Bonding Free Roam Bun w/ a New Bun

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This topic has 1sd reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by tobyluv.

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- 11/27/2016 at 2:07 PM
  lopduo05
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  1 posts
  I adopted my 4 year old Penelope from the shelter in May and she was spayed immediatly. My significant other and I decided to get her a friend. I know a lot of people advise agaisnt getting a much younger friend but this is what we decided after speaking with the breeder. He is only 2 months and I plan for him to get neutered as soon as he is 4-5 months.
  
  1. Is it worth keeping them apart and hold off on the bonding until after he is neutered?
  
  She has been spayed for awhile now. I have read about successful bondings between adults and babies where there was no impact on the relationship even after the neutering. Of course I’ve also read about scenarios where they had to redo the bonding all over again.
  
  2. She is 100% free roam so do I need to keep her in a pen close to his until they are bonded?
  
  I’d hate to keep her in a pen but I will temporarily in order to help the bonding process.
  
  3. Can I just allow her to continue her normal routine as long as he is in his pen and safe until bonding sessions?
  
  The bonding will be in a neutral space. She has been everywhere but I can clean thoroughly, set up an x-pen and cover it so she cannot see her surroundings.
  
  Thank you!
- 11/27/2016 at 5:47 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3311 posts
  It would probably be best to keep them apart and wait to bond them until after he has been neutered and a month or so has passed. You might be able to bond them now since he is so young, but that will not be a permanent bond, and it seems better to keep them apart instead of letting them be together for a few weeks, then separating them. In a few weeks, he will be entering puberty and he may start showing some aggression or he may want to hump Penelope. She will tire of that and fighting (and injuries) could ensue. You could let her continue to be free roaming, but your new bunny will need exercise too. Do you have another room that you could let her stay in while he is getting exercise, or a room that you can take him to for exercise?
  
  X-pens are good for bonding. Do wash it to remove any scents, and place a sheet or blanket on the floor underneath it to hide any scents in carpets or rugs. When I have bonded bunnies, my husband and I get into the x-pen with them, to stop any fighting or excessive humping.
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