Bonding frustrations

[Beardyhogg]

So We had a house rabbit, Rufio, he is a half lion head half dwarf. We kept him in the conservatory/house until it got too hot (we’re in the UK so it won’t last long!) I built him an outside pen that gives him as much room as the conservatory. He’s happy as Larry.

Then because of advice by SO MANY people we got a second rabbit. A female mini lop, Tink. Got a chicken coop and set it up near Rufio’s pen. They were close enough to see each other and we moved them together little by little until they shared a fence. First thing they did was sit either side together (good sign we thought) then they started mounting up droppings either side (confused sign we thought, internet said marking territory though.)

We left them together but seperated for about 2 weeks then introduced them on neutral ground for a little bit each day. She was very wary of him and he was very eager which we were surprised at, she seemed much more assertive and he’d always been quite wussy. Not to mention we’d read the female normally takes charge.

We did this probably 5 or 6 times and they would sniff and he would groom then he would go near her and lie down. All the time he was doing this she just sat stock still. After a few times they seemed to be getting on better so we decided to move her into his pen to see what would happen, thinking we’d take her out after 5 minutes and gradually increase the time. He wouldn’t stop chasing her and she got really scared, cowering in his hutch. We managed to get her out but now when we have them in the house together she’s even more wary of him.

I understand it was very clearly a territory thing, she was in his and he wasn’t going to stand for it.

The behaviour we have now is when he goes to her she runs away, he may chase initially but then stops. If she allows him to groom her he starts at the face quite gently but quickly moves down to the side and then very aggressively on her behind at which point she’ll run again.

The plan at the moment is to wait until the sun has gone and move them both into the conservatory together (which has been cleaned several times and we’re confident won’t smell of him anymore) with the hope that they’ll have chance to learn to live together in there, under observation of course…

This plan kinda sucks but its all we’ve got. Hence why I’m here, if anyone has any advice that’d be awesome!!

[tobyluv]

I assume that your rabbits have been spayed and neutered, even though you didn’t mention that. Besides the fact that you don’t want any litters, bonding cannot take place until the rabbits have had their surgery and a few weeks have passed.

I have bonded 5 pairs of rabbits and I find that the best method is to place the rabbits in an x-pen, and you get in there with them. They have some space to run around, but they are confined. If any fighting breaks out, you can stop it, or you can stop any excessive humping or chasing. My husband and I both get in the x-pen, for better control over the situation.

[MrBun&Daisy]

Are they spayed and neutered? if not- here’s my experience

I was just in your place! (still am kind of!) when we brought daisy home and let her meet Mr.Bun it was almost like love at first sight! but neither of them were fixed. Well Mr. Bun does the same thing of grooming her ears and she LOVES it but then he gets too aggressive and she will shake him off and run away. We have never let them have enough space for him to chase her. We got Mr.Bun neutered about a week after we brought her home as his territory behavior was getting AWFUL. He would leave pellets and pee EVERYWHERE (he was 100% litter trained) . our initial plan was to spay daisy and leave MrBun alone (his daddy didn’t want to de-man him) but I am now a full believer its best for everyone if both rabbits are desexed. Daisy still has some weight to gain before she can be spayed so they still have separate houses. MrBun’s hormones are slowly settling down. I can almost guarantee you won’t see any change In rufio’s behavior unless you have them both spayed and neutered.

[Beardyhogg]

Rufio was neutered about 2 months ago, Tink is only 4 or 5 months old so not spayed yet…

[MrBun&Daisy]

I’m not sure if the post neuter hormone craze lasts that long but its a possibility. and even if he is neutered it could be the fact that she is not spayed that is setting him off. everyone who has given me advice on my buns says that I will probably have to re-bond them after daisy is spayed and healed that way both their hormones are calmed down. someone told me that the male rabbits can sense that the female is not spayed which makes them go into mating behavior. you might be in the same boat as I am- we just have to keep them separated until she is big enough to be spayed then start from square one with the bonding. daisy always lays down when he wants to give her kisses like she just wants him to lay with her but he always gets too aggressive (or maybe just a little to pushy with the kisses) for now I put them on our bed so I can easily separate them and daisy knows she can hide behind me or under a blanket and I’ll keep him from her that way they still are getting to know each other but he can’t take it too far. maybe you can do something like that? so they’re still bonding but she knows you will keep her safe

[tobyluv]

Since Tink has not been spayed yet, it would be best to stop the bonding attempts until after her surgery and recuperation.

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