Bonding question…

[LadyOnslaught]

Hi everyone.

I’m new here but have been lurking some.  I’m new to bunnies, just got my first one at the beginning of April and then my second one about three weeks ago.  They have both been to the vet and have been pronounced healthy and both girls.  One is Riley and she is approximately 6 months and the other is approximately 4 months and does not have a name yet as I just took her to the vet on Saturday to get her sexed.  (Both will be spayed as soon as possible.  The vet wanted the older one to gain a little weight and she didn’t mention it about the other one but this one probably needs a little more weight as well).

Since knowing they are girls I have started bonding them and before hand they had about 3 weeks of seeing each other and I would put them in our hallway and kitchen with a gate in between so they could see one another and get used to each other.  Saturday I put them together in our hallway and I know the other bun has had a friend before and was recently separated from it so she is definiately used to having another rabbit around (I’m not sure when they were split up).  She was chasing Riley but not in a mean, I want to hurt you way.  Riley does not seem scared, just doesn’t want her right in her face but isn’t trying to bite or showing any mean signs about her.

The new bun wants to hump Riley a lot though.  I read that it is dominance but at some time should I step in?  She does it a lot and there have been a few times I have seen them where they have their head on the other ones back, near the neck and it looks as though they may be fighting but they are not.  (I’m just trying to describe it).  It looks to me as though Riley is trying to mount her to be dominate and just trying to stop the new one from doing it first. 

At any signs or meanness or unhappiness they will be separated as I do not want any fights but they seem to be getting along but I just was worried about the amount of humping.  Should I just let them work it out since they are not hurting one another…really just turning in small circles :-).  Thank you in advance for any advice.  I’m learning quickly and loving it.  I love to research and they are such a fun topic to learn about!

[Beka27]

welcome here. we have a brand new bonding section now, so i’m guessing this thread will be relocated there… just telling you so you’re not surprised!

congrats on your buns. i would follow-up with your vet and find out when exactly he wants to do the surgeries. it’s harder to bond two females, esp. two that are unaltered. you may not be able to do any bonding until after the surgeries, it just might not work. that is your first step.

i would have them caged in the same area, allow each to have supervised separate run-time. if they’re starting to fight, it is most likely hormonal which is not going to resolve itself, i would hold off until after the surgeries and then 1 month after that you can start again.

[Scarlet_Rose]

Hello and welcome to Binky Bunny! It sounds like they are sorting out who is top bunny. I would say so long as they are not hurting or suffocating each other, is there any fur flying? It is O.K. and let them sort it out. However for their recovery time, I think you should keep them apart until the sutures heal.

The pairing of rabbits of the same sex can be more difficult and so it will take more time and patience and prepare your mind set that they may never get along and will need to be housed seperately.

[babybunsmum]

hi & welcome   do you have any pics to share?

i’m trying to bond 2 girl buns too.  unfortunately only one is spayed… my unspayed bun is nearly 8yrs old & too old to be spayed.  i have had some set backs with bonding due to injuries but am in it for the long haul and fully prepared to never have them bond since i have a couple of strikes against me (2 females with only one spayed).

your gals may be getting along fine right now but be aware that it can change over night when their hormones kick in.  your buns will be approaching that age soon so… keep a close eye on those wee girls of yours!   you may want to stop bonding sessions if either bun starts to bite or lunge until after their spays.  i think those hormones will just frustrate the situation.

buns nip the back of the other bun gently when they ‘hump’ and it’s not aggressive… it sounds like this is what you’re describing.  it’s importantto let the buns sort out dominance when you’re bonding them  as long as you interrupt if you see it escalating.   you obviously want to avoid biting which can cause injury.  my baby bun has had her eye scuffed (pinky is lightening fast with her lunges) and consequently we cannot have any more bonding sessions until it heals up. 

good luck!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Update, looks like the new female was a boy https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/forumid/2/tpage/1/view/topic/postid/79381/Default.aspx#79381

Hope you don’t mind me jumping in and updating!!

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