A little worried

[Poppyhani]

So, we got a new buck that’s neutered, but he’s extremely timid when I’m in his cage, obviously, so I’ve let him run free around the room to give him a taste of it. Immediately, he’s opening up, but my problem is that both rabbits are in the same room.

Poppy is very, very interested in him. She isn’t going to be spayed until next week, and I know their hormones can be intact for about a month after, so I can guess her intention, and she constantly shoves her nose out the bars to see him. Sorrel greets her and they rub noses, hum, Poppy will lose interest, they’ll go back and forth with this, etc. Sorrel is also really interested in her, they’re both buzzing and humming like crazy, but occasionally Sorrel will stomp. It doesn’t really bother her. My intention isn’t to bond them at all until she’s spayed, so this might not be the right forum, but I was told I should let him roam a little since that’s what I did with Poppy too, and she opened up immediately. Should I be worried about the stomping? Poppy isn’t doing it back, and he’s fascinated with her, but I’m wondering if I should just take her in another room while he’s roaming… I don’t want to cause any problems for when I do start bonding them.

[tobyluv]

There should be an extra barrier between them, like an x-pen, if either one is running around the room when the other one is there. So far, they have been peaceful and have rubbed noses through the bars, but that could change. The gentle nose rubs could easily turn into nose bites. If Sorrel was just neutered, be aware that a rabbit can be potent for a month or even more after a neuter, and rabbits have managed to mate through cage bars before, so that’s another reason to have an extra barrier between them.

You may want to consider moving one of them into another room now until a few weeks after Poppy’s surgery. You don’t want her to get upset or agitated after surgery. She should have a quiet place to recover, and that might not happen if they are housed in the same room.

After a month or so, you could begin pre-bonding if you plan to do that, or start with the bonding itself. 

[Poppyhani]

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.

[Poppyhani]

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!

[Bam]

Some buns are meant to be. There are always individual differences and bonding rabbits take a good deal of sure instinct. The four week rule is a safety measure but it’s not carved in stone.

I too think it helped that they’ve seen each other from day one. It’s the ideal situation-two buns that have never been in a territorial fight, but have been acquainted with each other through visual and olfactory (smell) contact and by swopping objects etc.

It’s uncommon for girl buns to lose their hormonal behavior so quickly after their spay, but it’s very lucky when they do. Male buns as a rule calm down sooner after a neuter.

[Poppyhani]

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.

[Sirius&Luna]

I think it’s fine to move quickly after the spay/neuter. I started bonding my trio two weeks after Nimbus’s neuter, but he did have one episode of hormonal behaviour after that, so I halted bonding for a few days. You just need to watch carefully and read signs.

And make sure you don’t rush it just because they’re doing well, you still need to spend the same amount of time bonding and monitoring them, even if they’re easy

I’m glad to hear it’s going well though! We need some examples of easy bonds on this forum!

[Bam]

They look lovely together ?But keep an eye, as S&L says. We always do though, don’t we ?

[Poppyhani]

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!

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