Can bunnies be bonded through adjacent cages?

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This topic has 7sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 5 months ago by Shervv.

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- 12/15/2015 at 10:59 PM
  sorathebunny
  Participant
  34 posts
  Okay, we have two buns who we are keeping seperate until they are fixed. Their cages are side by side, and they get run of the room at seperate times. They are constantly bumping noses through the cage. In the start, they would both poop all over the room to mark spots, but this week they can come out without pooping everywhere. They’ve taken to laying next to each other in their cages. It’s cute because the little one used to only sleep in tight spaces/hideaways. Now she lies next to the spot where her friend is and he will come lay his nose near her. Not that they can touch/groom through the cages, but they like to be near each other. So my question is are they close to or already bonded? We are planning to get them fixed at different times. So do they both need to go to the vet each time? The vet said it is fine to bring them one by one since they are not a bonded pair, but at this point should I worry about them freaking out if the other isn’t there? Hope this isn’t a silly question. I don’t want to stress them out more than you know the procedure will. Thanks!
- 12/19/2015 at 1:40 PM
  Bam
  Moderator
  17027 posts
  Beware, bunnies can mate though cage-bars, so you need a bit of a distance between the cages. There should also be a distance because bunnies can injure each other really bad if they manage to bite each other through the bars. If they have a bad fight (and a bunny-fight between intact rabbits can flare up without warning), bonding them can be much more difficult once the time comes for proper bonding-sessions.
  
  That said, it’s often a good idea to let buns hang out near each other (with a bit of a distance between the cages for reasons describesd above) so they get used to each others’ smell and appearance etc. You can swop litter-boxes back and forth between them. You can get each a stuffy bunny and then swop the stuffies back and forth.
- 09/10/2016 at 5:16 PM
  Justeen
  Participant
  2 posts
  I have this same situation and i just want to double confirm its okay for me to keep both my recently rescued unneutered buck in the room with my unspayed doe. There cages are beside eachother with enough distance and i take the divider down when i feed them greens and when i can keep an eye on them. I just wanted to know if it will mess up the bonding for later when i do get them fixed. I am planning on getting him in sometime this week so i can start his healing time, than i was also wondering if its okay for me to start the bonding once its been his month of letting his hormones dispate is done? Or should i wait until she is also fixed? Which might take longer since no vets im my area are expeirenced with rabbits. Because i read about scary false pregnancies and them getting sad during the others healing time..
- 09/10/2016 at 10:18 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3311 posts
  Posted By Justeen on 9/10/2016 5:16 PM
  
  I have this same situation and i just want to double confirm its okay for me to keep both my recently rescued unneutered buck in the room with my unspayed doe. There cages are beside eachother with enough distance and i take the divider down when i feed them greens and when i can keep an eye on them. I just wanted to know if it will mess up the bonding for later when i do get them fixed. I am planning on getting him in sometime this week so i can start his healing time, than i was also wondering if its okay for me to start the bonding once its been his month of letting his hormones dispate is done? Or should i wait until she is also fixed? Which might take longer since no vets im my area are expeirenced with rabbits. Because i read about scary false pregnancies and them getting sad during the others healing time..
  
  If your rabbits are at breeding age, which can be as early as 3 months old, they should not be allowed any physical contact. Even if you are there to keep an eye on them, it only takes a few seconds of mating for a pregnancy to occur. It can happen faster than you can react.
  
  The first step in bonding is for both rabbits to be spayed or neutered, then waiting a month after surgery to start the bonding. You will have to get your female spayed in addition to getting your male neutered. You may have to travel further to find a good, rabbit savvy vet for your rabbits.
- 09/10/2016 at 10:31 PM
  Justeen
  Participant
  2 posts
  I have already begun the research and sadly i do have to travel because no one in my area can do it. Im trying to as soon as possible. I didnt expect to get my second bun so soon but it just happened :3 and just one more little question, its still okay for me to let one out while the other is in the cage right? Ive read about mating through the cage but i feel like i would notice that, so i dont think it will be too bad
- 09/10/2016 at 10:45 PM
  tobyluv
  Participant
  3311 posts
  You have to be very vigilant when letting one bunny out, while the other one is there nearby in the room. Besides the fact that rabbits can mate through cage bars, sometimes cages don’t get latched properly and bunnies have escaped. Mating, or fighting, can happen before you know it.
  
  Here are 2 good articles on bonding:
  
  https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx
  
  http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/
  
  I have bonded 5 pairs of rabbits over the years, and I find that a good way is to get inside an x-pen with them. My husband also gets in too. We can comfort a bunny that seems frightened or we can break up any fights or excess humping. Some humping is to be expected, and maybe some scuffling, but you don’t want any actual fighting. Rabbits can severely injure each other when fighting.
- 09/11/2016 at 6:33 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  I tried bonding my two boys but no-go. However, they care complete buddies trough cage bars. All kissy nose and laying down next to each other. But they are NOT bonded. This morning, Bindi got into Sterling’s pen and there was a scuffle.
- 10/03/2016 at 10:53 AM
  Shervv
  Participant
  2 posts
  Hello! I have a pair of adorable male and female rabbits which me and my husband thought it was a good idea to put them on the same cage as when we got them they were already placed together in the same cage at the store and i only recently found out that fixing them was a must (or at least recommended). The caretaker told us that they were at 2 months when we got them. If i were to get them fixed should I wait till each of them are at the right age to get fixed separately or should i get them fixed together. I am really afraid that their bond would be broken as they are now really really close. Or should I keep them separately until they get fixed and recovered in separate cages? I am really new at this whole rabbit education . thanks so much !
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