How do I know when my two bunnies are ready?

[Mrs. Bob Loblaw]

I posted a while back about my two bunnies who outsmarted our bunny-proofing and had a terrible fight that required a vet visit. Fast forward a few months and everyone is healed, healthy, and I’m on break from school, so I have time for bonding again. During the last few months, they have lived side by side in the living room, separated by a gate (they are house bunnies and aren’t caged). They swapped sides a few times a week so they would be forced to be okay with each other’s smells. 5 nights ago, we put them together again for the first time and it went great. Last time we had to use the tub, this time, we’re right in the middle of the living room where they live. They cuddle and groom each other some and ignore each other some, but there has been no fighting. We haven’t had to intervene and we’re not having to stay on the floor with them, helping them to cuddle and groom. They’re together for 5-8 hours with no problems. So how do I know when they get to the point where they can live together? I plan to sleep in the living room with them when we try for an overnighter, but I’m not sure when to try that. Everything seems to be going so smoothly, I don’t want to mess it up.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

It sounds like it’s going wonderful!!! I’d urge you to elaborate on the steps you took between the fight and now for our other members, it sounds like you are doing everything perfect! To recover from a fight like that isn’t easy and I bet what you’ve learned would be invaluable for other members here!

IMO I think if they are together for 5-8 hours they are ready. I would not try to assimilate them into one or the others house for territorial reasons, but instead tear down both homes, clean everything up and make one ‘new’ home (new meaning it’s put together differently, you can use whatever you had before of course) this will reduce one from thinking the other is moving into their own home, and instead they start out in something neutral they both share. If possible it should be as big as you can so they can hop off if they tiff, but when you say they are spending so many hours together without incident, they sound bonded and ready to me!
Good luck!

[RoyalElvira]

It sounds like everything is going well and they are really starting to enjoy each other! You have to just trust them. Its hard, especially since they’ve found before, but trust them. I agree with the pervious post — make them a new home out of their current homes. That is exactly what I did when I finally decided to move mine in together and it worked perfectly. Neither was territorial over their home.

[tanlover14]

I completely agree with KandK — they really do sound like they are ready but MAKE SURE to clean the area and tear down both homes so there is no fighting over territory. I’m so happy for you and your buns, I remember your post a couple of months back!

We were really nervous the first night we put our trio together but we slept out with them so any fighting we could hear. We decided to leave them overnight together when we felt comfortable leaving them in a room together for hours on end with no incident. So it sounds like they are ready!

[Mrs. Bob Loblaw]

I wish I could elaborate more on what worked for my two bunnies. After their fight months ago, I put them together for a few minutes so they could cuddle while I pet their heads. I didn’t want them to end on a bad note. After that, I rearranged my living room to make it completely bunny proof (they had previously outsmarted me) and attached the ends of their gate to eye hooks in the walls. One side of the gate is the majority of the living room/dining room. The other side is probably 14′ long and ranges from 2′ to 6′ wide; Still a pretty big space. Essentially, they are separated by a gate like this one, but it’s arranged in a zig-zag line, rather than in a circle, and is much longer (it takes 2 sets):

pet fence

They are able to sniff each other through the gates, and see each other, of course, but otherwise it keeps them protected. I should say that in the beginning, they had some slap fights through the gates, but this was before their big fight and the behavior was long in the past. Anyway, I made them swap sides 2-3 times a week and that was basically all I did. Their litter boxes are side by side at one end of the living room, separated only by the gate. I feed them there and they would always steal each other’s food through the gate. I did it this way because I wanted them to get used to eating around each other, but I don’t know if that helped at all.

When I first put them together a little over a week ago, I made a circle out of their gate and got in their with them, leaving them only a small space to move around. There was a little chasing, but I’d yell and it would stop before fur was pulled out. I noticed that Jafar really likes following Zero Bunny around, but she hates having her butt sniffed and that’s where their problem was. A night or two later, I put them in the pen, but decided not to get in right away and just watched them. There were no problems and I got comfortable enough to sit on the couch and watch TV while also watching them. A day or two after that, I made their area bigger and there were still no problems. The only thing that has caused a problem so far is I put them together at an earlier time in the day, when they are usually hiding and sleeping. There was one CottonTail Cottage in the area and they both wanted the 2nd floor. This resulted in a chase, followed by me yelling, followed by them being calm. I took the cottage out, though, just to be safe.

On New Year’s Eve, my husband was sick with a 102 fever, so he was sleeping all day and night. I decided to sleep on the couch and keep them together overnight for the first time. It’s now been 2 successful nights. Jafar is especially smitten, following Zero Bunny everywhere she goes. They don’t always cuddle, but they are usually somewhat close. I think I’ll spend one more night on the couch before I try leaving them overnight with no supervision, but when I do, I’ll set my alarm to check them in the middle of the night

I am ordering a second cottage and plan to tape them together with the windows lined up, so they can hop from one cottage into another. I’m hoping this will create peace. I also have a 2 story bunny maze, but have been too scared to try it out. I think I’ll wait another week or two, then put the cottages or the maze in with them and watch their behavior. But I’m scared to let them have access when I’m not home. I don’t want that to ruin their bond.

Oh yeah – another thing that helped their bond is Zero Bunny chose Jafar. We took Zero Bunny to a bunny rescue to have some speed dates. The first bunny she would chase and nip, then force her nose under to cuddle. It was very odd behavior. “I’m gonna attack you! Just kidding, let’s cuddle?” She did this a few times. The next bunny she mostly ignored, but a thump occurred somewhere along the way and an aggressive move of some sort. With Jafar, she showed some interest right away and wanted to be close to him. When we pet their heads, their bodies leaned in towards each other and stayed that way. She made her decision and our family grew by one. Jafar is a really cute lionhead mix who was born at the rescue and after living there in a cage for 2.5 years, he finally had a forever home. I couldn’t believe he’d never been chosen before, it broke my heart.

Thank you all for the encouragement and advice! I’ve lurked these boards quite a bit and have found so much valuable information. I appreciate it all so very much!

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