Bonding advice – Rabbit Aggression

[keara2000]

Hi all, I have had my new bunny Cookie for a week and am coming to you for some advice about bonding him with my other rabbit, Apple.

Spay/Neuter
Apple (F) 1.5 years:  At least 4 months (that’s how long ago I got her, she was spayed before I adopted her)

Cookie (M)8-9months: 2ish months

Housing
Living as semi free roam neighbours, with my room divided in half by an x-pen, Apple has to sleep in her cage at night because she will jump the x-pen if I am not watching!

Bonding background
Bunnies have been settling for a week now

Apple: Used to feel neutral towards Cookie, now is very aggressive

Cookie: Super curious about Apple, pretty sure he wants to be best friends immediately

I have been swapping their sides daily since I got them

Have you started sessions yet? No (because Apple shows aggression towards Cookie)

Have you tried any stressing techniques? No, this is something I plan on trying once Apple isn’t trying to attack Cookie!

I know bonding takes a lot of time, but I am just looking for some advice about how to decrease Apples aggression towards Cookie. They had 3 meetings in neutral territory before I adopted Cookie, which went good! The last ended with a couple of kisses from Cookie which Apple seemed neutral about. Apple is now riled up by his presence, she spends a lot of her day right next to their divider following him from the other side, and trying to nip at Cookie through it occasionally (he is largely unbothered). On the other hand, sometimes she will go as close to him as possible and flop against the divider (not sure what this means at all!). She will groom in plain sight of him, and is by no mean super stressed out by him (eating great, flopping, asking for pets all the time), but she really just wants to chase him around all day!

I make them eat through the divider together, and give them both treats when they sniff at each other without any nipping involved, but it hasn’t really seemed to help! My whole apartment has always been available to Apple, so I really lack neutral territory here.

Does anyone have any advice for decreasing Apples aggression?

[DanaNM]

This all sounds pretty normal, I think just more pre-bonding time should do the trick! My impression is that flopping against the divider can mean “Look how much I DONT care about you” LOL

Usually it’s a good idea to let the new bun settle in for a week or two with no side swaps. So you might go back a step, and even consider hanging up a towel over the barrier so they can’t see each other if they are constantly trying to “get at” each other.

Otherwise things should settle down with more pre-bonding. But do be extra sure they can’t nip through the x-pen, and you are already aware of how high bunnies can jump!

 

. . . 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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