Bunny Bonding Attempt 3

[Pottykates]

Hey everyone,

I’ve posted on here previously about bonding my 2 male lop bunnies but they ending up fighting last time so we’ve had a few months to cool off and I’ve been to get started again (I’m a teacher). It’s now my summer holidays so I thought I’d have another go!

Quick intro, I have 2 neutered male lops, Oscar and Bert, approx 1 year old. Both lived together when they were very young but their hormones got involved and so they have been separated since Nov. 2 attempts at bonding have had them sat snuggling and 1 grooming the other but then something has gone wrong and they have started fighting. After the initial fight, any further attempts at bonding are awful as they immediately attack each other.

Anyway, we are on day 2, date 3 of bunny bonding and it is going well.  I have put them in the shower cubicle so there is less space to get distracted and it means I’m not in there with them. They are currently sat there nose to nose snuggled up with Bert grooming Oscar loads. (See attached pic below – Oscar is on the left, tan and white, Bert is on the right the black, tan and white speckledy one) Oscar has never groomed Bert which I think is what has started fights in the past with Bert getting annoyed.

They have been in there about an hour now and I’ve sat watching a film on the tablet, but the problem is I need a shower and I have other things to do so they are going to have to be separated again. I can’t sit in the bathroom all day unfortunately. Where can I put them where they can stay together all day? The only neutral space is the bathroom but again I can’t stay here for a full day. Also, when would you suggest introducing them to the shared spaces they have (eg. Living room) and then finally the shared hutch? I don’t want them fighting again. Should I introduce the new litter tray while they are still in the shower cubicle or not? 

Thanks in advance!

Katie (a very determined bunny mum!)

[Pottykates]

Another update. Day 3 and we’ve had fighting! Put them in the shower again today for a good hour and a half and they both lay down and Bert groomed Oscar loads. I went out and bought a rabbit play pen that i could put up in the living room so i could keep them together and i could carry on with my daily jobs. As soon as they went in, Bert became a different rabbit!! In the shower, Bert is quite timid and any noises or movements he runs to snuggle up to Oscar. In the pen, it was like all of a sudden he was asserting his dominance. He started pooing everywhere and he groomed Oscar a bit but then was really forcefully nipping Oscars bum and chasing for Oscar to groom him back. Oscar quickly got fed up of the nipping so a fight ensued
Oscar was quite happy in the pen beforehand hopping around and munching hay.

It all boils down to Oscar needing to groom Bert for Bert to be happy but he never has done and i don’t know if he ever will!

Whats the next step? I’ll give them chance to cool off for a day or two and stick them in the shower again but they are limited to time in there :S

[Pottykates]

Also, could it be anything to do with them being in the living room? I’ve pue blankets and towels down to try to mask the smell of the carpet and give them bowls that neither has used before…

Thanks,
Katie.

[Dee]

I’m by no means a bonding expert – in fact it’s something I’m considering myself NOT good at these days lol. That said, yes- I think that any familiar smells that a rabbit equates with being “theirs” can make them act different and start fights or get bossy. My Nell was a sweetie with her new hopeful husbun-to-be Luke at the rescue and in the car ride home. Once I let them out at home, she immediately started chasing him and trying to hump his head! Then they had an unfortunate accidental meeting when Luke squeezed under the gate separating them , and Nelli got bitten twice by Luke. Now she really has it in for him! So I definitely would keep things on neutral ground for quite a while. Not easy unless one has unlimited space where bunnies haven’t taken over and unlimited time to supervise said bunnies! This bonding stuff is not fun ?!
Good luck, sounds like there’s definetely hope!

[Immi932]

Hiya,

Not sure if you are still working on the bond- very cute rabbits btw!- but when my willow wouldn’t groom back I popped some banana on the head of piq, my other bu and now we have two way grooming! (Although the bond isn’t complete yet) Maybe that would help?

[vanessa]

Banana or other favorite treat on the head, definitely. With what I’m experiencing with my bins, no litter box int he bonding area until they are closer to a bond. It makes things more difficult.

[Author]

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