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Hey binkybunniers,
I am ecstatic to announce the arrival of my second bunny!
I have had my first rabbit, Cosmo (a 2 year old, neutered, Neatherland Dwarf) for about a year – from a rescue), and have now brought home Elsa (a 1-2 year old, spayed, mixed breed – from the same rescue).They are currently sharing an x-pen set up (which is separated with NIC grids and dowels) leaving them with about 15 square feet of space each and plenty of separate playtime.
They have gotten along quite well, there is not much biting/nipping through the bars, so here is just where I am looking for some opinions.
Elsa has only been home for a five days, they swap cages daily (she had the first three days in one cage to settle in though). They have been out together in the common play area, and it went well the first time, but then after that not so much (chasing galore), so I took them to the end of my hallway (a different day!) and had them together for an hour, there were a few nips, but both groomed themselves and loafed about a foot apart. The next day I put them in the bathtub, again, nips, but both groomed themselves, and I put some food in, Cosmo greedily ate, Elsa got one leaf of arugula (but there was no food aggression) – so they sit together, groom themselves, lay down, but if they sniff each other or get to close it usually ends in a nip (which sometimes turns into a small scuffle)
I am just looking to hear if it sounds like things are on the right track; I don’t expect that they would have already bonded, but I just need to be sure I’m doing some of what’s right. Neither of the buns want to give up that dominant position, both starting the nips (though on common ground it was Elsa that chased Cosmo).
Sorry, very long post! Just looking for opinions! Thanks so much for your help!!
The first photo is the cage set up, the second photo was them lying down when I bonded them in my hallway.
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Thank you so much everyone for the positive feedback!
Now at this point I need more opinions!! I continued to try bonding, but they just weren’t having any of it, so I gave them a break for 2 days (I planned on longer, but while I was at work one day my boyfriend let the bunnies out together – not to worry, I trust that he would break up any fights and such, he is knowledgeable, but to my relief there were no REAL fights.
The bunnies were out in the common play area (this is not neutral territory, this is my living room and dining room where they come out to play), and they were also hopping in and out of each others cages, litter boxes, etc. There was no fights – my male nips, but I think that’s because they’re still sorting out dominance. Today they have been together in common area and in each others cages for 5 hours now, and again, no fights, just a few nips from my male bunny, but they seem very comfortable together!!
(Elsa is very quick to get out of Cosmo’s way though – is this just because she knows he’s boss?)Now I wonder, how do I know when they’re officially bonded? They don’t snuggle or groom each other yet, so I’m just looking for opinions on where my bonding process stands!
Thank you so much!! PS. The photo is Cosmo (male) in Elsa’s litterbox (on her side of the cage)
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