Bonding issues

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 11 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 12/01/2018 at 10:15 PM
  JKettenburg
  Participant
  3 posts
  I have started bonding 2 spayed female rabbits, one is 8 months old and the other is around 2. They have been housed side by side with a divider for about 4 months. The 8 month old was spayed 2 months ago. I began swapping their littler boxes around the time the youngest was spayed. In the last few weeks I have swapped their housing areas almost every day.
  
  I started bonding sessions about a week ago by putting them together in the bathtub. I did this 4 times with great results. Both buns were curious, mostly relaxed and the older one would end up grooming the younger one. They would spend 2-3 hours in the tub for each bonding sessions. I tried moving the bonding to an exercise pen that is the same size as the bathtub (its in a new and completely neutral area) and the younger bunny has made some aggressive moves towards the older bunny. Chasing/nipping. The older bunny always runs away and doesn’t retaliate. I’m confused as to why they are ok in the bathtub, but not the x-pen. Any ideas?
- 12/02/2018 at 7:55 AM
  Bunny House
  Participant
  1241 posts
  The bathtub is slippery so they don’t have a good grip on it to nip the others. Nipping is fine, they are trying to establish dominance. A minor fight can be okay as long as chasing doesn’t come from it. And mounting for a couple of seconds is also fine. They need to establish dominance so sometimes it can looks scary if one starts to nip another but it’s how they work out their issues. If any fur goes flying. Calm the buns down and pet them all together and leave it on a good note so they don’t associate eachother with fighting.
- 12/02/2018 at 2:26 PM
  JKettenburg
  Participant
  3 posts
  Thanks so much for replying!
  
  Do you think it’s best to for them to have more bonding sessions in the tub, where they aren’t nipping or chasing? Or continue trying with the x-pen as long as it doesn’t get out of hand? I haven’t had to intervene with the nipping/chasing as it’s over in about 2 seconds and the other bun doesn’t retaliate. There has only been a few attempts at humping, but it was on the other buns face, so I put a stop to it.
  
  I’ve never bonded bunnies before and I’m trying to keep it as positive for the buns as I can.
  
  Thanks!
- 12/02/2018 at 6:52 PM
  Bunny House
  Participant
  1241 posts
  You can try like 3 more times in the tub and then do the pen, the tub will help them be close to eachother so they can’t fight since they don’t have traction so that might help kill some aggression. Then the pen will be good place to further the bonding.
  
  Good, I forgot to mention that no face mounting or some damage could be done to the privates. As long as no one is retaliating (but make sure one isn’t starting to get scared of the other) then I would say you are making good process!
- 12/05/2018 at 2:01 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  9054 posts
  Is the x-pen within sight of any non-neutral space? Or within smell? I’m wondering if it isn’t quite as neutral as the tub.
  
  If the tub is working great, I would honestly just stick with the tub until you start getting into longer sessions, like 4 hours or more. It’s good to stick with what is working!
  
  If you do want to try the pen, you can start the session in the tub, then move the together into the pen, and see if that helps.
  
  And I agree that if you aren’t having to intervene with chasing, that’s great.
  
  . . . 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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