Female rabbits wont bond

[Marina]

I have had one spayed female rabbit for almost 2 years now (Cookiedoe). I thought that she was lonely so I adopted another female rabbit (Nala) 2 weeks ago. I had them both living in pens next to each other for 4 days. I had to then move them into Cookiedoes cage. Cookie’s cage is a 5 foot by 3 foot with two levels. One rabbit is on top while the other one is on the bottom. Every night after a bonding session I switch them, so that the rabbit that was on the bottom goes on top and the rabbit that was on the top goes onto the bottom. I started out with doing a stress bonding in the carer and then put them into a bath tub for 10 min. It went very well with only one nip. I started to add a minute on everyday. After a week I did a 30 min. bonding session and a 3 hour bonding session. I have had the bonding session’s in different area’s of the house (and outside), different pen size, different flooring, and bonding time. I fell like every bonding session is getting worse and worse. My new rabbit Nala is so posed to have been spayed, but I’m not so sure anymore. They will eat, flop, and groom themselves in the pen, but after 5-10 min or so Nala will lounge at Cookie. Nala will not nip, chase, or hump Cookiedoe, instead she full on attacks her. Cookiedoe has humped nala in the carrier once, but no where else. I get the felling that Nala is trying to seriously hurt or kill Cookie. Everything that I have read online says that they should be chasing, nipping, and humping each other, but all they are doing is fighting. I did a lot of research before I got Nala and now it’s relay stressing me out because nothing that i read is working. I don’t know what to do from here, please help me.

[GlennTheLionhead]

Hi
It’s a shame to hear your having a difficult time.
If full fights are breaking out its really important you stop bonding them and keep them separate for a good month to let them forgot the bad air between them.
I have heard that rabbits that continue to fight can end up never being able to bond.
You make have to take a slow and steady approach with a long period of pre bonding (I did 2 months) before trying to bond.
I would maybe say the first thing to do is make sure you new rabbit is actually spay, did the person you got her from tell you she was spay? You may be able to ask the vet if they can see a spay scar or could get a good idea from her age.

[sarahthegemini]

You’re moving way too quick. You need to let new bun settle for a couple of weeks to a month. Then you need to prebond for a month AT LEAST. Only after that should you start bonding sessions.

[Marina]

Ok thank you for the help

[GlennTheLionhead]

If its any help I would suggest giving them a little break and letting the new bun settle in like Sarah has mentioned, then set the up in two separate pens next to eachother where they can see and smell eachother for the time suggested similar to what you did for the 4 days but just a much longer period. You will hopefully then notice a huge difference in them when you start the actual bonding dates.

This allows them to become fimilar and they are no longer strangers but neighbours who have (hopefully) learnt to accept eachothers precence.

It is a popular method that has helped the most difficult buns to bond! Good luck!

[Author]

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