Re-bonding Rabbits

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 2 months ago by BunjaminML.

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- 08/24/2018 at 12:17 AM
  LaeVart
  Participant
  7 posts
  I have two brother rabbits, who loved each other a lot when they were babies, but after surgery they absolutely hate eachother and refuse to be next to one another unless I give them food. I must bond them in the same room because they hate being picked up so I cannot for the life of me bring them downstairs. The bathroom isn’t an option because the shower is handicapped accessible (no walls, just sliding doors). I have a dog downstairs also but I could simply let her outside in the mean time. I can build a play pen for downstairs, but as I said before I really have a hard time picking them up to bring them downstairs. Every time I hold a bonding session, one of them always wants to nip the other unless there’s food, where they’re very calm but head push when eating in the same bowl. The times they don’t have food is like a war zone, they circle around and try to nip or pull out fur any chance they get, which worries I will never be able to see them cuddle again. I spray the area with a bitter apple to neutralize the smell a little bit, but Kinder is very territorial and does not like his brother getting in the same area as him. They both release a very nasty smell when angry or fighting, so that warns me to put one away so they don’t start fighting. I’m really not sure not to do here, as I love them both and would hate to give one away.
- 08/24/2018 at 3:48 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  Are they neutered?
  
  You’re making your life a million times harder by not bonding them in neutral territory. Lots of rabbits don’t like to be picked up, but it’s important that you’re able to pick them up for emergencies and situations like this. If you really can’t pick them up, then try getting them to go into a carrier (separately of course) or moving them to a neutral space in their litter trays (then removing the litter trays). It is very unlikely that you’ll be able to bond them in space that they’re territorial over. Can you not use the bathroom in general? It doesn’t have to be in a bathtub, any neutral small space will work.
  
  Have you done any prebonding?
- 08/24/2018 at 3:49 AM
  Azerane
  Moderator
  4689 posts
  Hi there. How long ago were they neutered? Often neutering can create a surge in hormones afterwards, it does reduce with time so depending on how recently the surgery was, you may have to just give them a break for a little while before trying again in a couple of weeks.
  
  Regarding the location for bonding, I would try luring them in a washing basket or box with a treat and then you could carry them downstairs in that
- 08/24/2018 at 9:54 AM
  BeanMode
  Participant
  36 posts
  As far as hard to move rabbits, I had a similar situation with mine.
  
  We had a hard time picking up one of our rabbits too, which was making bonding difficult because she’d start to get stressed just being moved to the neutral area. We paused dates for a few days (during which we continued to swap items between pens) and fed her all of her meals in a carrier, one which opens from the front and the top. Now we have a pretty easy time getting her in and out of the carrier, less fuss and a happier bunny and parents both for dating.
- 08/24/2018 at 10:49 AM
  Bunny House
  Participant
  1241 posts
  I agree with the others suggestions.
- 08/24/2018 at 9:53 PM
  LaeVart
  Participant
  7 posts
  Thank you for all the suggestions! I’ll try moving them each downstairs with a carrier and have them in a neutral environment. Both are neutered, and have been neutered for quite a few months. Would I be able to set up a play pen in the middle of a living room? Should I build a pen downstairs so they don’t run around everywhere, or let them explore? Would the dog’s smell bother them at all? They’re both fairly introduced to the dog and go up to her sometimes when I have play dates with them. I don’t think I could use the bathroom at all because there are areas they could go under, where I won’t be able to reach them. They both are very very curious and every time I bring out something new (like the carrier) they go straught to it and sniff around, so I don’t think I’ll have any trouble using that! I’ll continue attempting to pick both of them up, as I do cut their nails but picking them up and cutting them would be much easier.
- 09/01/2018 at 11:30 AM
  BunjaminML
  Participant
  32 posts
  It’s better to use a pen to restrict their space. That way, you are forcing them to be close to each other. And if they fight, you can easily reach them to stop it, using a dustpan or broom or something, without them being able to get around you. You can slowly increase their shared space as they learn to get along with each other.
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