Best approach?

[TaylerP]

Hi Everyone,

I’m not sure what the best approach to take is with bonding my rabbits. They’ve been housed side by side for two and a half weeks, with the 2nd week onward being swapped back and forth each night. They have been lying beside each other in their separate spaces, but sometimes my neutered male will lunge at the cage very quickly. We’re on the 3rd day of bonding, the first 2 days were 15 minutes in the bathtub and he was trying to nip at her but the sessions ended with them ignoring each other. Today we tried in a bigger space in a neutral room and they spent the first 8 minutes exploring the area and briefly crossing paths. When they came close to each other I pet them both and they were lying down which lasted for about 3-4 minutes. Then when they went off to the other side he nipped at her and I separated them. The session ended with them ignoring each other and her grooming herself for a few minutes. She’s spayed and not being aggressive at all but I’m worried she’s going to get afraid of him. 

I’m just not sure if this is common or if it’s a bad sign? Has anyone experienced this before where one rabbit is aggressive? 

I really appreciate any advice, I’m already finding it a bit stressful even though I know it’s a process and takes patience.

Thanks!

Tayler

[Asriel and Bombur]

You shouldn’t be moving on from prebonding unless agressiveness has stopped. You need to halt sessions and go back to prebonding. It’s best to prebond for at the very least 1 month sometimes 2 for aggressive bunnies. They should also not be completely next to each other. There should be space between their enclosures because bunnies can fight through bars.

Also how long have you had each bun? If one of them is new it’s best to let the new bunny settle for at least a month, then prebond for another 1-2 months, then begin short sessions.

[TaylerP]

Hey thanks for your response! My male has been better the last couple days about not lunging at the cage and just watching her when she hops to the side near his enclosure. There is a couple inches of space between their enclosures. Thank you for your advice I’ll continue to just swap them every night for a few more weeks/months! Yes I adopted her about a month ago now!

Thanks again!

[DanaNM]

Honestly your sessions sound pretty typical. I agree that the lunging at the cage isn’t good, but the sessions don’t sound all that bad.

This bit: “spent the first 8 minutes exploring the area and briefly crossing paths. When they came close to each other I pet them both and they were lying down which lasted for about 3-4 minutes…. The session ended with them ignoring each other and her grooming herself for a few minutes. ” sounds pretty good to me, and fairly typical of an early date.

So whenever you decide to resume sessions, I would keep using that space, and using the approach you used already, with petting them both to prevent escalation of things.

I think it’s important to remember that rabbits are aggressive out of fear. Your boy at this point is behaving in a way that suggests he sees your girl as a threat, but not a terrible one. It’s good that she isn’t really retaliating. With time, he will learn that she is not a threat and then the bond can be formed. I think the larger space is good for you, because it gives her space to retreat to, and allows them to interact more on their own terms (vs. being forced together in the tub).

Focus on building trust between them, by petting them both anytime you think things might escalate beyond light nipping.

You are right in that patience is important! Even if it seems like nothing is happening, and they are ignoring each other, they are actually sizing each other up.

. . . 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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