Hi there, welcome!

It can for sure be very confusing to find a strategy, because there is really more than one way to go about it! Some things work great for some pairs, and not at all for others. Letting the new bun settle in is a great first step, so you are doing great so far!

So here’s my basic take on things.

First, do wait until after Coco is spayed to start sessions. In general this makes things easier, and the bond more predictable (hormonal fluctuations can cause territorial behavior, etc.). I think it’s fine to keep them side by side until then, as long as neither is too upset about it. But you might see a lot of marking from Quinn with that smelly lady next to him!

Next, pre-bonding usually helps. I would probably wait till after she is spayed and healed to do this. This means swapping which bun is one which side every day or so to let them get used to each other’s scent. I’ve noticed that after pre-bonding usually the buns are much more chill upon first introductions. The amount of time you do this for is variable. Really it comes down to how the buns behave towards each other and how they react when you swap cages. I’ve usually pre-bonded for about 1 week, but I know others on this forum recommend several weeks. You might notice when you first start swapping cages, the rabbits will run around a lot, chin everything, mark all over outside the litter box, etc. They might run the fence and try to “get at” the other bunny. Then after a while, they will barely seem to notice they are in a new territory. They will not mark as much, they won’t run the fence, they might even lay near the other rabbit on the opposite side. You also will notice their behaviors start to sync up (they will groom at the same time, eat hay at the same time, etc.). Once you see a clear shift from territorial craziness to relaxed behaviors, you are usually good to start sessions. Never hurts to add in a bit more pre-bonding though if you aren’t sure.

The next important piece is to work with them in neutral territory only. This might be the most important thing, and is probably the main thing that most people agree on. It should be a place that neither bunny has ever been, and not within sight or smell of their home area.

The basic idea is you put the buns in the neutral space together and supervise them. You should be in there with them ready to prevent fights if they happen. When first meetings are very tense, I like to pet both buns and swap scents when they approach each other. This way they think they are getting groomed and it keeps them calm (and it keeps me calm!). I tend to at least start with some shorter sessions to see how they do. If they are immediately aggressive or things escalate quickly, I know I’ve got some work ahead of me, and I will opt to do some stressing (like a car ride together), or I need to change up the space they are in. Some pairs do well with large spaces (mine always have), but others do better in small (some people will do all of their sessions in their bathtub with no problems).

So I would start with a neutral space that is convenient for you first, and see how it goes. In general with bonding, if something is working, keep doing it. If it isn’t, try something else. It’s definitely a trial and error process!

I don’t want to overwhelm you with info, but feel free to ask questions on things that are confusing!