Bonding 2 year old female to new baby male

[shazamataz]

Hi guys, I’m new here! I have a few questions which I will roll into this one topic

I have a 2 year old female lop who I am getting desexed very soon.  She is an outside bunny but I will be keeping her inside while she recovers.  How long (roughly) would recovery take? Also do using elastic belly bands work to stop her pulling stitches? or should I get her a collar?

Also we are getting a 4 month old male lop who we are also be getting desexed who will hopefully be her playmate.

We are currently building a 2×2 meter run for them with a house inside it so they there would be no territorial issues.

I know there are no guarantees with bonding but do you think it is possible for an older female to bond with a younger male?

 

Any help appreciated. Thanks

[BinkyBunny]

Regarding bonding – it will have less to do with their age difference (just 2 years) then it will have to do with whether or not they are both dominant. It depends on the personalities but the good thing is usually male and female bonds are the easiest, but you should still go through the bonding steps.

Regarding the band vs the collar. I know many of us here have not ever had to use either, but my understanding is that if you vet recommends one, or you find that she is pulling out her stitches, then the collar is better because rabbits can still try to chew up the band.

Out of curiosity, how come you can’t bring her inside to become a House Bunny? Is your male a House Bunny? or is he outside too.
 

EDITED: I forgot to add. Recovery takes 3 – 5 days for her to start to feel better, (though she should start to nibble on something by the next morning after surgery) but you should wait a month though before bonding, just to let her fully heal and let her hormones settle.

Ask your vet about offering pain meds too for the first day or so to keep her comfortable and eating.

This is a great link from the house rabbit society about what to expect pre and post surgery http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/…-post-care

[shazamataz]

Thankyou BinkyBunny, very much appreciated.
I have copped a lot of grief about keeping my bunnies outside but they have a massive enclosure to run in plus their insulated house at the back. They are let out for a run and a play in the yard everyday and are allowed in the house on rainy days
Don’t worry, they do get plenty of attention

My girl Dora is a very laid back bunny, my mum has a great dane and kittens and both come up to her enclosure to say ‘hello’ and she runs up to them and sniffs them

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