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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.

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Forum BONDING Love Hate Relationship?

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    • Cinnabunn the bunny
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        About 3 months ago I received a fixed female from an adoption agency to bond with my fixed male. This is the second time I am trying to bond my buck and it has quickly headed in a negative direction. The pair when left next to each other in separate pens will groom eachother (Lily (the female) used to solely groom Cinnabunn (Male) but now Cinnabunn mostly grooms Lily roughly around the face by biting around her eyes which Lily seems to tolerate except when his grooming gets rougher in which case she would flinch back) but whenever I put them in their neutral territory they will start off grooming and playing for the first 10 min before nips will turn into an all out kicking, chasing, tail up, ear back, fur flying fight! I started off the usual way. introduced them in cages next to eachother. switch them around so they get used to eachothers scent. allowing them to spend small amount of times with eachother in neutral territory. Then when i moved onto the next step of expanding the amount of time they were together, that got a little tricky. Cinnabunn would always be the one to nip and chase first until Lily had enough and would attack back. I tried using food smeared on each of their head and even bonding them in the car scenario where you shake them up and scare them into bonding but nothing has worked and their fights are getting worse to the point where loud noises no longer interrupt them, shaking them no longer phases them and the only way to stop them is to physically pull them apart. I really love Lily and i really don’t want to have to give her up because Cinnabunn is an aggressive brat. Please help because I am almost at my witts end. I understand sometimes it takes longer than 3 months but at this point it is not safe to have them go on fighting like this. I still have some amount of hope because they keep grooming eachother but why hasn’t it worked out?


      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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          How big is the neutral area? How bad are the fights? Those are the two things I’d consider if I were going to continue bonding.

          If it were me, and the fights aren’t bad, and if I could increase the area they have (because they can get away from each other when needed, hide, eat together and feel safe etc) I would proceed bonding-but by letting them have lots of time in a big area-with tunnels, hiding spots etc. If they have time and a large area, and they don’t hate each other, I think they can figure things out. 

          If the fights are bad and your only area to bond is a small room, I might consider giving it a long break or just consider yourself as having two unbonded rabbits.

          Really your facilities, any time pressure and how bad the fights are your considerations as to how to proceed-in my mind 


        • Cinnabunn the bunny
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            The fights results in chasing and fur pulling with kicks. I never let the fights continue after they hold onto eachother and begin to kick. I have tried a number of different sized areas ranging from boxes to living room. I tried putting them on a break for a few weeks and that bought me a few extra minutes before they started fighting. At the moment I have put them back on a break and haven’t tried bonding them since. I still let them stay next to eachother with only a fence between them and they love staying by eachother and grooming eachother.


          • Love4Bunny
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              You mentioned that Cinnabunn always nips and chases first. Just wondering if you had any thoughts on why he initiates it. I know rabbits sometimes do stuff “just because”, but I was curious if you thought it was something other than territorial issues.

              I’ve only bonded a pair, so I don’t have enough experience, but your issues sound like what mine were, except my rabbits have slightly different temperaments.

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          Forum BONDING Love Hate Relationship?