My female rabbits won’t get along! HELP!

[Nidela]

Hello! I am new here and in need of some bonding help. 

I’ve had rabbits before in the years but they were always single. I adopted a 2 yr old female rabbit on 7/30/17. Shes cute and can be sweet but also not afraid to show her bad side. She always runs away when ever we try to pet her, ive put her in a big playpen with me so she can get to know me every day for a while but she was still running away. So i decided that maybe if I got her a friend it would make her feel more comfortable… i was wrong! I ended up adopting a 6/7 month old female rabbit about 3 weeks after. I have tried putting them in a “neutral’ area but the 2 yr old still decided to attack the baby from behind. The baby isn’t afraid to defend herself so she attacks back. My 2 yr old rabbit has already took off some of the hair on her nose area (its not too bad but you can tell theres some missing hair) and a small piece from behind her. I have also tried putting them close together but not too close to where they can attack each other, but when they finally realize each other, they just try to bite the play pen and try to attack each other from afar. 

I feel like a failure and even cried the first time I tried bonding them because they are both so cute and I love them dearly, I just want them to get along. The baby had just gotten spayed a day before i got her (which was almost a week ago) so I read that usually I should wait 2 weeks- 1 month to try bonding again which I will. Please help! im not sure if anyone has took a long while to bond their rabbits, but it is stressing me out. When I let them free roam I have to take turns with them because obviously putting them any where near each other they always end up fighting.

[tobyluv]

You said that the new bunny is spayed, but what about the 2 year old rabbit? Both rabbits have to be spayed or neutered before any bonding is attempted. If the 2 year old is not spayed, you need to do that before thinking of bonding. You do need to wait a month or more for the hormones to abate before starting bonding. Definitely keep them apart for now, and continue letting them out separately. Rabbits can severely injure each other when they fight, and they can hold grudges if fighting or injuries occur, which makes any future bonding difficult. Don’t let them have access through the cage/pen bars or there will be more biting and injuries. You can swap out their blankets or toys or anything with their scent on it, while waiting the month, to get them used to each other and hopefully make future bonding easier.

If the 2 year old has been spayed, then wait the month for the new rabbit to recover and for her hormones to dissipate, then you can try the bonding again.

I have had good luck using an x-pen to bond. Even if you have it in a room that might not be that neutral, you can create a small neutral space with it. Place a sheet or large towels on the floor to mask any scents that might be in carpet. My husband and I get in the x-pen with the rabbits, to stop any fighting, which we’ve luckily never had, or to stop any excessive humping. Some scuffling and humping can be normal, just don’t let it get out of hand.

[Deleted User]

You should honestly develop a relationship with both buns first and let them settle in their new home. You’re stressing them out, which can kill them if you aren’t careful. Get on their level and hem explore you. Not every bun loves cuddles and pets.
I second what Tobyluv said about how to bond them after they’ve both been spayed and after they’ve had time to get to know you and their surrounding and when they trust you.

[sarahthegemini]

Hold up, you’ve only had baby bun for a week and you’ve already tried bonding? You should be letting her settle in, and you definitely should be letting her heal and recover from her spay. It’s a very invasive surgery!

Keep them apart. Completely. So they can’t see or smell each other. They need to forget each other because they’ve fought. In a month, when your baby’s hormones have disipated, start pre bonding and do that for a while before an actual meeting.

[Deleted User]

Have you checked your new buns spay wound. I’d be very concerned that these scuffles she has been having could have injured her wound because of her having to exert herself during fighting. Also be careful that she isn’t agitated and stressed by this and licking and biting at her wound. I know everything could be fine and I might be being dramatic but its usually recommended that they have limited excercise and movement for at least 5 days. Fighting could very well have caused her to move in ways that may stretch or open up her wound.My female was spayed 11 days ago and she is still not fully healed and that is with me being extra cautious. As sarah mentioned a spay is very invasive and this could very well be affecting her mood and she could possibly be experiencing discomfort from this still and having to defend herself from an unknown rabbit is going to be making things worse for her. Give her plenty of time to recover.

[Nidela]

They are both spayed so that problem is not in the way. I spend lots of time with both of them. I put them in an area with me where they come up to me and smell me a lot especially the baby. They did a bunch of binkys and jumps in the air each time i let them free roam while i sit near them.

[Nidela]

Yes ive checked and she is fine otherwise. Shes a very happy bun baby and is always very playful. Shes also eating well and drinking so i dont think shes doing bad

[Deleted User]

It’s optimum to keep them separate for one to two months post spay. Which means you have at least another month to go with the baby bun. Do a bunch of pre bonding with them by switch around their litter boxes and food dishes and move them between each other’s habitats. Female buns are extremely territorial and they can fight to the death. So try the pre bonding for the next month as that will give them time to settle in their new home and it will get them used to each other’s scents.

[Nidela]

Okay ill try more of switching their stuff. I slowly had started switching their toys, doing it one thing at a time. My older rabbit that i adopted had been through a rough patch so she always running away from me hopefully the more i spend time with her the more that will open her up.

[DanaNM]

Just to chime in, it seems like you have two main issues, bonding with your bunnies, and then the bond between the two females. Seems like others have covered all the bases with bonding the bunnies, but I just wanted to add in that 1 month is not very long at all for YOU to bond with a new bunny. 

Don’t lose hope! Bonding with shy bunnies takes time.  Here are some tips to help you with both of your new buns: 

First of all, do not picking them up unless it is absolutely necessary (like for a nail trim or other medical reason)! Rabbits, as a rule, do not like being picked up, even the ones that tolerate it well. They are “prey” by nature, so anytime they get picked up, they are afraid for their lives. 

-Very importantly, be sure that your buns can come out of it’s cage/hutch/pen/condo on their own. The pen/condo/hutch should be your bun’s “safe space”. If your bun’s home is elevated, you can use a ramp or steps to allow it to come and go as it pleases. 

-As i mentioned already, only pick her up unless absolutely necessary. Never do this just to spend time with her.

– Once your bun decides to come out to explore, play “hard to get”. ignore them. Lay on the ground while she is out, read a book, etc. If she comes up to you, don’t try to pet her (yet). Be patient and calm around your bunny. Respect if they want to be left alone. “floor time” is seriously one of the best things you can do. 

– Hand feeding! You should feed at least some of her veggies and pellets by hand. You could do this with just the first few leaves of veggies of the day, or a few pellets when you give them.  Fragrant herbs (cilantro, basil, mint, fennel) are all good at enticing shy buns.   Talk to her calmly when you feed her so she associates your voice with good things. 

– When she has become comfortable enough with you that she will lay down or relax near you on the ground, you can “ask” her if you can pet her, by placing your hand on the ground in front of her, so your pinky is on the ground and the back of your hand is facing her. If she puts her head down, she wants you to pet her head! If she doesn’t, then don’t force it. Stick to petting only the head and ears until she gets really relaxed with you.  The back and bum are very personal and sensitive areas for rabbits.

. . . 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.  

[Nidela]

Thank you! Its been about almsot two months that i have adopted both of my girls (both spayed). But they still wont get along. They do smell each other a lot and ive tried everything in the book. My younger rabbit (who is about 8 months now) is super hyperactive even when she had first gotten spayed, her energy is crazy haha. So im not sure of the difference when they are close to each other. By this i mean, that ibuki (8 month old) runs around a lot sometimes when kasumi (2 yr old) tries smelling her. Ibuki normally runs a lot! And does a bunch of flips in the air, but when kasumi tries to smell her sometimes she runs a lot too, so im not sure how to take it. Is she nervous? Is she excited? Its really hard to tell with her since shes so young and can run for days. Kasumi is much more calm and keeps to herself. Shes super shy. But sometimes when she see’s ibuki she tries to get aggressive. It makes me sad because i would love for them to bond, but im not sure if it will ever happen.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Nidela on 9/10/2017 12:56 AM

Thank you! Its been about almsot two months that i have adopted both of my girls (both spayed). But they still wont get along. They do smell each other a lot and ive tried everything in the book. My younger rabbit (who is about 8 months now) is super hyperactive even when she had first gotten spayed, her energy is crazy haha. So im not sure of the difference when they are close to each other. By this i mean, that ibuki (8 month old) runs around a lot sometimes when kasumi (2 yr old) tries smelling her. Ibuki normally runs a lot! And does a bunch of flips in the air, but when kasumi tries to smell her sometimes she runs a lot too, so im not sure how to take it. Is she nervous? Is she excited? Its really hard to tell with her since shes so young and can run for days. Kasumi is much more calm and keeps to herself. Shes super shy. But sometimes when she see’s ibuki she tries to get aggressive. It makes me sad because i would love for them to bond, but im not sure if it will ever happen.

You were supposed to separate them completely – out of sight, can’t smell one another etc. Did you do that? 

[Nidela]

I did for more than a month. Last night they actually did really well with each other. Both smelled each other and ibuki started cleaning kasumi while she just laid there! Making progress but i still do not fully trust them to keep them together just yet. But i do see a huge difference which makes me a happy mama

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Nidela on 9/13/2017 10:50 PM

I did for more than a month. Last night they actually did really well with each other. Both smelled each other and ibuki started cleaning kasumi while she just laid there! Making progress but i still do not fully trust them to keep them together just yet. But i do see a huge difference which makes me a happy mama

Aw that’s brilliant progress

[Author]

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