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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 two pairs

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    • Sam
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        We bought a buck and kept him on his own for six months (we were naive and didn’t realise they like to live in pairs!) but played with him literally every day for hours on end. He was born in the August, we got him in November and in May we got a doe. Neither were neutered so we had him neutered and then her spayed shortly after. They’ve lived together for over a year and are very happy together.

        We’ve recently taken on two 18 week old sisters who are not spayed (operation booked in for 10 days time).

        I’ve read so much about bonding rabbits that I’ve now got to the point where I don’t know what to do. We’ve only had them for one evening so I am not losing hope by any means but Penelope our first doe has been quite aggressive (perhaps because of their scents), whenever we’ve introduced them. We’re keeping them in separate cages so they can see each other but I really want to make sure that we are doing the right thing when it comes to playtime and bonding. Penelope is an incredibly affectionate doe, she will lick our noses pretty much everyday and loves nothing more than cuddles!

        I understand she probably feels threatened but I want to make sure we’re doing the right thing. I’ve got a feeling that when they’re spayed and fully recovered, they’ll bond and be the best of friends but we’re new to this and would like to avoid learning how to bond rabbits the hard way.

        Advice would be greatly appreciated!

        PS. So far I have introduced them all together, in pairs in the bathtub and the buck Chester gets along fine with both new does. Penelope has humped Chester a lot (dominance?) but will lunge at the two does more than hump them.

        Sam


      • Mikey
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          Dont introduce them until a month after the youngest ones are spayed and healed. This gives them time to heal and that extra month gives them time to lose their remaining hormones. Bonding is much easier when you remove hormones from the situation You can keep them in their own cages next to one another, but dont let them out together. They will get used to seeing and smelling one another as prebonding during these next two months so when you put them face to face afterwards, they will be a little nicer to one another


        • Sam
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            Mikey,
            Thanks for your reply. We’ve decided to take the bunnies back to their owner. Unfortunately all four seem quite unsettled and I don’t think a potentially 8 week period of this would be conducive to a happy atmosphere by any of their standards! Very sad but unfortunately the right thing to do we feel.


          • Mikey
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            3186 posts Send Private Message

              Very understandable. The stress can be hard on everyone, and it cant always be handled very fast which can cause more stress in the meantime. It was nice of you to try to take them in

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          Forum BONDING Bonding two pairs