Bonding two pairs of rabbits?

[Minimoomin]

So I’ve reccently got these two new rabbits who are already bonded, but I’m having difficulty bonding them with my two bonded mini lops. The two new rabbits are female and are spayed, and one of my lops is a guy, and the other a girl, neither spayed (I plan on spaying them, but I’m waiting for the vet to call me back). So currently the 3 females are in the kitchen (neutral ground), and I have split the kitchen in half using fences, with the new bonded pair on one side and and female lop on the other. In an hour or so I plan on letting them get togther. But I worry because the female lop is dominant and one of the new females is also dominant, and I don’t think they’ll be able to bond! They have already attacked one another through the fence, it was incredibly agressive, but neither of them were hurt. If this doesn’t work I plan on switching their huts, so they get used to each others scent. What else can I do?? I really want these bunnies to bond, or else I’m going to have to give one of the pairs away! Help!

[Ruby n Max]

I am glad that you are going to have them spayed and that you are going to try the hut-switching method. Both of these can really help. Until they are spayed and the hormones have had time to die down, I wouldn’t worry about trying to bond them. They are already unhappy with each other, but I think that hormones are largely to blame, so it is best to wait until after surgery to try again. Otherwise they may continue to fight, and the more they fight the more they will continue to resent each other. Ask your vet when it is safe for them to interact and when the hormones will have dissipated. I have heard different time frames, some as long as two months, so it doesn’t hurt to ask. Does anyone have an idea as to when a bunny’s hormones will have dissipated?

Good luck!

[Author]

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