Attempting to Bond but have started to fight

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This topic has 1sd reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 7 months ago by Sirius&Luna.

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- 04/04/2018 at 10:28 AM
  Angelica
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  I’m attempting to bond my new adopted rabbit Marcie who is a 1 year old spayed cinnamon rabbit with my 1 year old mini Rex named Jax. We thought a friend would be good for Jax who is timid and hates being picked up. Marcie was previously bonded months prior to another male who had passsd away.
  
  The first day they met we kept their cages in the same room but away from each other. That same day they both came out to see each other and Jax ran over to her and began to lick her face, she ignored him and they both ran into Jax’s cage. They even came to me for treats and ran around together for a few minutes.
  
  The next day few days I opened the cages and Jax would be in her face, licking her. She wanted no part so she attempted to get away from him and ran back to her cage.
  
  Then about two days ago we let them both out and Marcie started to chase and nip Jax, so I separated them. Then tried again the next day and Jax hopped away from Marcie when she chased him but then came back for more. Then yesterday they started both attacking each other, lots of fur everywhere but no damage thankfully. Now when I only let one out at a time and they run to each other’s cages and sniff noses and attempt to scratch but then I clap and say stop it and they stop.
  
  I just need some advice on what to do and how to stop the fighting. I should also add that there has been no attempt from either to be the dominant bunny.
- 04/05/2018 at 3:54 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  You should never let unbonded bunnies into each others cages, that’s bound to cause a fight. It doesn’t seem like you’ve really been bonding at all, you’ve just let them out together and hoped for the best.
  
  Firstly, you need to let Marcie settle into her new home for at least two weeks.
  
  Then you need to spend a month prebonding the bunnies, so they get used to each others scents. Swap them between each others cages every day for a month.
  
  Then, you can introduce them, but it must be in neutral space, not the room that their hutches are in. You can slowly increase the time they spend together over a few weeks. You need to be very involved, and ready to intervene if they fight. You must be watching them all the time.
  
  I suggest you read the bonding post in the Bunny Info section to get an overview.
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