Help! Could this harm the bonding experience?

[Deleted User]

Some of you may know about my sweet little Ophelia. She is 6 months spayed, about 3 weeks since her spay. A few days ago we just got an 8wk old mini lop buck. I wanted to wait until at least a month after her spay before bringing in a new bun, but circumstances did not permit the one week wait. Of course, I am keeping the new bun, Quincy, in my room where she is not allowed and she still has free range of the rest of the apartment. I thought that this would work out because she never tries to get in our room because she knows she is not allowed in there…. however, a few times in the past few days, I’ve looked around and when I don’t see her, I go ahead and try to sneak into the room. Then she comes darting in out of nowhere! Of course I don’t want to hurt her by trying to slam the door shut. The first two times she saw him, she absolutely flipped! She just started darting around the room running into stuff until she ran out of the door. I try calling her or having my husband grab pellets as soon as she gets in the room but she just ignores me and goes over to him, then just bolts out of the room. I have almost never picked her up because personally, I don’t believe that buns ever LIKE to be picked up, so why bother. Especially when she is so young and still so small. Also, when she is obviously stressed I don’t want to pick her up and risk injury on my part or hers. This morning, when I opened my bedroom door half asleep, she was waiting there and darted right in. This time, she went over to his cage and just stared and sniffed him, from a short distance. I tried luring her out with pellets and she nipped at me when I put them in her face. I had the husband grab some basil STAT and we were able to lure her out of the room. He still has a few months before he can be fixed, and I know they absolutely need to stay separated, but she is becoming ridiculous about sneaking her way in when we don’t think she’s around. New bun doesn’t seem bothered by any of their encounters, but he is only 8 weeks so that’s probably just because he has not sexually matured, right?  I am not planning on letting them be together at all, but in such a small apartment sometimes she just makes her way through when we don’t see her. Can her being around him even for a short time have a negative effect on their relationship when we attempt to bond?  What can I do when she bolts into the room, would covering his cage with a blanket be a good idea so they don’t see each other? I have heard stories of bonding being more difficult if they are introduced improperly and I don’t want them to learn to mistrust one another. Should I do something else, like switch litter trays? So maybe she won’t be so interested in the new smell that she darts into the room?

[Bam]

You could switch litterboxes. Or start with blankets or toys. She’s clearly crazy curious about him. I think if she could get used to his scent on things, it could help. Some buns even act out initial aggression on a toy that the other bun has had.

[Deleted User]

They each have a blanket of their own, and I bought them each a stuffie! I will try just switching out their bears or blankets first. I didn’t know if that would be a good idea or not because I didn’t want to freak either bun out.. I have never done the bonding process and I didn’t know if I should do that when they will still be separated for a bit, but I guess that makes sense because she may just “get used to” his smell and it won’t bother her so much that she feels like she has to run in the room to check it out. Hopefully she takes out any aggression on the stuffie… would it be beneficial at all to let them see each other through cage bars before he is neutered? Like basically switching out items and letting them see each other briefly in a long term, 4-5 month “pre-bonding” sessions? I know that they can’t really bond until he is neutered but I wonder if letting them see and smell (no face to face meeting) would have any positive effect on their relationship before beginning bonding.

[Deleted User]

So I switched their stuffies when I got home from work. Ophelia just went up to it and did a bunch of chinning all over it then started some grooming. Maybe she’s already getting used to his scent? She keeps hanging out by my bedroom door now… now I will have to strategically battle a bun every time we need to go in and out… and she will probably win these strategic battles lol

[Mikey]

The chinning and grooming on the stuffie is a great sign Ideally, you want to keep with the stuffie until both bunnies ignore them, or cuddle and groom them with no aggression or territorial signs at all

[Deleted User]

Oh yay!! I’m surprised she didn’t circle and lunge at it … she didn’t seem so happy that we had a new bunny on day 1 or 2. They’ve definitely got time to get used to each other, since he isn’t even neutered yet. This is going to be a very slow bonding process… I supose slow is better than rushed though.. better late than never!

[DanaNM]

Would it be possible to set up a baby gate or x-pen as a secondary barrier to your room? So that once you open the door, you have to step over the gate to get in? 

Just so you don’t have to worry about her darting all the way in! Or even something more makeshift and temporary (cardboard might be enough). 

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Deleted User]

So I have baby gates that I used when I first got her but she knows that she can just jump right over them. I switched their stuffies and she seems less interested in coming over to the room when we open the door to go in. Hopefully she is getting used to his smell and isn’t so concerned that she runs in to see what’s in there!

[Author]

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