Bonding Advice Please

[blubudgie]

So I’m not sure if these bonding sessions are being considered successful or at least ok so far, and need some advice. 

I have 1 bunny around 2 years old now probably (spayed). I am fostering two bunnies around 4 months old (not spayed yet). I am looking for a good home for them (they came from a bad situation so I took them in) but I am considering keeping them if I can successfully bond them to my current rabbit. So far all I’ve been getting are bad signs in these bonding sessions so I guess I’m just looking for some hope and advice? haha.

Before bonding session: baby bunnies escaped cage and ran into my rabbit. they fought through the bars (my rabbit being the aggressor), my rabbit lost. 

1st bonding session: my bunny with baby bunny #1 in a neutral space. My bunny is nervous. bunny #1 wanders around but attacks and pulls fur from my bunny multiple times. Ends on a neutral note where both are sniffing each other with my gloved hand in between. 

2nd bonding session: my bunny with baby bunny #2 in neutral space. My bunny is nervous. bunny #2 wanders around, sniffs and pokes at my bunny but no biting. Uneventful, ends like that. 

3rd bonding session: I put all three together and holy moly that was a bad idea. Both baby bunnies attacked my bunny. Bunny #1 + #2 pulled fur from my bunny. My bunny grunts a lot and runs each time, she is nervous. I take bunny #2 out. Bunny #1 continues to wander around but will pull fur from my bunny if she passes her by. My bunny continues to sit in a corner nervously. Ends with them on different ends of the neutral area. 

Should I keep trying these bonding sessions? I feel like my rabbit is getting beat up, I don’t want to stress her out too much. 
I definitely want to find them a good home, but I have yet to come across someone willing to properly care for 2 young bunnies. 

On another note, does anyone know how to make a posting on petfinder or some other pet adoption site? I asked my local SPCA and they couldn’t do one for me. 

[Mikey]

Your bunny seems way too stressed for bonding at the moment. I would stop and wait about a month or two with some prebonding tactics. What forms of prebonding have you done so far?

[Theo&Leo]

You need to let them get used to being around each other with caging. As well as they definitely need to be fixed if the little ones are showing aggression first before you even attempt a bond. If you are in Ontario I may know of someone who would take them in until she could find good homes!

[blubudgie]

[blubudgie]

Posted By Mikey on 11/11/2016 1:17 AM

Your bunny seems way too stressed for bonding at the moment. I would stop and wait about a month or two with some prebonding tactics. What forms of prebonding have you done so far?

I totally forgot I made this thread and was about to make a new one…

So I stopped the sessions until they were spayed. The foster buns have been spayed now for 2 months. They’re still looking for a home but they have names now (Bunana and Cinnabun). Ideally I would like to keep them but I have had zero luck with bonding still. This is all post-spay:

I’ve done the toy switches with my rabbit (Tofu) but it always makes Cinnabun very aggressive to the point where she will chase Bunana (her sister who she is bonded to and otherwise very sweet with). I don’t know if I should continue this for that reason. 

I’ve done neutral space with cages separating Tofu from the pair, and neither Cinnabun nor Tofu seemed relaxed. Cinnabun kept trying to get around the cage bars to Tofu. Bunana seemed alright until Cinnabun tried to bite her. 

The bonded pair are currently in the living room since I don’t have enough space in my room to house them separately from my rabbit. I have a baby gate that prevents the rabbits from interacting, but they can still see and smell each other if I don’t close my bedroom door. When they do see each other, Bunana is ok, but Cinnabun tries to bite Tofu and will suddenly chase Bunana.

It seems the main problem is Cinnabun? Whenever she sees or smells my rabbit, Tofu, she will become aggressive towards her and Bunana. 

Any tips please? 

[blubudgie]

okay after a couple more toy switches, cinnabun has been less violent. I think i will try the neutral spaces again.

[Author]

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