Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING Bonding Help- Rabbits Can’t Approach Each Other Without Fighting

Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • erica1188
      Participant
      2 posts Send Private Message

        Hi everyone- this is my first time posting here, but I have combed the forums (and the internet in general) and haven’t been successful bonding my 2 rabbits yet.  I adopted Crush (neutered male) a little over a year ago.  In September, my husband and I decided it was time to attempt bonding Crush.  The first time we took him speed dating at our shelter Crush met about 5 bunnies- 1 was deemed to be a winner, a spayed female.  During this date they approached each other without issue, she groomed him, they each mounted the other without incident and they were able to lay next to each other while being pet by the shelter manager.  So, we took her home with us.

        Since coming to our apartment, the bonding process has not gone smoothly.  We initially tried a date in the bathtub since neither rabbit had ever been in the bathroom.  There was immediately a fight. Fur everywhere and a hole in my sweet new girl’s ear later was the end result.  I probably tried this 3 separate days before my nerves were totally shot and we took a 1 week break from dates.  

        Since day 1 I have been switching litter boxes daily and each rabbit is able to see the other through a baby gate throughout the day.  They eat their salads at this gate, litter boxes are by this gate, and for the last 2 weeks or so there has been essentially zero aggression toward each other when at the gate.  They’ll even lay against it at the same time.  I also allow them to each run around in the other’s space for at least 1 hour each evening.  We had a massive poop marking war for a few days, but that has been over for at least a week.  

        Our next plan was to put each rabbit in their own respective carrier, go for a drive lasting about 10-15 minutes and date on our front landing, which is also a neutral space.  This was more successful than the bathroom.  There is no longer instant fighting.  We’ve been at this for about 2 weeks and while together in this space each rabbit seems very comfortable.  We’ve had flopping, grooming (not each other), and both rabbits are more than happy to lay side by side smooshed together as long as I am petting them both.  BUT (of course their is a but) neither rabbit is able to approach the other without a fight ensuing.  Both have been known to instigate so no one is innocent here.  So far I’ve been able to prevent a full blown fight by using a pasta strainer to separate the two when they approach each other and then petting them both to calm down.  

        I’m not really sure where to go from here.  We are definitely further along than we were when she first came home with us, however the fact that they can’t approach each other without full blown aggression is concerning to me.  For the record, neither rabbit allows itself to be approached from behind so we haven’t had any nipping or mounting since their first date at the shelter.  In sum, my rabbits have been bonding for a month, have no problems being around each other except that they can’t approach each other without wanting to attack the other.  Is there a next step I should be taking?  I’ve thought about putting them in a box together and going for a drive, but I’m not sure that would fix their inability to approach each other.  Is it still worth trying?  Is there another solution I am missing?  Any and all insight is greatly appreciated.


      • vanessa
        Participant
        2212 posts Send Private Message

          A month is really a short time I had fighting issues too with my third pair that I’m bonding. I am on month 3 – not yet fully bonded, but loads of progress made. I think the biggest adn most important thin if there is fighting (and in general), is to let them get to know eachother. I have just come off a 4-week break for my bunnies. I let them live for 4 weeks on opposite sides of a divider fence. It was frustrating for me because I wanted them to hurry up and bond. But there was fighting, nipping, holes in skin, etc. So after a 4 week break – I am on my 3rd attempt. Second attempt was after a 1 week break. They really needed time to get to know eachother through the fence. I strongly suggest you try that. Let them use their secret bunny language through the fence (with at least 6 inches of space so they can’t hurt eachother through the fence). They communicate and feel eachother out. Once they have accepted eachother’s presence through the fence – then I would try a week of bunny smoosh, with no one allowed freedom to move on their own. But getting to know eachother is critical. Think of it like this – some giant person put them together like an arranged marriage. First date at the shelter went smooth, so giant person thought they woudl be a good match. But once at home in first bunny’s territory – things went wrong. Yes the bathroom is a neutral surface. But for some bunnies, the neutral surface isn’t good enough – because the house still smells the same – even in the bathroom. My female Guin is like that. The surface and objects might be new, but the air is not. So I am currently in a hotel room with them – for a truly neutral area. You might try a friend’s house for neutral dates, after your 4-week of NO dates, just living on opposite sides of the fence. Another benefit of a 4-week break – it gives them time to let go of the grudge of the other bunny attacking. Grudges don’t build trust – they destroy trust. You are trying to get your bunnies to trust eachother FIRST – before they can like eachother.
          Please keep writing. If you choose to put them on a break, write back after the break is over, and keep us up todate. We would love to hear how it is going. A daily journal is a great way of sharing your story, and solving problems.
          🙂


        • erica1188
          Participant
          2 posts Send Private Message

            Vanessa- thank you so much for responding.  I know that a month is nothing outrageous, I am probably just being impatient.  

            They have been able to see each other through the baby gate since I brought her home.  There was some initial aggression there, but we’ve had nothing for probably a good 2 weeks now.  They’ll lay there together, groom, and eat there with no issues.  I’ll definitely be continuing with that.  

            Since they already are able to smoosh when they date on our front landing/porch area without issue, I’m thinking about continuing with that for a few weeks, but not giving them time to interact beyond that.  So dating would just be bunny smoosh and then we’d end it.  Do you think that would be sufficient, or do they actually need a totally clean break for awhile?  They are the sweetest thing when smooshed, it’s just all the extracurriculars that happen after that…. 

             


          • vanessa
            Participant
            2212 posts Send Private Message

              If one of them is stressed, I would do a complete break. If they can smoosh without being stressed, it might be worth doing ONLY smoosh dates, and nothing more except living on opposite sides of the fence. I am just as impatient… I want my bunnies to hurry up and get along. I think I’m in a similar boat as you. No fighting though. They get along great in the litterbox – cuddling, grooming etc. But Lancelot can’t step out of the litter box coz he is afraid of getting nipped. So while I can’t claim success, I do think that a break is the only thing that has gotten me this far. I think smoosh dates sound fine. I agree that I wouldn’t go beyond that for at least 4 weeks. You might find they are marking the fence. If they mark past 4 weeks, keep waiting till the marking stops.

          Viewing 3 reply threads
          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

          Forum BONDING Bonding Help- Rabbits Can’t Approach Each Other Without Fighting