Help bonding an adopted bun and fostered bun

[Diane]

Hi! I’m new to bonding bunnies. I’ve only had one bunny for seven years but he unfortunately passed away from surgery. I adopted a bunny from a local foundation. It’s a male and he just got neutered a week and a half ago. We’re still in the process of litter box training him so he’s still in a pen.

This is Leo. His story: He was brought in from a hoarding situation. That’s really all they can tell me. They’re guessing him to be about one. His body was shaved. I’m guessing because his fur was all matted. His fur is starting to grow back and he’s starting to gain some weight. He was skinny. He has an APPETITE!! He will not leave a single crumb of food behind and will beg for more all day long. He loves to be petted and will just sit there and rest his big head on you.

I would like to bond him with a 6 month old spayed female that I am fostering right now.

This is Jenny. She’s a beauty! She’s being fostered by a friend but I’m watching her for a few weeks while she has maintenance done to her house. If all goes well I would like to adopt her. She’s a sweetheart! Loves to give kisses!! She’s a spunky little thing though. Will run full speed and bink! She’s super good with her litter box and eats her hay.

Leo and Jenny have been in the same house for over a week now. She’s allowed to roam the place since she’s litter trained. Leo is still in his pen. She’ll go up to his pen and they’ll sniff each other. I let Leo out a few days ago to meet Jen. Neither one was aggressive. They sniffed each other and Jenny lowered her head but Leo tried to hump her so I pulled him off. He would kind of follow her but he would poop an aweful lot when he’s near her and I noticed that he did pee a few times outside around her. Territorial? I tried feeding both of them together but like I mentio Leo LOVES to eat. He kind of scared her off by hogging the food. He’s not food aggressive, just food loving. He stole her carrot… She came up to his face while he was eating it and I was afraid he might nip her but he just kept chewing.

I know Jenny would love a companion but I don’t know about Leo. What do you think the chances are with them bonding? I know it takes time. I have to give her back for a few weeks because I’m going on vacation for week. I would also like Leo to be litter box trained and his hormones subsided before trying to bond them again. Any tips/advice will be greatly helpful!!!!

Thank you!!!

[Tessie]

Hello there!

Here’s my initial thoughts:

1) You need to wait until a month/6 weeks after his neuter for his hormones to die down so you can’t bond them until that’s done

2) You need to be SURE you are keeping her before you bond them, once they’re bonded you can’t separate them

3) If she’s going somewhere else for a week or two you should wait until after that to bond them for the same reason as number 2.

4) Once you start bonding you need to do it in neutral territory (somewhere neither of them have been before, or somewhere cleaned with vinegar)

Having said all that, if they’ve been together and not fought then I’d say it’s looking hopeful!

[Author]

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