seperating bunnies and adding new one

[CSoehnge]

ok so I have a long paragraph so thanks to everyone that will hang in there and help me out.

So I Have a 6.5 year old male Holland lop (who was alone his whole life) that bonded great with my now 5-6 month old Holland lop (8 weeks old at the time) even before the baby was neutered. The little one started showing signs of crazy hormones and chasing/humping the older one which was stressing my older one out because of his age and he is blind/deaf now. Anyway the little one was neutered and kept away for about 3 weeks and I reintroduced them. In those 3 weeks my older one appeared more active and his coat looked great. Well I put them back together and they did great with that but my older one started getting a gross coat again and just laying around a lot.

I decided for my older ones sake I would get a new bunny for my younger one and let him be by himself since he appears happier that way and my younger one has always been with another bunny. Anyway I got a bunny close to my younger ones age to introduce to him to. They did great when put together at the Rabbitry I got him from so I knew it would be a good fit.

My questions are – Should I separate the older bunny from the younger bunny now and then slowly introduce the baby to the other young one? Or should I introduce all three of them together slowly and then take away the older one? Right now I have them all in the same room but the baby is by himself and the other two are roamers. The younger one loves laying next to the baby’s cage but I had to give the baby some food and he got out for a minute and the younger one was chasing and nipping so I know it will be different with their bonding I just want to know what to do with my older one in the process of bonding the younger ones. Either way the older one will not be with them in the end. I just want whatever will be less stressful for all of them. Thanks

[Boston's Mama]

I’m not the best one to answer here but if I was in your situation ( older one stressed by the younger one and it is effecting his condition ) I would seperate the two now.
Then focus on bonding the younger and the new one after a couple of weeks break ( cage them near each other but not close enough to nip through the bars in the meantime)

If you bond the younger two with the older one it will add more stress to older one for nothing as he isn’t staying with them. Also adding a third can effect the bond between the existing bonded two so may result in fights especially if older one is already stressed

I would say if the old one is truely bonded to the middle one you will have to go slow – cage all three seperately with the middle one in the middle of the one he was bonded to and one you intend to bond to.
Slowly make the gap between the old one and middle ones cages bigger will leaving the middle and younger one still caged close to each other.
If older isn’t stressed by this and his condition is improving as you previously saw when separated then you know he will be fine being separated to other side of room from middle bun.

Before you look at bonding the middle to younger make sure the seperation between middle and older is complete.
Also that the two you want to bond have been caged near each other for a good wee while first AND the newest needs neutered for 6weeks prior to bonding starting.

[Boston's Mama]

I’ve only attempted bonding twice – one was love at first sight and the other I couldn’t get them to even tolerate being in same room seperate cages. So I can’t help once you get to the point of actual bonding after the above but there are plenty here who will be able to

[CSoehnge]

Well I have separated them all at the same time. I have them in the same room right now. I cant tell if the baby is happy or not right now but sometimes he binkys and sometimes I think he is scared of me and just panics. while I am waiting to bond them do you think it would be good to get him use to me in the meantime. I know bunnies don’t like to cuddle or anything but right now he wont come anywhere near me (the other two did so well with that). I want him to like me just as much because it takes all that I have not to touch him lol!

[Boston's Mama]

Oh for sure – bond with him yourself plenty
Either block access to the others cages somehow to let him out and stop the others from jealousy – preferably you are having time with all 3(?) seperately of course
If you get a playpen to attach to his cage big enough you can hop in too , that will also stop them getting too each other’s cages during free time with you

I would suggest not picking him up – but sit with him and talk to him and gain trust – over time he will trust you in you put in the effort to bond with him

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