Bunny bonding behaviour

[M&R]

Hi all.. my bunnies (sisters) have been pre-bonded now for just over a month. They were always together then began fighting after they were spayed so then they were separated. They can now spend time running around the basement together for about 45 minutes while I clean their hutches. I’ve seen some behaviour though that I need insight on, simply because I don’t know if it’s play, positive behaviour or negative behaviour or what exactly is happening lol. Rain always seemed to be the more “dominant” bun, Meadow not so much. Meadow also has her teeth removed now so of course I’m always watching their interactions closely. 

Anyway, they will chase each other around the basement but also binky while they’re doing this so I assume it’s positive. Then after they do their sprints they’ll stop and Rain will jump over Meadow (kinda like leap-frog) back and forth for a little while, while Meadow just stands there and accepts it. I interject sometimes when I feel it has gone on too long. But then when Rain stops, she will begin grooming Meadow around her ears and on her head (which I’ve read this is what less dominant rabbits will do for the more dominant rabbit).
Sometimes when they stop sprinting they will each try to sniff (?) each other’s bottoms until one hops away, and/or they’ll both lay down side by side super close together for a while (see picture).
All of these behaviours together seem conflicting – I feel like Rain goes back and forth from “I like Meadow” to “I’m not so sure about Meadow” so I don’t know what to think! Any insight is appreciated!

[DanaNM]

Hi there, they look so cute together!

Grooming and cuddling are all very positive!

When they run around, are their ears forward or back, and are their tails up, or down? If their ears are forward, and tails down, then they are not being aggressive. Could be they want to mount, or are just playing. If the ears are back, and tail up, then they are being aggressive.

From the other aspects you describe I get the sense they are playing. It also could be that they have this burst of chasing at the beginning of the session just to confirm who is top bun, and then settle in to being together.

Can you start increasing the amount of time they spend together? Also, is the basement neutral territory (hopefully it is)?

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[M&R]

When they are doing this their ears are forward, however I’ve noticed the Rain’s tail is up when she is “leap-frogging” Meadow which is why I interrupt the behaviour when I see it. The basement is relatively neutral, I started with completely neutral (on top of the bed in the spare bedroom) first. I re-arranged the basement to make it more neutral, I felt like they needed more exercise which is why I ended up letting them run aroun the basement. Their hutches are in the basement and they are open when the buns are running around and they have taken turns jumping in the others’ hutches while they’re exercising. I have of course been swapping hutches every few days as well.
Rain just confuses me.. if the rabbit is the one doing the grooming, does that mean they are the dominant one? Or is the rabbit being groomed that would be the dominant one?
Rain seems like she would be the dominant one but then she is always the one grooming Meadow.. I don’t see Meadow ever grooming Rain.

[DanaNM]

Hi there,

Hmm, the charging with the tail up sounds more like a dominance display.

If the basement is connected to their hutches, and they have access to their hutches, then it’s definitely NOT neutral. Semi neutral at best, but if they can go in and out of their hutches that makes is not neutral for sure.

In general the one grooming is the submissive one, the one being groomed is dominant. In bonded pairs both with usually groom each other, but in the bonding process grooming the other rabbit a way of saying “OK you’re the boss”. It’s so hard to predict who is going to be dominant, so don’t worry if they don’t meet your expectations. And honestly in many pairs its really hard to tell who is boss bun.

From what you describe, I think you should try for some long sessions, but in true neutral space. I think they are doing well given the space they are in isn’t neutral, but it could be contributing to the chasing and charging that is happening. Although with the binkying it might all be fine? It’s hard to know without seeing it….

If you could set up a pen in a room they’ve never been in, spend several hours there and see how they do. Then the idea is to work up to long sessions (8 hours), and eventually you can try them overnight in that neutral space (supervised).

If you have several days where you can supervise non-stop, you can also try marathoning them, which means starting them together in neutral, and not separating them again, but supervising until they seem bonded in neutral, then moving to semi neutral (continuing to supervise), and then finally to their final home (and then supervising again until you are certain they are solidly bonded). Given that yours are doing well in the space you have, they might be a good candidate for this (assuming you have the time to supervise for several days!).

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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