Bonding Sable and Pepper: In need of help :/

[Luxi]

 I have had my oldest bunny, Sable, for around a year and a half. In February, we decided to get another bunny, Pepper, who is a few months old. We kept them separate and a few feet apart for the first month or so, let them out together but watched them very closely. If something happened, we (usually Sable’s fault) put one or both bunnies away. Once in a while, Sable would approach Pepper and Pepper would cower, sitting very still, while Sable nosed and sniffed her, maybe bit her but it was hard to tell. Pepper would run and Sable would halfheartedly follow and give up.

After reading your article about bonding we decided to use a trip to my sister’s (2 hour ride) as a bonding experience. We placed them in a box with food and a hide. They were very good, pretty much cuddled in the box the whole time, very happy. We stayed for a few days and we let the bunnies alone in a quiet, cool upstairs room. They got along really really well. Now, at home, we got them a completely new cage, fresh and clean, with new linens and even a new plywood base, and clean cage pieces. Pepper has loved the top floor and stayed there, while Sable has claimed the bottom. Suddenly Sable is biting again, poor Pepper runs and stomps. How can I stop Sable from what seems like an attack? I don’t understand why they did so well, laying and sleeping together but now I can see Pepper’s fur in the cage. 

[Elrohwen]

Is Pepper spayed yet? Generally unspayed females won’t get along – Pepper will start developing hormones which could make her territorial, or Sable could become territorial when she smells those hormones. I would separate until they are both fixed.

If they are both fixed, I think you’re on the right track. I would take them out of the condo for now and put them in a small-ish pen (4’x4′). In new bunny relationships it’s easy for one to get territorial about litter boxes, food, areas in the cage, hidey houses, etc. It’s best to give them a pretty bare environment where they don’t have a chance to claim anything. Once they have been together a few months and are completely bonded you can move them into a new territory without many issues.

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