Bonding Mookie and Monami

[Brooke]

Okay so, I have a 2 year old harlequin rabbit named Mookie and I just got an 8 week old Californian bunny that I named Monami. Mookie runs free in my attic bedroom with a 3 story condo for her safe place. I currently have the new baby bunny in a small wire cage with a plastic bottom. I have all of her essentials in her cage (food, water, hay rack, litter pan, and castle). For the first day I had Mookie run free with the baby in her own cage so that Mookie could sniff her and see her on her own terms, while the baby was safe in her own cage. I have a squirt bottle ready just in case there’s any signs of aggression – so far there’s only been 1 “fight.” Mookie tried to bite the baby through the wires so I immediately sprayed her and she stopped immediately and so far it hasn’t happened again. So now were on day 2 (almost day 3). I let Mookie run free all day (as usual – & yes my room is bunny proof!) and kept the baby in her cage with her castle so she could hide if she felt the need to. Well its now 9pm so I took the castle out of the baby’s cage so that Mookie could see her and put Mookie in her cage and set the baby’s cage next to Mookie’s cage. I made sure to put their feeding areas close to each other so that they could eat together because I know that is a social thing for rabbits. So far the baby is indifferent (which I take is a good thing because that means she’s not scared?) and Mookie is running back and forth, pulling on the bars, and digging (which I think is a sign of aggression?). I haven’t bonded rabbits before so I’m not 100% sure how to do this. But I’ve done my research and have tried to do the best that I can so far. Unfortunately because I have 3 dogs that stay downstairs so I cannot take them to a neutral area (like a bathroom or hallway) to meet. So far the baby is adjusting quite well to her new home. I just want some helpful tips on how to further bond Mookie and Monami. And if I’m doing anything wrong please let me know! Thanks in advance!

[RabbitPam]

As long as one or both of them is spayed/neutered it is ok to proceed.
Go to the home page or bunny info in the banner at the top of the page for more help with bonding. Also, read some of the answers to bonding posts from others for good advice.

I think the new bunny could use more time out alone to exercise and bond with you, but otherwise it sounds ok.

[Brooke]

I’m planning on letting the baby out of her cage today since its now day 3 and she seems well enough adjusted to her new home. I’ll keep Mookie in her cage so that they can’t get to each other.

[Brooke]

Update!:
Mookie and the baby are doing well so far. The baby is still acting indifferent towards mookie and Mookie has calmed down some. She will still try and bite her through the wires of the cage, which is where I break out my handy dandy water bottle and break it up. But for the most part Mookie doesn’t seem to care anymore that the baby is there. She’ll sniff the baby and watch her then go about her merry way. Luckily the baby was already socialized by her breeder, so when we took the baby out to spend time with us and bond with us she did great! She even let us hold her and pet her without hesitation. Mookie got jealous a couple of times (thumping and grunting) but she doesn’t get that way anymore.I’ve kept them in their cages side by side, when they aren’t out playing (not together!), so that they can get used to being around each other. Mookie will sometimes charge at us if we have the babys scent on us and try to pet her, in which case we squirt her with the water bottle and pet her so that she stops doing that. But for the most part we are making progress! They will now lay down next to each other in their separate cages! I’m going to give it a few more days before I let them out together and see how it goes (or until Mookie stops nipping through the wires!) But I’ll keep you posted on what all happens.

[Author]

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