advise on my bonding process

[angelicvampyre]

Ok most of you know that I have two unaltered rabbits. Bugz who is approx 6 months and Anya who is 5 weeks.

Bugz is going in for the snip on Friday and Anya will get spayed early next year.  At the moment they are in two seperate cages with Anya on the top level of the hutch and Bugz with the two levels below, the plan is to open the levels later down the track so they both have access to all three.  I read somewhere that by keeping them like this helps get them use to each other smells and may help in the bonding process.

At the moment I am playing with Bugz on the floor at night and I also take Anya down with me, keeping her on my lap or on my chest so that Bubz can see and smell her.  Last night she was on my lap and Bugz would come over and lick her face and then go back to playing or rubing himself all over me or groom himself in front of her.  My question is should I allow this to continue to happen?  I would NOT leave them unattended or let Anya have free range of the floor if Bugz is out as Bugz is VERY randy and would most likely end up humping her (I got him a teddy bear and the other day I picked it up and the back end is wet! ).  They will be kept seperate with supervised play time for at least the next 4 – 5 weeks (to ensure that Bugz has no hope in hell of getting her up the duff!)  I know that everyones says that she has not reached sexual maturity but I still would not want to risk it.

Any thoughts suggestions ideas?

[jerseygirl]

Personally, I think having them interact is a good thing and something you can continue after his op. After you are thru the safety zone (4 weeks?) you may even be able to begin bonding them. I’m not sure on this, but I assume it’s fine for them to bond before she is an adult. Only thing is when she hits puberty she may change toward Bugz but she may be fine also. I’m pretty sure it can be done though (katie.hedger bonded hers before one was fixed. Was meant to be a fixed male/ unfixed female pairing but Penny turned out to be a boy!)  If you prefer to bond them after she is fixed, then their close living will help.  You can even alternate them between cages and continue supervised play.

[Sarita]

I would wait a little while until Anya has filled out a tiny bit more. She’s pretty small right now and you will have to be careful of injury. Definitely wait the month until after Bugz is altered. They could certainly see each other. I think it’s fine to bond before she is an adult but she is just to small right now and you don’t want to risk injury to her.

[jerseygirl]

Oh very good point Sarita! Especially if Bugz is still inclined to mount. I forget just how young Anya is – just 5 weeks?

[angelicvampyre]

I am being very careful that Bugz can not get to her to hump as I always have her in my in my lap and a bit higher then his face so that he can sniff and lick her face but that’s about it however if you think that I should stop that I will.

[Author]

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