Needing bonding advice from the experienced – PLEASE read and help

[Alex A]

 Hello everyone. I have a (appoximately) 2 year old dwarf mix named Stella who I adopted about a year ago. Earlier this week I took a second bunny, who is a bit bigger home from a rescue group. The woman who runs the rescue gave me some advice on how to go about bonding and I have done a bit of research but I am still quite anxious as Stella was my first rabbit and so I am completely new to bonding and the body language and signals that go along with it.

Stella was previously in my living room and has been allowed out of her cage for about 8-10 hours per day, so I think the living room has sort of become her terriroty, although she does not guard it from the humans in the house or her dog friends (who she gets along great with) and does not poop or pee in the room, only in her litter box. When I brought Arlow (second bunny) home we put both cages in the living room next to one another. The first few bonding sessions seemed okay,but Arlow seemd anxious to hump Stella and Stella just clearly wanted out of the pen I had set up for bonding sessions. Those sessions lasted about 2-5 minutes. (Both rabbits are fixed by the way, Arlow only about 2 weeks ago though).

I finally realized that we should have the bonding sessions in a neutral room, so we moved the bonding sessions to teh kitchen (in the pen). Yesterday and the day before went really well, with them having two bonding sessions per day lasting 10-20 minutes. Stella started grooming Arlow yesterday, so we thought it was going really well. However, Stella keeps trying to get Arlow (who has stopped trying to mount her by the way) to groom her, and he does not, instead he keeps insisting that she groom him  – going over to her, putting his head underneath hers, and then sometimes even flopping over. Stella seems to almost get annoyed that he will ignore her and will nip his butt, but only his butt. This morning she did it one too many times and Arlow went after her — they were seperated in a spliit second. 

I have been switching their cages each day to try to prevent cage aggression and get them used to each other, as at first Stella would nip if Arlow would try to climb on her cage while she was in it. However, today and yesterday Stella has become increasingly more aggressive when either bunny is in the cage. When Stella is in her cage and Arlow is out she charges, growl and sometimes tries to bite if he goes up to it, her newest thing is now when she is out and Arlow is in his cage she is going up to the cage and getting aggressive when he goes to sniff her (he is showing NO aggression). 

I have no idea if this is okay or if this is bad (the cage stuff), but because Stella has become MORE aggressive around the cages I am now quite anxious about letting them in the pen together for a bonding session — even though Stella was grooming him. I would REALLY apprecitave ANY advice you all have. 

Thank you so much in advance for your help.

 

-Alex

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

I only have 2 buns which we bonded – so not an expert….but I’m not sure I would switch their cages – especially since she’s being so aggressive/possessive over her cage. If you’ve only had him for a few days – it may be too early to start the bonding sessions. I’d suggest taking baby steps – like giving them both stuffed animals – and switching the stuffed animals to get used to each others scents,,,,,and maybe switch their litter boxes. You may also want to make sure that she can’t get too close to his cage, or vice versa – as you don’t want her to bite him through the cage.

With my buns – when I moved baby Boo’s Xpen into the living room (2 months after we got him – and they’d been able to see each other through the baby gates), Baxter went berserk – because he saw the living room as his territory. Baxter was always a free range bun. Fortunately, after a few days – he learned to tolerate the baby in the living room. And we just kept expanding the baby’s space little at a time – and then we moved forward with the bonding sessions, after the baby grew up and could defend himself.

But lots of others have had no issues putting the cages near each other.

Best of luck to you! I know this can be a very stressful time…but so worth it once they become friends.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Also if she is getting frustrated that he won’t groom her you can do a trick by putting a small plop of apple sauce or a slice of banana on her head and as he is licking it off she thinks he is grooming her.

[tanlover14]

I would decline from switching their cages back and forth as it seems to be increasing her aggression to the other rabbit which is the opposite of what you are hoping for – she is becoming increasingly territorial which is not okay for the bonding.

Instead do simple things – sprinkle some of his used litter into her box, as Baxter suggested you can use a towel or stuffed animal in each bunny cage and then swamp them back and forth every day. This will help her become used to the scent but also allows her to take her aggression out on the towel or stuffed animal rather than the other bunny. Some rabbits are much more sensitive and the big jump to a full area with his scent could definitely be causing her agitation.

Allowing each bunny to be anywhere near the others cage (if causing aggression) is a big no-no in bonding so don’t let the other have access yet as it will only increase her aggression and agitation.

If you are worried about bonding more because of her aggression – try stress bonding. A lot of people like to use the bath tub although I’ve personally never had much success with it. The slippery floor and new area will stress them both out. Sounds mean but is VERY good for bonding as they will use their natural instincts to come together as a group in a stressful situation. Hence, helping them bond. Another thing you can do is put them in a laundry basket or box – drag them around the house in it and shake and bang on the box. It will freak them out, put them on edge, and help teach them they can trust the other bunny in scary and stressful situations.

[LBJ10]

The humping and demanding to be groomed are signs that the new bun wants to be dominant. Stella is not accepting of this, which is understandable since this new bun was brought to her house. I think all of the above suggestions are good ones. Also, since the new bun has only been neutered for 2 weeks, it would probably be better to wait a few more weeks to allow that hormone surge to subside.

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