So we’ve had our fixed doe (Hazel) for a couple of years and decided to get her a companion bunny. After a trip to the humane society we chose another doe (Dandelion) as she had lived in a household with other animals and rabbits and we thought she’d be flexible to meeting another rabbit.
We took them to neutral territory – the garage – and Hazel LOST HER MIND. She actually attacked me – unheard of for my sweet bunny who I’ve trusted with my baby niece. Then she had a full on existential crisis. I don’t think she realized other rabbits existed… or that she herself was a rabbit… either way after realizing D existed she was very upset. I kept bringing them into the garage again and again. Hazel kept trying to attack D through the bars. After a few weeks she at least started to calm herself down and settled into nasty glares and peeing in her general direction.
We went camping for a weekend and left a bunny sitter here. Unfortunately Dandelion broke out of her room (I assume to look for us) and wandered into the entry room. Hazel (who was behind another pet gate) went into a fury and knocked it down. They had a full knock-down drag-out unsupervised fight. The bunny sitter thought a rabbit had died given the amount of hair torn out. Hazel then limped back to her hutch, bleeding and tore up. We didn’t know about the fight until we got back and Hazel ran straight to me and buried her face in my hands she was so upset. They both had pretty noteworthy wounds that took some time to heal.
It was a HUGE setback.
We gave them a break, keeping them separated and not doing any more introductions because Hazel is both angry and scared of Dandelion.
Unfortunately a side effect of this is now Dandelion has established a territory that SHE cares about and has been getting defensive
(forehead slap)
So after much more research I started to stress-bond them with car rides and (safe) exposure to dogs. Even in these situations they’ve attacked each other. D attacked Hazel while she was even dozing off! Hazel attacked D when she was cowering in the car.
I had a HUGE breakthrough after 5 sessions and they were able to be side-by-side in a bin for 30 whole minutes (once we got out of the car!) while I pet them without one attacking the other. I got super excited and my hopes up that maybe, MAYBE I don’t have to have two lonely bunnies in the house.
But now both rabbits have completely independently decided they do not trust me. It’s as if being terrified and forced to snuggle with their mortal enemy several times isn’t something they look forward to.
They both refuse to go into their carriers or let me near them to pick them up (something Hazel didn’t tolerate anyway). I put food in – their favorite treats and they won’t go in until I’m too far away to shut the door. I’ve been putting food in their carriers every day twice a day and FIVE WEEKS LATER they are just starting to let me near the carrier while they’re in.
I can’t just have one session every 4-6 weeks – they’re so suspicious I’m just not sure what to do. I have a divided household and it all feels like a mess. I’m very discouraged!