New bunny in the house! Have a couple questions.

[ravishingRabbit]

We’ve added a new bunny to our family, his name is Rorschach. He’s the same breed as Abigail (not that that matters) and he’s 3 months old. He hasn’t been neutrered yet (but he’s going to be within the next month most likely), Abigail is spayed though. They’ve been introduced, they actually spend most of the day hanging out in a blocked off section of the kitchen (basically the only neutral room in the house) where they’ll spend the day running around some, doing various social things like eating together or washing themsleves (occasionally throwing the other bunny a couple licks) as well as they will sit/rest right next to each other. They also completely plop down near each other, occasionally they try to plop down right next to the other bunny but they always seem to have terrible timing with it, one will do it when the other one is still in a “up and running around” mood and vice versa. At night they sleep in seperate cages that are next-ish to each other. For the most part they’re nice with each other, especially when they’re in their cages. Abigail in particular is very nice about the whole thing and keeps putting her nose down to get licks (which seems to almost always get ignored).

Rorschach though from time to time decides to get nippy and start a fight. I know the fact that non-neutered/spayed bunnies can be a bit more agrressive because of all the hormones so I guess my question is will he maybe be more friendly once he’s been neutered? Should I just keep them apart alltogether until then despite that they’re mostly nice to each other when in the kitchen? I’d like for them to eventually live in the same cage/be able to run around freely in the house together without any major worries (which would actually be Abigails current cage/cube condo).

Which leads me to my follow-up question of is that going to be possible as well or is Abigail going to feel that the entire cage is forever hers even if they get to the point of being bonded?

 

Thanks!

[bunnyfriend]

Yes, I think they should be separated until a month after his neuter. I know it’s hard, but you don’t want either of them to get hurt. Even if they are seemingly getting along right now a fight is unpredictable.

For your second question, I would bond them first in a place that is a neutral territory. Once they are ready to move in with each other you should wipe down the cage with vinegar. That might help make Abigail less territorial of the cage.

Edit: Oh I also forgot to mention that an a male who is not altered is just more interested in making babies, so it wouldn’t be a true bond.

[ravishingRabbit]

Ok, as a follow-up question then, any particular type of vinegar or does any kind do? Also the flooring in Abigails cage is carpeted, does that make a difference as far as the whole vinegar spraying thing goes? Also I just thought I’d add as well that he’s not once tried to mount Abigail so I’m not sure how interested he is in in making babies right now, he’s still pretty young though.

[bunnyfriend]

I use white vinegar (household vinegar), mix 2 parts water with 1 part vinegar in a spray bottle. I’m not really sure about the carpet, I was wondering about what to do with it myself when my bunnies move in together. So far I am just planning on vacuuming. The vinegar spray works amazingly well on getting out pee stains on carpet though, I’m expecting my male bunny will probably pee on it a couple times when he moves in.

Your so lucky about the no mounting thing! He may very well not have reached maturity yet, or mounting is just not in his personality. Mounting can be purely a dominance thing.

[ravishingRabbit]

Thanks! I’ll probably try spraying the carpet eventually when the time comes to it, I already vacuum the cage once in a while anyways because it’s the easiest way to clean it from the litter in the litter box getting flung around when Abigail jumps in and our of her toilet. I’ve been using the Kaytee Soft Granule Blend Bedding and while it’s a lot less dusty than the previous kind I was using that stuff flies everywhere so easily. Once the bag I have is used up I might look into finding another kind.

Yeah, I consider myself blessed so far for the no mounting thing. Abigail tried mounting him a couple times the first time they hung out together but it was literally just a couple times in the very beginning and she hasn’t done it since.

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