bonding not going real well

[Deleted User]

Well the boys were neutered 4 weeks ago and are doing fine medically but the bonding thing is not going well.  We did the first step the cages next to each other but Snowflake tries to bite Butterscotch constantly.  Snowflake is the most agressive no doubt.  I am afraid to try the car ride thing maybe I will wait another month.  My husband says that it may not work out being that they are both males.  I guess I could just let them out to exercise at different times.  I wonder if in a month or two if I took Butterscotch to the Humane society and checked out if he bonded with any of the spayed females and if he picked a friend maybe another bun would help the situation.  I just don’t know but I will keep trying and give it more time.  They both have so many great traits and they are both so different as far as personality goes.I just have to be patient and take time to work it all out. 

[Beka27]

What are you doing in your bonding sessions, walk us thru step by step. Where are you, what do they have with them, what do they do specifically?

I would give them a chance to bond before rushing out and adopting females. Some female-male bonds can be as difficult as male-male bonds, so you might just end up with 3 or 4 separate buns rather than two. You need to do daily sessions for at least 2-3 months before you give up.

[Deleted User]

I am just getting started. they were neutered 4 weeks ago so the time is just getting right. I just have the exercise pens next to each other.
Snowflake tries to bite Butterscotch whenever he looks at him. I won’t rush out and adopt a female it is something I would like to do in the future. I am going to read my bonding info through once more. I am just afraid that Butterscotch the little one who is 2 lbs. will get the worst of it. I did get a mesh strainer to put between if them if thngs get rough. i will not give up i will study my bonding info and get a good understanding of it. when they talk about car rides you just ut the litterbox and the buns are free in the back seat and the motion of the car helps ? I just don’t totally understand the procedure. the bath tub is a good idea. Can I give it a couple of more weeks before starting just to make sure trhe hormones are settling down? I won’t adopt until I am sure I understand it all and I study it out more. I think they can go into another room of the house beause they go back and use their litter boxes when they are out in the room and i had Snowflake in another room and he ran back to use his litter and when he had enough he went back to his exercise pen on his own. Ther is so much to learn but it is all worth it just to get a little lick on the hand from them makes you feel like something is going right.

[MooBunnay]

Bonding two males can be difficult, but I think you are doing the right thing by making a good try at it before considering your other options.

As far as the car ride, there are several ways that people do this. With two bunnies that have been fighting, this is what I would recommend. I would recommend finding a friend to help you, then bringing the two buns to the car separately, one in a large box or laundry basket, and the other in a carrier. Then, you sit in the back with your bunnies while your friend drives. While your friend is driving, put the other bunny into the laundry basket, and hopefully they will be so nervous that they will not fight but just snuggle together. Then, once you’ve driven around for about 15 minutes, you can bring them both back into the house and put them into a neutral bonding space. The stress from the car ride will also help them be more calm for the bonding session.

Also, just as a side note, the size of the bunny does not determine who will get the worst of the fighting. My little netherland dwarf kicked my larger English Spot bunny’s butt once! (I wasn’t home and somehow the netherland dwarf got out of his cage and into the other cage).

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I have nothing but time and I can take all the time I need. They are such good buns in so many ways it will all be worth it. You know they like the car because I take them along a lot so that may work out real well. It really does take time for them to adjust we had a good night tonight I played with them both and patted and rubbed them and brushed them and fed them their greens by hand and just spent the evening with them. Snowflake my agressive one is comming over to me to get his treats and papaya. I am going to read my bonding articles and give it a week or so and them get back at it by then it will be 5 weeks after neutering. I will just take it one day at a time and go slow.

[Beka27]

Are you swtiching them betw/ the pens each night? This is something you can do now before re-introducing them face to face. That will prevent either from becoming overly territorial of the space.

In regards to hormones, it can take 1-2 months for them to fully decrease, but even after that, it may not be totally smooth sailing. My two buns fought for a couple weeks during the 3-week bonding process (and Meadow had been spayed for about 9 months, Max neutered for well over a year.)

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