We recently got Popcorn (8 weekmale) to be bonded with Peaches (9 month fixed male). Right now Peaches has the palacial cage and Popcorn got the petstore cage since he's small right now. I want to bond them eventually after Popcorn gets fixed in a few months. Should Popcorn be within sniffing distance of Peaches?

Should their cages be next to each other until I can bond them properly? Initial introduction didn't go well (mind you we were on Peaches' property at the time). I read up on the bonding threads and I will wait until Popcorn's fixed & healed but in the meantime should they be kept as far apart as possible? Popcorn seems very wanting to meet Peaches, but Peaches doesn't seem happy with the new addition and has started pooping all over (and peeing too) all over his run area (I've kept Popcorn in a separate area since the first meeting so's not to aggravate Peaches - who can still smell the baby)

I know I'll have a hard road ahead with trying to bond them since they,re both males, but should they kinda get to know each other until then at least sniffing each other - although I won't let let them get within touching distance until then.

Is it really that hard to bond two males? ray:

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

Ideally, Popcorn should be quarantined for at least a couple weeks to make sure he is healthy. This should at least be in another room that Peaches does not have access too. You should also wash your hands and try not to bring stiff between them just in case. I would keep hay and pellets in his area so you aren't bringing them back and forth.

Peaches does need time to adjust to having a new rabbit in his space. If you have a new room or house mate, it can take some time for you to get used to them just being there even if you don't have much contact with them.
I would have the cages in the same room, but not too close together. This gives both of them time to get used to each other without direct contact. When you let one of them out of the cage, it would be a good idea to have a barrier around the other rabbits cage to they don't get too close.
You may have to deal with poop wars for a while. Both of them and especially Peaches will want to claim the area as theirs. No matter how much you clean it up, they will probably still do it as they can smell each other.
The first few days or weeks can be the hardest. As they get used to each other, it should be better. It could also backfire as they could start to really hate each other.

You can also just keep them in separate rooms until you are ready to bond them. They could be happier as they won't have the other rabbit in their territory, but it could they will still be able to know that the other one is around.

 

[elrohwen]

Totally agree with Kate.