Hi fellow rabbit lovers! I have some concerns about bonding my adult neutered male and my unspayed young female. I consider myself an amateur rabbit lover, and have a lot of detail so here it goes…

Some background: Skittles (7yo neutered male) and Starburst had been well bonded for about five years while I was in university and beyond. I rescued Starburst when she was a youngster, about 1, and at the time, Skittles was 2. When I brought home Starburst, I was told she had existing health problems and throughout her beautiful life, she required a LOT of attention. I first bonded them in the Spring of 2006 and they lived happily together for just over five years. They’ve always had free reign of my bedroom when I was living in an apartment or my parents’ house. Now that I have my own job in NYC, they have free reign of the living room (no more being woken up by binkies on my bed!). 

Fast forward to October 2012. Starburst passed away, about six months after out move to New York. Both Skittles and I were absolutely devastated, I even missed a few days of work to compose myself. In our state of mourning, but feelings of loneliness, I volunteered to foster some bunnies while they waited to be adopted. Over the next six months beginning in late November through to a couple weeks ago, I fostered three female buns. Skittles was happy and seemed to get along swimmingly with each of them.

The last foster I housed left our home about three weeks ago. A couple days after she was adopted, I was in my local pet supplies shop (I live in a small Manhattan neighborhood ways away from transit lines, so this shop is very small and community like) grabbing some accessories for Skittles when, and I kid you not, a rabbit breeder walks in trying to pawn a bunny off on “any takers.” Knowing Skittles and I were feeling like the apartment was a little empty, and fearing whomever this breeder would give his bunny to, I brought Ginger home. She is beautiful. About 5 months old (born on Christmas day 2012), female, un-spayed. 

So, I got a cage for her, it is maybe 2×3, and set her up in the living room. Skittles, when he is not in his own cage, is out and about in the living room. And he just can NOT stay away from Ginger’s cage. The problem, she does not seem interested. In fact, he can’t get two hops near her before she assumes an attack position. I’ve decided that when I let her out for free time, I lock Skittles in his cage. I have only allowed them to interact twice, both times he dominates her and she runs away sheepishly or growls. 

When I brought her home, I took her to the vet the very next day. She has a clean bill of health and I scheduled a spay for her for Saturday. Today is April 23, her spay is set for April 27. She came home with us April 13. I’m taking Skittles to the vet tomorrow just to ensure all is well in paradise.

Anyways, here is my question. Am I doing the bonding process absolutely wrong?? When I introduced Starbust to Skittles years ago, they were both neutered/spayed, and I never witnessed any aggression from either of them. Introducing unspayed Ginger to Skittles appears to be problematic. I want them to become familiar with each other, but should I just wait a few weeks until after Ginger is spayed? Any advice?

Lately, Skittles seems stressed out of his mind and I’m not sure why. Both of them are suffering through small cages, and Ginger only has a few hours of free time a night. My order for a Bunny Abode is in transit, though, so I don’t intend to invest in any interim housing unless absolutely necessary. Right now I have baby gates up where the apartment couldn’t be proofed. Should I keep them distanced until after the spay before introducing them? If so, how long should I wait? I could at the very least, put Ginger in my kitchen and Skittles can stay in the living room, but my kitchen tends to always smell strongly like some north African food dish and I know Skittles hates it, lol. 

Please offer me any advice you can. And I’m so sorry for the super long post!