need safety/bonding suggestions for my two boys :)

[Allison]

So I have two buns right now, Jawa-our 1 yr old neutered male and Finn our new bun who is about 2 1/2 months old. Jawa has not taken super well to Finn so far. 

From the beginning-a week and one day ago

First intro went fine enough. Finn tried to mount Jawa (which was super funny to see since Jawa is 9 1/2 lbs and Finn is maybe 2 lb)  Jawa mounted Finn and there was some chasing but nothing too extreme. That night I had Jawa running in the living room free range and Finn on the couch with me. This was an error on my part looking back. This is one of Jawa’s main play areas, so I think territory played a part. Once Jawa noticed Finn laying by my side he jumped up, grabbed Finn and ripped him right off the couch. Finn was fine (I was a mess!) with just a small bite on his side that was mostly hair loss and just a tiny bit of broken skin (didn’t bleed). 

-super scared mama!

So now I have their cages side by side with a few inches between them. I have done two more supervised intros in a neutral area and have been using a vacuum to deter chasing and stop fights before they happen. Luckily Finn doesn’t seem to be too scared of Jawa, just cautious. The two of them basically ignore each other until FInn comes just too close to Jawa and then Jawa will chase. They had one nose to nose moment where Jawa just chased Finn after (so no immediate bite) but that is the best I’ve gotten. I’ve been switching their cages every day or two and have surrogate teddy bears that I’ve been switching. Jawa is nonreactive to the teddy covered in Finn’s scent. 

When they’re in their cages, they will both lay right against the closest part to each other’s cage (so if the cages were touching they’d be laying next to each other), but when they’re free range Jawa is still very agressive. 

I know that it’s early in the game, but I’m nervous to push them too much too early due to the size difference. Jawa could do Finn some serious damage if he had the chance and decided to take it. I’ve been avoiding small area intro’s because I worry that this could be setting Finn up to get really hurt. I can’t do a car stress bond since Jawa isn’t uncomfortable in cars-he drove cross country with us. They will be taking a 12 hr car ride with us when we travel north for Christmas. They will be in separate cages but next to each other. Maybe this will help? 

Bottom line is what are some safe ways to either stress bond or move forward with the size difference. I know this is a process and I want to be patient but also want to be making progress. 

Thanks! So happy to have help! 

[Mikey]

Youre new little boy is hormonal if hes humping already. Youre previous older bun can smell his hormones and is feeding off of them. Youll need to neuter youre little boy before you bond either of them, or youll only cause more fights to happen. With youre little one already being more nervous now, you dont want to push it too far or it might develop into full on fear of your older bun. There is no safe way to bond while one bunny is not yet neutered

[Allison]

meh ok thanks! I figured this was a contributing factor. Is having them cage by cage ok for now? Or should I keep them apart until we get Finn neutered in another 2 months (aside from the car ride which can’t be avoided )

[Mikey]

Cage by cage is perfectly fine as long as they cant reach one another through the bars

[Vienna Blue in France]

Hi and welcome !! For a car journey so long you’ll have to keep an eye on their food intake to keep their digestion moving (you prob know this anyway if Jawa is a seasoned traveller) … i know mine don’t eat whilst on the move but will start chomping 10mins after the engine stops….. maybe you’re stopping over night somewhere to break the trip up….? Good luck on the 12 hr drive though !!

[Allison]

Thanks for the feedback guys! I’ve had several rabbits before but never done a bonding with issues. I’m planning on having Finn neutered when we get back from our trip, so hopefully that’ll help! I really appreciate the feedback!

[Vienna Blue in France]

@LBJ – come here…. come here LBJ. there is a “FINN” for you….. lol

Neuteuring will help definitely. Wait for 2 months afterwards before trying to bond, for his hormones to calm down… he will go through a post neuter craze…..

[Allison]

ugh boys are so complicated

Also, is there a star wars fan out there?!?!? Who is LBJ?!?!

[Vienna Blue in France]

LBJ is one of our wonderful Forum Leaders here….. LBJ where are youuuuuuu ?

And she was VERY insistent indeed that fellow member Azerane’s newly adopted boy a few months back (who is now “Apollo”) should be called Finn.
In fact if LBJ reads this, she’ll tell you he IS called Finn (he isn’t! )

I thought it was after Huckleberry…. obv I’m missing something and am lacking in culture

[Author]

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