We are the proud parents of the lovely Rosebud who is nearly two years old. We wanted to get another bun and bought Hazelnut. I know that it can be difficult to bond two females but we fell in love!
Rosebud is fixed and we are waiting to get Hazelnut up to size and age (about 2 months to go).

We started introducing them slowly in a neutral area and haven’t had any fights. We put their cages next to each other in the living room and let them out on their own. We still had no problems with either of them. Next we allowed them both out together but not in each other’s cages.

After about a week we allowed them inside each other’s cages. We have had no problems with territorial issues at all which really surprised us. The girls are now living separately but having evenings and weekends play time together.

Both girls are happy to eat together, Hazelnut follows Rosebud around often binkying together or play chasing each other. They occasionally sit together and flop in front of each other. They will groom in front of each other but as much as Rosebud demands, Hazelnut will not groom her. Rosebud has always been a licker (other buns in her litter, humans including strangers, furniture, clothing) but we get the impression that she won’t groom Hazelnut until she submits. Which Hazelnut doesn’t seem to be doing.

We have tried the banana on the head trick, but Hazelnut got a bit enthusiastic with her eating and pulled out some of Rosebuds fur.

Really, I’d like some advice on whether they are bonded, should we try putting them together to sleep or wait until Hazelnut is fixed (that was our original plan but they seem to be getting on well and I don’t want to harm the bond), how we can encourage grooming and generally some comments.

Thank you!