Bunny Bonding!!

[Elisha Marie]

So I recently got my bunny Kiwi that is pretty young (probably 2 1/2 months old). I have had my other rabbit (Sherbert) for a while now and she is about 9 months old. The first few times I had them together they both were absolutely fine, Sherbert did not seem to care about Kiwi at all. I figured once Kiwi was older Sherbert would notice her. So about a week ago I had them out and accidentally left Kiwi’s cage open with pellets in it.  So Sherbert went and starting eating Kiwi’s pellets. Kiwi just sniffed Sherbert while she was eating and that was IT. Sherbert turned around and took a bite out of Kiwi’s ear! (Dont worry Kiwi has been to the vet and everything is fine) but now even when I have Kiwi out and Sherbert in a different area… Sherbert will lunge at Kiwi like she hates her guts. I’m afraid that I have ruined their relationship for good. I feel like it is important to add that Sherbert was just taken in to be spayed a few days ago so hopefully that will tame her down. Will my bunnies ever bond together? Has anyone else had problems bonding? Can two female bunnies have a chance at bonding? 

[Silwerkitty]

Hi Elisha, I’m by no means an expert, but I’ll have a go at answering your question.

Firstly, two female bunnies can absolutely be bonded, though the bonding may be a little bit more tricky and both definitely need to be spayed and healed first. I know many people who have two bonded females and I had a bonded quartet which contained two girls. It’s definitely possible.

However you did make a few booboos: first mistake was to introduce them before Kiwi got spayed. Second mistake was to let Sherbert near her when she’s probably still in pain or at least uncomfortable from her spay. Also: after a spay the hormones take about two months before completely leaving the bunny’s body.

So plan of action I would suggest for you, Sherbert and Kiwi, is to seperate them completely, so that they can’t see or hear or smell each other at all. I know if space is a problem, this may not always be possible, but it is ideal so that both can forget the yucky fight they had and stop associating each other with anger.

Wait until Kiwi is about 5 and a half months old, get her spayed and then wait another two months. Then you can start reintroducing them to each other and start the bonding process. I know what I’m suggesting is a long process, but in the end I’m confident you will have two happily bonded girl buns.

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