I’ve lost hope in re-bonding my rabbits – what to do :( ?

[Jackie237]

Hi everyone, I’ll try and not make this long. Basically, I have 3 rabbits that are all altered and have been bonded for a few years.

About two years ago, our family welcomed in a new addition, and she was young and unspayed at the time. After about 3 months of bonding, the two females of the trio FINALLY accepted her. It was a frustrating time, I remember.

We got the newest edition to our family spayed about 4-5 months ago, and have waited a month or so before trying to rebond her to the trio. The male got along with her straight off the bat, while the two females have it out on her . Well, I’ve been trying to bond her for 4 months straight now, and there seems to be no progress? There was progress such as grooming and cuddling one month in, but it randomly went downhill and it’s like the bonding process restarted all over again! I’ve read everything on bonding, I’ve tried every trick and suggestion, but it’s not working- one rabbit just keeps lunging and nipping at the other. I’m busy with classes and work and find it hard to have time to bond them every day, but I do it anyway. It has become very stressful and tiring for me. I don’t know what else to do.

Several people have suggested I split up the trio so I would have two pairs. This doesn’t work out for me currently because we have limited living space for two large cages, and plus, the trio are very close to each other, I would hate to break them up 

When is it time to know the bonding won’t work? I already have a person telling me to know when to give up, but I am not sure when. I don’t want to give up. Is it possible for it to still work? I don’t know how long bonding should go for because there has been no progress for months straight now.  Any other suggestions or tips?

Thanks

[MoveDiagonally]

Can you go into more detail on the issues you’re having exactly?

Which bunnies are lunging and which bunnies? Are the bunnies generally dominant? Does something seem to spark a conflict or do they fight right away? Where are you doing your bonding, ect…

[Jackie237]

The one who is more recently spayed, is being constantly nipped and lunged at by the two females in the bonded trio.

I tried bonding them in the only two neutral places in the house – the bathtub and the hallway. Usually during bonding sessions, the rabbits ignore each other UNLESS one of the bunny comes closer to the other, that’s when the chasing and nipping happens. My current trio, the two females, they’re both dominant. The one who was spayed last, is submissive. From observation, I see the main problem is that she will not groom any rabbits when they offer their heads for grooming. But that’s how she always is, she never grooms any rabbit.

I am not sure what to do from this point, as I see no progress for a while now. 

[BumblesBounce]

Maybe the old trick with the smudge of banana (or other yummy favorite) on the foreheads of the dominant buns would maybe entice your young one into licking/grooming when the older buns offer their heads?

[LBJ10]

Have you tried one-on-one sessions? Perhaps the group dynamic is fueling the fire.

[Author]

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