Attempt to bond two females, adult/baby

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 8sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by Love4Bunny.

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- 05/08/2016 at 9:20 PM
  moon_unit_fawn
  Participant
  7 posts
  We just recently got our second bun and she’s a 8 week-old Holland Lop. We’d been looking for awhile to get a companion for Mija, our female Lop/Lionhead who is about 10 months. We tried introducing them yesterday and it went pretty poorly. Both buns ignored one another for a bit until Mija started nipping baby-bun’s backside a bit and then lunged at her face. The second encounter, a while later Mija mounted baby-bun and looked like she was getting aggressive so we broke them up by pouring some water on them. Third encounter, Mija did a little nipping/tugging on her fur and when we tried using loud noises to scare them apart it did quite the opposite and seemed to prompt Mija into a full blown attack. Baby-bun got some fur ripped out on her back and up near her neck. So right now we have them set up side-by-side while still separated by a cage so they can’t harm one another but still are getting used to each other’s scent.
  
  So my questions are:
  
  -Does anyone have any experience with a similar pair? Success stories or tricks/advice?
  
  -Since baby-bun isn’t yet spayed, are her hormones already enough of an issue at this age to set off Mija?
  
  -Since Mija is clearly top bun in our house, will she always remain so territorial or could this be subsided?
  
  -Even if bonding was somehow successful now, what are the chances that when baby-bun starts to reach adolescence her hormones completely change their compatibility and she tries fighting for dominance? In this case they’ll most likely have to be separated and then how difficult would it be to re-bond them after she is fixed?
- 05/08/2016 at 10:13 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Dont pour water on them, its not good for their delicate skin. You can use a soft spray bottle. If its just mounting, pick the top bunny off then pet them both. No bonding until the babys fur grows back. Give it a little while, because the baby can easily start to grow fear towards your older bunny. You dont want that. Dont bond until a month after both are spayed
- 05/09/2016 at 3:29 AM
  lexi
  Participant
  19 posts
  I would hold off bonding until a month after being spayed. I know it’s tempting to try earlier but it’s just going to be more difficult in the long run. I would be a little concerned about trying to bond a tiny little bunny baby anyway, she is still growing and isn’t big enough to play the dominance “games” the older bunny seems to be attempting.
- 05/09/2016 at 8:52 AM
  moon_unit_fawn
  Participant
  7 posts
  Thanks for all the info. We’ve moved the little bun into a different room now because she doesn’t seem afraid of Mija (which is good!) but consequently she’s been going and poking up against her cage and Mija tries to attack her even through the bars. I’m really hoping for a sign that her aggression will potentially stop.
- 05/09/2016 at 9:12 AM
  SugarBunBun
  Participant
  9 posts
  I am in a similar situation. I have a 1 year old unspayed female holland lop and a 5 week old baby holland lop. I am keeping their cages side by side so they can get used to one another but they have no physical contact. The baby is just too small. Our 1 year old is being spayed Wednesday. I won’t even attempt to let them touch until the baby has grown enough to defend herself in case they were to get in a fight. The baby will be spayed at 6 months and then I will try to start bonding when she is 7 months
- 05/10/2016 at 11:24 PM
  moon_unit_fawn
  Participant
  7 posts
  Thanks so much for reaching out. I’m glad to hear you’re spaying your 1-year old, I bet you’ll notice a big improvement in any attitude issues caused by her hormones. I definitely wouldn’t have even attempted to bond Mija with another bun before getting her spayed as she was incredible territorial and sassy. I’d love to keep up with how things go with you and your buns. Good luck!
- 05/11/2016 at 12:01 AM
  Love4Bunny
  Participant
  878 posts
  Posted By moon_unit_fawn on 5/09/2016 8:52 AM
  Thanks for all the info. We’ve moved the little bun into a different room now because she doesn’t seem afraid of Mija (which is good!) but consequently she’s been going and poking up against her cage and Mija tries to attack her even through the bars. I’m really hoping for a sign that her aggression will potentially stop.
  
  Does Mija have free roam time in the baby buns room? If so, I would discourage that, as the baby can get hurt, and it might negatively affect the bond after the spay.
- 05/11/2016 at 1:07 PM
  moon_unit_fawn
  Participant
  7 posts
  The baby bun doesn’t have a cage yet but lives in our spare bedroom and Mija is never allowed to go in there. Mija’s cage is in our den and we leave her door open when she is in her cage. The baby was getting curious in there the one time and that’s when Mija tried to get at her through her cage. So each bun has their own separate space and then they take turns having free roam of the main living area. Our trouble has been that every time one bun smells the other on the rug or couch they poop and pee all over it. Trying to figure out ways to prevent this.
- 05/11/2016 at 2:18 PM
  Love4Bunny
  Participant
  878 posts
  That sounds fairly normal as they are each marking the space as their own (cos scent is a big deal). I would just remove all items that you don’t want them to pee on, or keep their play area’a separate. I don’t think there’s much else you can do to change instinctual behaviour at this stage.
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