new bunny baby girl and a 10 mo old neutered male

[karenleslie]

My fiance and I are owned by a neutered 10 mo old bunny named Harvey and we just got a new 8 week old girl bunny, Kali…knowing that they couldn’t be fully bonded until she is spade.  However, I’ve discovered a flaw my plan now that I am doing more research. I didn’t realize that girls shouldn’t be fixed until 5 or 6 months old (I thought 3 or 4 mos like boy buns).  I thought that I’d beable to bond them and get her spade before she reached maturity….wishful thinking. 

So, now that I know the law of the land…I’m wondering if anyone can offer advice on how best to keep them happy until after she has been spade and healed etc.  I want to do what is best for them and their chances to be great friends!

Can they share play space at all?  Should I keep their cages near eachother? In seperate rooms?  They have met, 2x’s for about 10 min in the bathtub, and he seems curious of her but kind of indifferent, she is very curious and wants to play and cuddle.  But…on his turf he is definitely territorial, doesn’t like it when she checks out ‘his stuff’.  And that might pose a challange because he owns most of our apartment, he is a free-range bun whenever we are home and for short periods when we are out and about too.  He does sleep in a closed cage at night though.

Whaddya think?

Thank you all for your help!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Best to wait until she’s spayed and healed for bonding. You may do great, and make headway however after she’s spayed, you could be back at square one.

They may do a poop war if they are close but that’s probably a good way to start. Also you could start ‘stunt doubles’ giving each a plush toy to absorb smell and then swapping them out-just to get them used to each other. They could probably share a play area, but at seperate times. They may do a lot of marking though (poops) which can be a pain to clean !

If he’s totally free range is their a room that’s not really his, where she can play that won’t make him mad?

[MooBunnay]

If it were me, I think that I would still keep the cages near each other so they can get used to each other, and use the recommendation that K&K had about using “stunt doubles” and switching them between pens. I agree that may lead to some territorial marking on both of their behalfs – so don’t be surprised if Harvey drops a few poops off around the apartment to reinforce where his territory is.

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