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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING my bunny hates the new baby bunny

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    • gingersnap
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        So, I heard that rabbits were very happy in pairs so I decided to get a friend for my previous rabbit. My rabbit is a girl and I did not want to get a boy, so I decided to get another girl. I heard that it is very hard to bond two female rabbits that are not fixed and mine aren’t. I wanted to see how it went and think about getting them fixed. Right now my previous bunny Ginger is about seven months old and I guess is what you might call going into heat. Anyways. She is starting to stink and I noticed this before getting the second bunny. I didn’t think anything of it but now it is worse. She is rubbing her scent on everything and my bedroom stinks. The younger bunny is just a few months old and is very small compared to my large palomino rabbit. They used to have two cages that had a side where they could see and smell eachother, but my previous bunny is now very territorial and would try to attack the new bunny through the cage. It didn’t used to bother her but now the little one is kind of scared of her. I moved her cage into a different room and now Ginger isn’t attacking her anymore but she is peeing everywhere and is still rubbing her scent on everything including me! I ddon’t know what to do. My rabbit Ginger has really changed and I feel like she is never going to be the same. I don’t like the new her, but I don’t think that getting rid of the new rabbit will change that. I need advice. 


      • Gina.Jenny
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          It sounds like Ginger is well ready to be fixed! That should at least help with the peeing everywhere, and the smell. You won’t be able to bond them until after the little one has been spayed and has had time to recover after. Rabbits can really change around the age Ginger is, when hormones kick in, and the little one may well do the same in a couple of months time! And things don’t settle down straight after the spay, either, that takes weeks.

          I am currently in the middle of trying to bond a trio, two girls who may well be sisters, and one boy. One of the girls bonded to the boy pretty much instantly, the other girl has gone from outright teeth and claws, through the cage bars, to nips and haircuts. It will be four weeks tomorrow since both girls were spayed. She is going to take a lot of time, patience, and care, to have any chance of bonding her to the other two. From everything I’ve read, plus my own experience, a boy-girl bond is the most straight forward, but it does also depend on each bunny.


        • Roberta
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            I agree Gina. Ginger is becoming a teenager, lot’s of hormones and changes going on. She will settle after being fixed but you will not be able to bond them until both have been spayed. Once both are spayed you stand a very good chance of eventually bonding them.


          • gingersnap
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              Thanks for the help. Do you have any suggestions for bonding when they are fixed?


            • Roberta
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                You have a few months up your sleeve so in the interim do research, look into prebonding and doing things like plushie toy and blanket swapping.


              • gingersnap
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                  I have researched those things because I wanted to be so ewhat prepared. Is there anything else you would suggest?


                • Ness
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                    The bonding journals in this forum and on the site really helped me. It will depend with every pair but the generic approach seems to let the hormones reside, and during this time swap cages, litter boxes, stunt toys etc. Then starting with a small, neutral area put them together supervised. Separate any fights where they lock together, but allow the odd nip or humping just don’t allow it to go on for a long time. Start off with a short time in the bonding area – 10 mins twice a day or something. Then as they settle down with each other you can increase the time in the cage. Then increase the cage size. Then add things like a litterbox., Each of these steps they were have to readjust and become happy with each other which can cause minor scuffles and upset until they settle down again. Eventually when you are happy no fighting will occur and grooming is happening either one way or from both rabbits you can try and lave them overnight and then eventually introduce them to their forever home. This process can happen over a week or can take months. Keep us posted – its interesting to find what works for people and what doesn’t.

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                Forum BONDING my bunny hates the new baby bunny