Hello! Sorry for not replying so fast, I wanted to do some check ups! I called the adoption centre and they asked the previous owner if he was long neutered, and they said they weren’t sure exactly, but it wasn’t recent. Sorrel is about two years old, so I’m assuming/hoping they’re meaning a few months with the not recent thing…

I’ve put up extra barriers, but Sorrel nudges between them and he doesn’t really seem to bother her. Poppy has taken to doing her own thing, and Sorrel just… watches. He’s very enamored, or something. I don’t have the extra space to put Poppy in another room, however aside from his around the cage stalking, Sorrel is a quiet bunny so far. She’s the troublemaker! He’s still settling, and is thumping only when she ignores him (poor thing, doesn’t even work.)

I’m going to start bonding in a few weeks to let my little sweetheart recover, but thanks for your tips! If he starts annoying her, I’ll consider making a mini recovery cage in the kitchen, but I don’t want to rob her of her giant pen unless I need to – she’s veeeery active.

I wanted to give a little update! Poppy’s surgery went extremely well, and she healed so fast that my vet said I could try bonding sessions about 10-14 days after her surgery. I noticed a massive difference in her behaviour within the first three days – she started religiously using her litter tray, no longer buzzed or circled me, and all her nipping had stopped. I think I was very, very lucky.

So I introduced them a few days ago, which I know isn’t recommended and I feel pretty bad about going against the four week norm! But it actually went very well, they love each other. They’ve groomed since the very first bonding session and I’m on my fourth now. I think it may have helped that they’ve seen each other since day one, and I’ve always swapped their items. Neither get annoyed when I swap their cages either, they’re very good about it. Poppy is grooming him as we speak.

Of course, I apologise for going so fast! I think I might get chided a little and I’m not recommending my method at all, I think I’ve just been very lucky with my buns and wanted to say bonding has been going wonderfully!

Thanks for the reassurance, bam! My vet had said bonding time depends on the bun, but I was always nervous after watching fights break out in bonding v-logs, haha. They were sweethearts from the get go, and I assume that’s because Poppy’s scent was all over the room when Sorrel came. His infatuation with her has been insistent since day one!

I was very surprised that Poppy’s territorial behaviour disappeared so quickly too! I heard they’re really territorial up until a few weeks, and I expected her to be most dominant when they met, but Sorrel actually humped her. Of course, she turns and nuzzles her head under him to make him stop, and he takes the hint, but… I know females are usually the dominant ones in warrens, so I think I’ve just encountered a plethora of anomalies with this pair?!

Some pics! I sat in their cage today (Poppy was in Sorrel’s last night, so I lifted Sorrel in and sat with them to watch how it went) and Sorrel was very insistent on getting between us and pushing me out of the picture.  Let’s just say Poppy is very big on staying beside me, and Sorrel was having none of it… they later ran off to do their own thing, though.

Thanks guys! It’s going well, but I’m definitely going to do a few more sessions before cementing it. I did hear hormonal behaviour comes back, so thanks for the reminder, S&L! I’ve noticed a world of a difference in Sorrel, who lets me pet him now when he’s around Poppy, so I’m really pleased!

I’ll update a little later, but you’re right that we’re all paranoid parents They say thank you!