Unbonded Bunnies

[YappleDapple]

My husband recently got me a second bunny (neutered, male)for our 1st anniversary. I already had a neutered female for 3 years previous and we attempted to bond them. In the middle of the bonding process the new one got sick and so there was a haitus in the bonding until he recovered. He is well on his way torecovery and we were thinking about bonding them again.In the meantime both need out separately and the female will not leave the new guy alone. When we let her out she hovers around his cage, circles him and will not run around on her own because she is so preocccupied with watching him. While he is out (and she is caged) she goes crazy in her cage trying to reach him to nip. Should we try to reinitiate the bonding process?We don't want to cause anxiety on his part because of his illness but we want them to be able to relax around eachother.

 

[lagomorph]

Trying to reach to nip while they are separate? I would be hesitant to integrate them. Maybe try for just a few seconds, supervise, and be ready to separate them if any the look like they are going to fight.

Are you sure she is trying to nip him? My bonded bunnies often hover around each other, especially when something might be wrong (e.g., if one just returned from the vet), but I have always interpreted that as concern and curiosity, not aggression. It always leads to comforting, not fighting, with my buns.

Are you sure she is not just concerned or curious?

 

[YappleDapple]

If Ferris gets too close Tazy comes away with some fur in her mouth so I feel fairly sure she's trying to nip. Tazy is pretty aggressive and very territorial. She doesn't mind when they're together in neutral territory. When she's out of her cage and he's in his she will sit by the side watching him. If he gets close enough she will bite him. Tazy we have had for 3 years. Ferris just arrived in May.

 

[lagomorph]

Oh, I see. I don't try to integrate animals if there is obvious aggression even with a barrier between them. My rule of thumb is to not move to the next step until they can coexist peacefully under present conditions. If I were you I would wait until Tazy stops behaving that way, and if she does not stop, I would keep them apart.

Another thought: Maybe you could try putting them together in a neutral territory, a place new to both of them, if you have the space. That way, neither will feel they "own" it and might not feel the need to protect the territory. And the novelty of the situation might distract them enough so they are more interested in exploring the new surroundings than harassing each other. If they still fight in such a situation, I'm afraid I would give it up and keep them apart.