This bonding thing is complicated!

[folsomcyn]

Hey there everyone...

I recently adopted two rabbits for my girls to train for rabbit agility as a 4-H project. They are house rabbits, adopted from a rescue. They are both about a year, spayed and neutered (one boy, one girl), English Spots. I have always been animal savvy, raising everything from dogs, cats, rats, chickens, sheep, pigs, and cows. With a few other small critters in the mix too... but this is my first time with rabbits and I am having a tough time understanding this bonding thing.

I posted the other day under introductions with a few questions on bonding these two together and got some good information, but I still am a little unclear as to how to go about the next step.

They lived apart at the rescue house, I intend to have them live together... we started the bonding process in an open space in the family room and they seemed to get along well (after a good car ride together). After several hours, they began grooming each other, that night I had them sleep seperate then brought them out for together time again...and again, it went well, I switched pens so the scent would be in both places and went to work. That evening they had more bonding time in the family room, again they groomed each other, no sign of agression, so I tried them in the same pen... all seemed well and after 30 minutes, I ran a quick errand. I came back to the aftermath of a small fight, fur in the pen and a scratch wound on the boy's neck. I seperated them again and have just continued with the public, joint play time and switching up the sleeping pens to keep the scent mixed... any other ideas? How long does this go on? How long before I try them again? Are there any tricks? Logistically, it is a pain keeping them seperate, but I don't want anyone hurt so I'll take my time... any words of wisdom would be great!!

Thanks,

 

[jujub793]

Sounds like you're following the right steps, just be patient and give them time. I wouldn't leave them together alone yet for a while longer though.

 

[ZRabbits]

I think you are doing an excellent job. I wish I had found this site before the incident that split my "I thought" bonding pair. Lots of good info here.

Best advise is to be patient and move slow. Thinking back, my boys had no troubles outside their crate. They knew they had room to move away from the other if one got a bit physical or did something the other didn't like. Inside the crate, they didn't have room to run or the hiding place wasn't really good because the other could get into it.

I'm starting the process of trying to bond Dobby and Willard (my rescue). Kreacher, the one who really started the problem might be better when older but I think I'll keep him separate. Very dominate bunny. I call him "Mr. Attitude."

Wishing you luck. I think what you are doing will bond these bunnies and there will be no hard feelings. Found out a bunny can hold a grudge. (ie Mr. Attitude).

Please let us know how its going. With everything bunny, patience and time is always needed.

K

 

[mrbunny]

You have the right idea about taking your time to make sure nobody gets hurt or injured. Continue to supervise their dates and gradually increase the time between the two buns. Have a spray bottle nearby to stop any scuffles.

If you have a specific treat time that you have for your buns, you can hold the dates then. (ie. salad time, hay refill time, etc.) That way, they will learn to associate each other with good things (treats = tasty = good).

 

[mrbunny]

*Water spray bottle can be replaced with whatever it is you use to stop fights.