How do two bunnies play together?

[Bambam]

Bambam (7 month old altered male) chases Pebbles (2 month old female) around all the time. He doesnt growl at her or anything nasty, just runs after her. Is he playing with her or trying to scare her? They have only recently started to get on as he used to growl at her and nip her. They havent cuddled or anything like that yet. 

[Deleted User]

Is your little girl spayed? And how long ago was your male bun altered?

[Bambam]

No she isnt, shes too young to be spayed, and Bambam was spayed about 3 months ago.

[Bambam]

No she isnt, shes too young to be spayed, and Bambam was spayed about 3 months ago. Also, they eat out the same bowl together (even though they have their own bowls)

[Deleted User]

Hmmm….are they bonded? It may just be easier (if they are not bonded) to keep them separate until about a month (and a half) after your little girl is neutered and try to bond them then.

[Bambam]

They are sort of bonded. I have never owned bunnies before so I am just guessing. They are fine with each other all day, Bambam gets grumpy with her sometimes and growls but then she binkys away and doesn’t seem to care (i think shes just teasing him haha). They don’t fight and they eat out the same bowl and don’t get grumpy over treats or anything. So they’re not best friends, they’re just kind of civil with each other.

How to I show Bambam that no one is going to replace him? Sounds funny but he used to sleep by my feet all night and now he doesn’t

[Elrohwen]

In my experience, bonded bunnies don’t “play”. Bunnies in general don’t “play” the way we think of for dogs and cats, so it’s not strange that they wouldn’t play with each other. They definitely interact, almost constantly, but it’s snuggling, nudging each other, checking in, that sort of thing. My girl also chases my boy and nips him a lot. I feel bad for him, but it’s how they interact and it doesn’t cause fights (I do yell at Hannah when she does it).

The chasing is often related to an attempt to hump. Fixed bunnies hump out of excitement or to show dominance and if the other bun doesn’t want to be humped, a chase can start. Bonded bunnies can exhibit this behavior, but bunnies who aren’t bonded do it too.

At this point she’s really too young to bond with another bun. You can let them get used to each other, but she will mature and may change her opinion of her new friend until after she’s fixed.

Do they stay in the same cage? A bonded pair cannot be separated – they need to be together 24/7. A pair that is in the process of bonding, as your pair is, should stay in separate cages so they don’t fight when you’re not there.

[Bambam]

Thanks for your reply, explains why Bambam chases her and she doesn’t seem to mind.

Bambam is allowed free in my room and Pebbles cage is in my room. She used to be there for the majority of the day but I am in my room a lot more now so she has been out of the cage, only goes back in at night to sleep.

[Elrohwen]

That’s good that they sleep separately. As long as they’re supervised while they’re together, and aren’t fighting, I think it will help their future bonding to spend time together. Just be aware that she may suddenly become territorial and mean with him as she matures. It’s totally normal and should go away once she’s spayed.

[Bambam]

Thank you so much for all your help. I persevered and let them play and now they are inseparable! Have even left them alone while i have dinner and I come back to find them flopped on the floor next to each other! Def worth the wait!

[Author]

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