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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
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Yes, Maby was fixed exactly one month ago. I guess I will wait another month before trying again. I just thought it would be okay today because she doesn’t really display any hormonal behaviors that I notice.
And it was in neutral territory, they are allowed to roam the length of the hallway with a gate at the end, and I made a small enclosure there after the gate. So maybe it wasn’t neutral enough, since it was at the end of the hallway?
Also i should note that they weren’t exactly fighting, they seemed to be circling a bit and Maby kept hopping into the air and there were some grunts. So i separated them because it seemed like the prelude to a fight.
I just wish there was somebody who could come to my house and help me bond them
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Hi there,
I don’t know your full history, but that sounds fairly average for a first date!
A bit more time post-spay could help. A bigger, more neutral space could also help. Rabbits are very scent oriented, so if their normal turf is nearby, they can smell it, which makes that territory “semi-neutral”.
They other tip I would try is to pet them both A LOT at the beginning of the session and any time they approach each other. Rather than use the cardboard to separate them, when they move towards each other, pet pet pet pet. Smoosh them both down and swap scents. Keep doing this until they relax (and you relax)! This will help them start to be more calm around each other, and will also help you!
At this stage, don’t be afraid to be petting them a lot. They will for sure need to do a bit of nipping etc, but until you get a good idea of what will escalate and when to intervene, err on the side of petting too much.
I also find it helpful in the early sessions to set short time goals (1 min, 3 min, 5 min), so you aren’t tempted to push things too far. Always end on a good note, so if at the end of your time goal things are a bit tense, pet pet pet until they are calm, then end it there.
You can do it! Deep breaths!
. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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