Bonding going..okay?

[Laine]

This going to be kinda long

Hi, I have 2 rabbits, Coconut who’s 2 and probably 5lb, and my new rabbit Gia, who’s 5 and probably 3.5, maybe 4lb.

Coconut is kinda antisocial with people, but at a rabbit event i went to a couple months back, he seemed kinda interested in some of the smaller rabbit and hopped around with some of them. Gia I’ve had for 3 days, seems to be settling in fine, and seems comfortable with me and her xpen.

Right off the bat, a mistake was made. I was taking a nap and my dad opened Coco’s cage (which would’ve usually been fine) but he hopped into my room and was sniffing at Gia through the bars and she nipped his nose. There was no blood and he didn’t really seem bothered? I had woken up when I heard the xpen was shaking a little, which was Coco sticking his nose through the bars. He seemed a bit surprised, but stuck his nose through again! I took him out of the room and Gia didn’t seem bothered, but started peeing and pooping all over the edge, which was to mark her territory I assume.

So today, we had a little bonding session today in my closet, which is neutral territory to both of them, and I had cilantro and pellets available to both of them. Gia immediatly started eating the cilantro and Coco was sniffing around the room, then came over and started humping her. She seemed kinda stressed, so I pushed him off, and he started sniffing her, and she climbed over into my lap and stayed there for a few minutes. Then she went back down, he humped her, i lifted him off, he tried again, Gia ran away. They sat nose to nose for a little, then Gia hopped away to eat some cilantro, and Coco hopped over and I think she nipped his nose? There was no blood, but I seperated them a little, and Coco hopped over and sniffed Gia’s butt with his butt by her face, and she bit him, so he ran off. I didn’t really see what happened next, but next thing I know, they were fighting. There was no growling or lunging or circling, but when I seperated them, they tried to get at eachother again, so I called it off and let Coco out of the closet and out of my room, and I put Gia back in her pen. They both seem fine right now and during their fight no hair was pulled out and no blood was drawn.

Is that normal? Should I have continued with the session? Should I try stress bonding or bonding in a new place?

Sorry it was so long, I just really want this to work

[Taylor]

First of all, bless you child for undergoing the stress of bonding rabbits. It always sounds like an ordeal. First may I recommend a podcast episode by a couple UK people called All Ears. I think it may be the pilot episode where they talk about bonding rabbits. Also, in the House Rabbit Handbook which I find myself referencing daily, there’s a bit of resources on bonding that you may find helpful if you purchase it.
I will tell you just from what I’ve learned that it is a good idea to keep careful control as you did. Rabbits can hurt each other really badly without intervention. I think you did the right thing by separating them when you did. I think the only time you should leave them unsupervised is when things are going really well and you’re sure they won’t claw each other’s eyes out. Something they mention in the handbook is that stressing the rabbits a little tends to help them bond. I don’t know how they’ve reacted to driving, but most rabbits hate it. In the podcast episode and in the book it mentions taking them driving together so that they depend on the company of the other in their stress of being in the car.
I think you did well by putting them in a close space. In the podcast episode, she mentions that she gave the bunnies more room when they were getting along better so that they would choose to be closer to each other. Starting off she had them very close together. I really think you’re doing things right, especially by keeping your eye on them. I think probably it will just take time and perseverance with this same method and maybe the stress thing like you mentioned.

[Author]

Messages