my three bunnies are not bonding, help!

[Molang]

I have two Netherland dwarf bunnies (got them at 3 months old) and they are now 5 months old. one male (Boo) – one female (Shy). They bonded on the first day and have been inseparable since then. They are both fixed and share the same cage.

My girlfriend took her 2.5 year old male Lionhead (Puff) and he is living with us in a separate cage. She got him from a pet store so I don’t know if he is fixed or not.

I’ve tried to introduce them (only male bunny to male bunny) several times: bathtub, 30 minute car ride then put them both in the playpen, and short visits to each other inside the playpen but none of those methods worked. It ends up with Puff humping Boo none stop where Puff has gained his dominance or with Boo pounding Puff so hard that Puff runs away. Puff is winning more fights recently, maybe because he is older and is becoming more familiar with his new environment. I haven’t tried bonding all three of them at the same time because Boo gets really aggressive and over protective of Shy if she is there.

The girl bunny Shy has no issues bonding with Puff, she is very curious about him. However; he just humps her none stop. I’ve tried to let him hump for 10 minutes to show his dominance but Puff doesn’t stop humping.  So I keep them separate.

I’ve tried other alternatives such as switching liter boxes and putting their cages close to each other so they get used to each other’s smell and presence. But, that doesn’t seem to work either.

They have different cages, so it isn’t an issue there. I have to give them different play times because there is only one play area. Everyday is a poop war in the play area.

I feel really bad for Puff because I don’t want him to get lonely and It is hard to coordinate two separate playtimes for them.

[Roberta]

I would think you need to separate Puff from the others until he is neutered and his hormones have settled other wise you risk the existing bond between Boo and Shy, you could also damage the prospective bond between them and Puff. Find out if your friend had him done (and its sounds like she didn’t if he is still humping every bunny) a vet check now would be a good idea to ensure his health is OK and there is nothing he could pass on to Boo and Shy..

[Molang]

thank you for your response. I see his testicles so i think he isn’t neutered. Going to book an appointment for him to get him fixed.

[MoveDiagonally]

I agree with Roberta. It sounds like you plan on getting him neutered, this is great!
I wouldn’t try any more bonding until 4-6 weeks after his neuter. His hormones will still be a factor until that point.

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