Bonding before spaying? Bad idea?

[lifeasweknowit]

So I have a 3 month old holland lop/ mini lop? She is way too big to be a holland lop BUT I was told that she is a holland lop, is it possible for her to just gain a lot of weight/ grow a lot now but slow down considerably as she gets a bit older? (like 4-6 months)? or is her growth going to be pretty much the same through out? Cause If so, then she will be like around 6lbs. 

Anyway, my male rabbit is neutered and has been since like early jan. I plan on getting my female spayed as early as possible, maybe 5 and 1/2 months if my vet is comfortable with that. Although she is really big for her breed/ age, she is still smaller than my male. Would it be a bad idea to start bonding them? I really want them to live together, but I will not allow that until she is spayed, but I was just wondering for the actual bonding process? would it be bad to start letting them see each other face to face without a cage blocking them? They seem to be neutral through the bars and have flopped near each other through the bars – but I know things can be totally different when out in the open. 

[Beka27]

I would just wait but you can do closely supervised sessions if you want to. Any progress you make won’t matter though because once she is spayed, she will be like “a new rabbit” to him. Her smell will change, and there will be a surge in hormones, so the bonding would need to start all over again anyways. As you said, you’re not going to have them live together until she is spayed, so it’s not necessary to start this so soon.

[LuluandLolatherabbits]

Yeah it would be okay if it is closely supervised.

[tanlover14]

My buns met each other beforehand — on accident kind of because my breeder told us they wouldn’t breed until about 4 months. Anyways, neither were neutered or spayed but they instantly took to each other and after the spaying/neutering it was like they had never been separated. LOL.

It was cute. So I don’t think it will hurt. I would only encourage making sure that your girl doesn’t get territorial or dominating during the process. If she does do anything in an attack mode sort of way, I would separate and wait until she is spayed and her hormones are gone. If they take well to each other though with not many dominance battles then I would definitely encourage starting the bonding process early!

[lifeasweknowit]

I would like for them to live together, IF the bonding is a success – before I thought that it might not work out? I don’t know. But IF everything DOES work out before her spay (which, I would like to be as soon as my vet will allow) I don’t think there would be any harm in letting them together? I would change up their cage so it’s “new” and disinfect the floor with vinegar, so my male rabbit doesn’t think of it as “his cage”. Hopefully her hormones won’t kick in full time before I can get her spayed. I also was talking about this with another person and they said it was important that I bring my male to the vet when she has surgery? So after she get’s out they can be together? But this concerns me because what if he is too rough with her? Or they fight?
And lucky you Tanlover14, if only that was the case for everyone life would be so much easier I am planning on bringing both rabbits into a bathtub neither have been in before, should I offer foods (specifically, veggies that they like or the oat pieces that both of them go crazy over? But I don’t know if this is the same with rabbits as it is with dogs but many times dogs will fight if another dog is getting too close to their food, so this is also a concern) that will distract them from “interacting” with each other? By interacting I mean fighting, mounting, or anything negative.

Or should I just offer hay and see what happens? I will be sitting on the edge of the tub with a towel and spray.

[tanlover14]

Most definitely treats! Bunnies USUALLY will associate the treats and being together as a good thing which can help with the bonding process. Mine never had a problem and will yank treats and veggies out of each others mouths but have never fought over them. Some bunnies I’m sure will. But I would start off with both on either side of the tub and give them both a treat at the same time. I put hay in with mine as soon as I started bonding them. I felt like it gave them a distraction from each other (which is always a good thing). Ignoring each other is typically a very good sign. I also made sure to give them treats right before I took them out of their bonding sessions so they would always end the session on a good and pleasant note. Even if they fight, you should separate them on both sides of you (even climb in the bathtub if necessary) and give them a treat. You want them to associate the other bunny with good things like treats!

My girl and 2nd boy were actually my hard ones. My girl thumped up a storm at him. She was also not spayed when I introduced him. But he was neutered. Those two were also perfectly fine after her spay. She was only interested in meeting this new “intruder” on her terms so she’d get all hissy on him when he’d become curious with her but as soon as he would give up she’d follow around and sniff him and as soon as he would turn around to acknowledge her she’d give him a good thump again. LOL.

[lifeasweknowit]

Thanks! I offered veggies but forgot the hay, but things went well! No fighting, mounting, or anything. The only bad thing is, is that I got a HUGE scratch on my hand from taking the bunny out of her carrier into the cage – next time I will just let her come out -_- A little bloody and swollen but nothing a little time and Neosporin can’t fix! Here are some pictures that I took  
Things got a little “tense” when both rabbits got in the blue litter box (took a video) but no fighting or nipping or anything – but that was about it. 

[tanlover14]

OH MY GOODNESS! They look so great together. I’m so happy for you! I would suggest doing this same session a few more times before switching to somewhere a little bit bigger. If they become a little tense with only one litter box just throw in another one. I’m so happy your session went so well! What adorable little cuties!

And I know those scratches! I’ve made that mistake once or twice with the same results! LOL.

Let me know how the next bonding session goes! I’m very curious to see if they keep up the great bonding sessions! Their behavior and stances look pretty similar to what my first two did during their first few sessions. Then they started cuddling!

[lifeasweknowit]

Thank you so much ! And next time I will add 2 litter boxes, that is a good idea. I might do another bonding session tonight, I don’t want to over whelm them, should I do one again tonight or just do one again tomorrow? And alright I will keep you updated , I hope they do start cuddling soon! And stay that way until/ even after I get her spayed!

[tanlover14]

How long did you have them in together today? If it was at least 15 minutes, I would wait until tomorrow to do another. But if it was only 5-10 minutes I don’t think doing another one would hurt as long as it’s another small session!

[lifeasweknowit]

I believe it was 15 minutes exactly. I will do another one tomorrow, I might add 5 extra minutes if things are going well!

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