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Forum BONDING Bonding help

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    • BunnyFriends
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        So I have two rabbits, Winter and Licorice. They’re pretty close in size. I’ve been trying to bond them for a month, with weekly sessions. 

        The first session was in as neutral of a spot as we could get it, as Licorice haa free roam every day and has visited every room in the house. So we used the masters’ bathroom, which he hadn’t been in much. Winter, the newer rabbit, had been there some, but not much either. Anyway, they were out for about ten minutes with no fighting, just curious sniffing and Winter hopping after him. So we let them out in the bedroom, too. Winter then mounted Licorice’s face, and he backed off, kinda mad. They both wanna be dominant. After that we let them go back. 

        The second session we did in my room, which was a mistake as that’s where Winter is usually let out. They were fine, again, for ten minutes. Then they got into a scuffle under the bed. We separated then ASAP, as it wasn’t just nips.

        We tried again in room, which made it even worse. We should’ve stopped there. This time I had food, which they wouldn’t eat together but rather one ate while the other watched. Then they swapped. No fighting.

        The fourth session was instant fighting. Winter pulled some of his fur ( just a tad of loose shed fur), and she also got flipped over onto her back. They were separated quick and injures.

         Anyway, we stopped for a bit, and now I’m wondering what to do. Would adding a third, totally submissive bun help? Obviously no more sessions in my room. We’re thinking maybe taking the seats out of the car and doing one there, while it’s not moving. Another thought was a baby playpen in the basement, but at this point I’m just not sure.

        I can’t just not bond them. Licorice would be fine and still happy as a single bun (and happy as a pair, too), but Winter is too social not to have a friend. She definitely needs someone.


      • tobyluv
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          I don’t think it would be a good idea to add a third rabbit into the mix. That would not help to bond your two. I assume that Winter and Licorice are spayed and neutered, with around a month elapsing after their surgeries.

          I have had very good success using an x-pen to bond my rabbits (5 pairs over the years). My husband and I get in there with them, to break up any fights (a little scuffling is normal) or to stop any excess humping. Even if it’s a room that’s not neutral to the rabbits, the pen is new and you can always put down a sheet to block any bunny smells that might be on the carpet or rugs.

          Some people have put their rabbits in very close quarters, as in a pet carrier. It forces them to be close to each other, but there is not really much room to fight. Since your rabbits have been nipping and fighting, you really have to keep a close watch on them and be right there to separate them if the scuffles turn into fighting. Rabbits can severely injure each other when fighting.

          You may have already read some bonding articles, but here are 2 good ones that might be helpful:

          http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

          https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx


        • BunnyFriends
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            They are both spayed and neutered. 

            The X pen could work, thanks.

            With the carrier, I don’t really know how I’d get fights separated if started, because both my rabbits are jumpers and would jump out any open door or top. But with carrier do you mean it just being still, or a car ride?


          • BunnyFriends
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              Whoops, I mean separated and no injuries.


            • tobyluv
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                It’s good that there have been no injuries. They can occur suddenly if a fight breaks out, so you really have to be vigilant if your rabbits seem to be contentious. The person that I know that has tried the carrier method, just set it on the floor and stayed nearby. Maybe the x-pen method would work better for you.

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            Forum BONDING Bonding help