Nervous rabbit mum – bonding male and female

[Bunnybuggg]

Hi, I have read many articles about bonding and have spoken to a few “boding experts” in the past but wanted to get more advice/opinions. Will reach out to them as well if need be. 

I have had my female dutch rabbit for 6 years and we went rabbit speed dating 3 weeks ago. She got on well with a 3 year old american white male very well. They gave each other space and flopped at opposite ends of the pen, ate, and groomed each other within an inch of one another. Both ask the other for grooming, he did so more than she did however. This date was 3.5 hours long. The next date was a week later (also in a neutral zone), and was 2.5 hours long. They did pretty well aside from female nipping male once and getting some fluff (but i know this happens) and they went on a scary carrier ride around the store where the date took place. On the scary carrier ride they laid face to butt which i tried to avoid during most date interactions. Male did nip female in butt 2-3 times but not harshly. Female did hump male twice and was taken off once for getting too close to his nose. 

My issues are…female had free range of two bedrooms, bathroom and landing (all rabbit-proofed). Female and male are now both home as we adopted the male last week. They are in separate play pens next to each other with 3 inches in-between. She often lays facing away from him and he mirrors her actions often. If she eats he eats, etc. My female has been very territorial in the past and is a real people rabbit, my male is not as people oriented as I am still gaining his trust (but loves he loves pets too and has been very mellow). Male is always watching female and female ignores him majority of the time. I switch them into opposite pens every other day, however it has only been 5 days. I assume I should keep this up until the two week mark, but when can I take them on another date in a neutral space? 

Any tips on helping create a neutral space? worried she will be very territorial even in neutral space since HE has entered part of her space and she is now caged instead of free range like she has been the past 5 years. 

[Limit]

Spray all over the surface you’ll be using with rabbit safe disinfectant, lay towels down (freshly washed ones or new ones) or blankets anything that’s not smelling of them.

Give them distractions, new toys – nothing that’s ‘theirs’. Don’t add the male to her space, put him in there first and then add her to the space – or if possible at the same time.

Take it slow, territorial bunnies are difficult but definitely not impossible to bond! Good luck x

[Bunnybuggg]

Thank you for the info!

UPDATE:

After a few weeks of having their pens next to each other about 3 inches apart I took them on their 3rd date technically 1st at home in a neutral bathroom. I am thinking it should have been in a smaller bathroom but will try another date soon.

I expected Bun (female) to be aggressive towards Bo (male) since she is no longer free roam in my room, landing, second bedroom and they are both in pens in my bedroom. Bun laid down, and didnt do much, she moved a bit around the bathroom but Bo kept going into Bun’s carrier (I need to get one carrier big enough for both as he is a 10 lb rabbit and she is a 4lb rabbit). They were fine together and they didnt take much interested of each other in the beginning. He stopped and I put Bun next to him, he asked her for grooming and she refused as she did the last 2 other dates (not in our house) and I pet them together. Later Bo kept coming up to Bun seemed like a bit of chasing and he nipped her in the side (rib area). I ended it there. The real issue is ME. I know I cant intervene between their relationship but I am too afraid of something negative happening.

I am so nervous about bonding and worried something will happen, I’m sure the rabbits can feel my energy. I thought I could take this (bonding) on but I am a nervous nelly sweating during bonding sessions. Any advice or help? I have read so many articles and watched videos on bonding but still worried I won’t notice some negative body language or that I am not picking up on stuff. I am typically intuitive with my rabbit Bun but Bo scares me a bit, he is very loud, he is giant, he is not used to people, and he is very destructive, very loud, always chews a lot and Bun is not at all. Could in be age difference and personality?

Also Bo keeps peeing all over the place and pooping all over. Marking?

[Author]

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