A friend for Felix

[felix713]

I’m getting a 3 month old black and white dutch today and I am hoping Felix accepts him. He is the runt so he has major “middle child syndrome”. I could really use some advice on bonding. They are both males and not yet neutered. They will be in separate cages but will share their play area (aka the living room). Anything I need to look out for? Do? Not do?

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Don’t let them out in the living room at the same time. And you might have issues with marking since they will smell each other in their territory. Oh, and get them neutered ASAP so you can start bonding in a months time

[tanlover14]

NBO is right – they can’t be put together until neutered for various reasons. The most important being they can seriously injure each other being territorial which can definitely make bonding nearly impossible after they are neutered.

[felix713]

Pretty sure “Mortimer” is a girl. Felix is grunting non-stop, won’t stay away from him and humped his face and licking him ears.

[NewBunnyOwner123]

Omg separate them until they are both altered. And boys can still hump each other for dominance. If those two fight it can be really difficult to bond in the future when they are fixed.

[MoveDiagonally]

They need to be separated completely. If they are both hormonal boys they can fight and hurt each other and their chances to bond in the future. If they are male/female they can make babies. It takes literally one second for a male to impregnate a female. They can even mate through cages so zero contact is essential (keeping them in separate rooms even better). Even after neutered a male needs to be have zero contact with a female for at least 30 days as they still have viable sperm during that time.

I would definitely schedule a well visit ASAP for your new bunny.

[felix713]

I’m only letting one at a time out. Mortimer stays upstairs in his cage where Felix can’t reach. When I let Felix out he tries to chew through Mortimer’s cage. Mortimer has started to have diarrhea. I think it might be stress of a new place and Felix and new food. The previous owner didn’t event know what kind of pellets she got him. I am taking him to the vet Friday.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Just want to say congrats on your new bunny.

I’m sorry he’s unwell. What diet is he currently on?

[tanlover14]

You need to completely separate so they can’t reach into the others cages – totally separate. They can use the same play area (separately) but make sure the other rabbits cage is blocked off completely.

[felix713]

Mortimer is now eating Purina Rabbit food. I threw out what his first owner gave me because I don’t trust what I don’t know. I asked her what kind of food she gave him and she was like idk whatever the store said and then handed me a clear plastic bag. He is also drinking about 8 oz of water a day.

Last night I took out a stuffed rabbit toy, for Felix to release some of his aggression about welcoming Mortimer into the house. He started biting its ears, scooting it under his rump and then running circles around me non-stop. When I would go to pet him he would just hop away.

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