Bonding 2 males

[Newbunnies]

Hi, after advice/experience with bonding rabbits.
Our story – in april this year we took on 2 enire males from a family who couldnt look after them any more. Both rabbits are 3 years old, they were in together when they were baby rabbits and then seperated when a female rabbit was brought into the house. For 1 year they were in a garage in seperate hutches next to each other.
Since we have had them they have now been castrated one was done start of may the other start of july. We have made a big run for them both with a wire partition down the middle so they both come out together but still seperate and see each other. The behaviour they display when outside is at first they bite through the wire at each other and then throughout the day they run up and down the middle together and also they will lay next to each other either side of the wire.
We really want them to get on, i have tried a few attempts of introducing them and at first they seem ok for the first 5 mins or so then they start fighting on thier sides and fur goes everywhere. So i seperate them. Last incident was at the weekend one got through the wire into the others run but by the time i got there they were both laid in the hutch together both panting looking very stressed.
Do i keep trying, do i just bite the bullet and let them get on with it.
I have read so much on bonding i just dont know if im wasting my time, will they ever get on. They seem to when the wire fence is in the way.

Many thanks

[Mikey]

One just got neutered. It takes about two months to drain hormones. Wait until September and then try again Until then, keep them in their own spaces where they can see one another but cannot reach. The more they fight, the less likely they will bond in the future.

[Deleted User]

Agreed with Mikey, but in the mean time do pre-bonding. Switch around food dishes, litter boxes, and toys. It helps them get used to each other’s scents. It’ll also help you gauge their reactions because some buns react negatively to the new scent during pre-bonding. Hope it goes well! I’m bonding my boys in 4 more weeks. They don’t need much help though. They groom each other constantly through the bars. haha

[Newbunnies]

Thank you for your comments, i will swap over toys and feeding dishes. Try again in few weeks time

[Newbunnies]

I have swapping over toys and dishes and both rabbits are fine with it all so far. What would the thoughts be on swapping them in the hutches for a few days at a time?

Would that be pushing it

[ThorBunny]

I think swapping hutches could be a good idea! I’m currently trying to bond my two buns, and doing pre-bonding by switching their habitats every day. They seem fine with it. If one or both buns gets super worked up by the move you might want to go back to just switching toys for a while before building back up to a full cage switch.

Good luck

[Newbunnies]

Thank you for your reply, i will give it a try.
Thanks

[Newbunnies]

Thank you for your reply, i will give it a try.
Thanks

[Newbunnies]

Thank you for your reply, i will give it a try.
Thanks

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