Help for Aaron and Lily

[Bella Bella]

Hi all
You might remember Aaron and Bella, the geriatric bunnies I was planning to bond. As some of you know, Bella sadly passed away 2 weeks ago having lived side by side with Aaron for 2 months after his neuter. I was planning to bond on neutral ground this week so they never got to live together. However, unexpectedly and sooner than planned, we found Lily last Saturday in the local adoption centre. She was bonded with her sister who very sadly died when they were both being spayed.

Lily came home one week ago and has been living next to Aaron witha separating fence.

I did 2 successful 30 minute bonding sessions on Thursday and Friday. Today I let them into Lily’s run where they were free to go into her hutch. They did and after nearly 2 hours together have been getting on fine. A bit of humping from both but nothing violent. Also Lily’s been grooming him.

They had dinner together of their own accord in Lily’s hutch and after a while Aaron went and sat under his hutch. I feel its too soon for them to sleep together but would separating them for the night break the bonding that seems to going so well? At the moment they’re in their own hutches. Advice please as it’s getting dark lol!

Thank you
Jane

[Bella Bella]

Quick update – I let them both out into the run again (it is fox proof) and they greeted each other and groomed. Any thoughts on what i shoukd do with them tonight would be really appreciated.

[Bella Bella]

Quick update – I let them both out into the run again (it is fox proof) and they greeted each other and groomed. Any thoughts on what i shoukd do with them tonight would be really appreciated.

[Mikey]

Youre moving very very fast and have so far been lucky. Unless you plan on sleeping out there with them, though, you should not allow them to stay together overnight. They should be housed next to one another overnight, so they can see and smell but cannot reach.

[Bella Bella]

Thank you. I did come to that decision and put them to bed separately.

How will I know when they are ready to live together? What are the signs I should look for?

[Mikey]

When they can go 8+ hours several days in a row with no aggression. Ideally, you would spend the first 48 hours next to them in their shared hutch to break up any fighting.

[Bella Bella]

Thanks Mikey. Unfortunately not being house rabbits its hard to spend that much time with them but thanks for the tip.

[DanaNM]

Second Mikey’s advice, and I will just add that letting them into each other’s hutches this early could cause problems as it isn’t neutral space. Everything should be in neutral space until they are spending long periods of time together with no aggression and with lots of positive behaviors (grooming, snuggling, etc).

. . . 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.  

[Bella Bella]

Thanks all. Have taken on board the advice on the neutral ground to be on the safe side. I have monitored them carefully all week and they’ve spent every day together from morning to bed time around 6pm. When they rest they either sit near one another or snuggle up close and groom themselves or each others heads. Their personalities are quite different. He’s a bit of a grumpy old man (not in a bad way but you can tell he’s older and he doesn’t much like being stroked by me) whereas being a bit younger she’s more sprightly but she seems a very gentle rabbit and doesn’t mind a stroke – she also probably grroms him more than he does her which he laps up! Will keep monitoring and update. Thanks again for all your help

[Bella Bella]

Thanks all. Have taken on board the advice on the neutral ground to be on the safe side. I have monitored them carefully all week and they’ve spent every day together from morning to bed time around 6pm. When they rest they either sit near one another or snuggle up close and groom themselves or each others heads. Their personalities are quite different. He’s a bit of a grumpy old man (not in a bad way but you can tell he’s older and he doesn’t much like being stroked by me) whereas being a bit younger she’s more sprightly but she seems a very gentle rabbit and doesn’t mind a stroke – she also probably grroms him more than he does her which he laps up! Will keep monitoring and update. Thanks again for all your help

[Bella Bella]

PS. Not sure why my messages keep duplicating. I’ll check it our

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