should I let my bunnies have free run even if they’re still sorting out dominance and territory?

[Sunnybunny]

I’ve been bonding two bunnies, one new (Maxine), the other I had for a year (Mr. M). It’s been one month and things are ok. I live in a small place and so can’t give them large condo spaces-though it is the minimum. But my boyfriend and I are going a little nuts with the set up, it’s hard to cook, clean, have people over, take out the trash… I’m wondering if letting the two bunnies sort out the last bits of their relationship with free run of the living room and dinning room (with under the couch blocked off because I can’t get to them there) would be ok or would it ruin everything we’ve built up? The last week we’ve done dates in the living room, in an x pen with two litter boxes because it’s the only space large  enough. Yesterday I let them run around the living room (with the couch blocked) before putting them back in their condos. 

Their positive body language:

  When they sit nose to nose, he’ll groom her, but nip after she doesn’t groom back, never any fur pulling

  they eat from the same bowl just fine

  they’ll lounge with a little over a foot between them. but parallel

Most of the time Mr. M decides which litter is his, but will let her use it and eat hey from it Sometimes

she won’t groom him but has started sniffing his head as if she’s thinking about it. she’ll groom at his feet or if there’s a blanket next to him. Over all he’s a big groomer and she’s just not. I think he just wants to know his attention will be reciprocated so he can feel in charge

The negative or territorial body language: 

When they’re first put into a space he claims everything and eventually (after about an hour) he’ll concede things (like the second litter or the space under the table) and won’t chase her from them. 

He nips her, on the butt or belly mostly, when she doesn’t groom him, only after he grooms her. I saw her do it to him today after a nose to nose groom-off. He chased her (ears down, teeth out–for one hop)…. 

he chases her out of spaces randomly, when he feels like he now wants the space. almost always his ears are down, rarely are his teeth out any more. the chasing is confusing because sometimes she’s flirting–she’ll binky and then he stops and looks confused… 

If I let them have free roam of the place, will that reinforce his territorial behavior, or will it give him time to relax with her and see that if she uses the table space it isn’t lost to him forever. And/Or give them the time they need to figure out dominance?? They clearly are still sorting out dominance but they are comfortable with each other. 

Another huge question of mine. I feel like I’m getting in the middle of things too much lately. Like I’ll go see every time I hear something, so much so I’ve caught him look at me before he chases and wait till i’m out of the room… Should I ignore them completely, Even when I see chasing? or should I clap and say no when I see chasing???

Is it an awful idea to jump to free roam? I’ve read so many conflicting bonding strategies, particularly one saying give them tiny space then increment up and others saying bigger is better from the get go… Bunny logically they both make sense. And I imagine bunnies are more like people then cats or dogs and it really depends on the bunny…

[Mikey]

If their final area is free roaming in the living room, then it wouldnt be a bad idea. Start with short and fast sessions, such as 5 sessions a day for 5 minutes in te living room. If they do well, move to 4 sessions for 25 minutes. Then 3 sessions for 45 minutes. Then 2 sessions for an hour+. Then one session a day starting at 2 hours, and build up by 30 minutes until they can share the room peacefully. Dont move too fast, but dont move too slow, either. If the buns cant handle being together for more than a few minutes, its fine to go back a step to make sure everyone is happy. Still stop any fights, stop chasing, and removing humping after a few seconds

[Author]

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