Please Help W/ Bonding Issue…

[Jackie237]

I have a question about bonding my rabbits that I hope
Someone may have an answer/solution to.
It is rather a complex problem.

Firstly, I already have three rabbits. A neutered buck, a spayed female, and
her daughter (also spayed) the buck is her father. Mom and dad rabbit has been
together since they were weeks old, now they’re two years old.

I recently adopted a new bunny in , she’s only a couple of months old. Right
off the bat, the buck grooms her and gets along with her just fine.
In neutral territory, the mom and daughter bunny would usually ignore the new
bunny. Sometimes they even groom next to her or lay side -by-side.

It was like this for a several days; a couple times each day. No fights no hostile acts from any rabbits.
So I decided to hold the new bunny in the trio’s cage. What happened was the
mom and daughter bunny immediately started chasing the new one around and it was really clear that
They were chasing her away. I went back to neutral territory a couple times per day and everything went well as before.

But once the new bunny gets anywhere near the trio’s house, the mom and daughter bunny chases her and bites her! Then they settle down again, but when the rabbit goes near them, they go crazy and starts chasing her again.
What do you think is the best thing to do right now? I’m confused how they get so along anywhere besides their own home.
The new one is currently living in a separate cage next to the others, but they seem very hostile when the bunny goes close to the cage between them.

Thank you

[Snowytoshi]

If they’re in a neutral space, they’re not going to be defensive of it because they do not feel like they own it. When you put your rabbits together for a 24 hour bond, then you have to do it in a neutral space.

[Beka27]

What can be changed about the final home location? Have you been switching the trio and the single between the two spaces? And is there a reason you’re trying to bond before she is spayed?

[Jackie237]

Do you mean putting my current rabbits into the new bunny’s cage and vice versa?
I’m trying to bond them now because I thought it’d be easier to bond them again after she’s altered. She isn’t old enough yet. I’m guessing that’s not a good idea ?

[tanlover14]

Your solution is probably pretty simple. Your current buns are just very territorial. By switching up the buns into each cage, she does mean what you said. However, when introducing a new bunny into another area you should alter and thoroughly clean the whole cage, even switching it up so the current buns almost think it’s different or put into a different spot. All three of mine were in cages until bonded, once almost bonded they were all put into a new set-up so no one could be territorial of it since it was a new space that none had been in. What is your current setup — we may be able to help you come up with ideas to switch it around a bit.

[Jackie237]

This is the current set up for my current 3 rabbits. (Sorry I had to use link, had problems with posting the pic in this reply.

 

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/843204…hotostream

I would also like to add that I’m limited in space on where I can have their cage. There homing can only be in the den area because my parents disallow the rabbits to live in my room.

 

Thanks

[tanlover14]

Okay — I would start by keeping them in a neutral territory while creating a neutral situation long-term. First off, it looks like you have all towels and blankets covering the floor so take those out and wash thoroughly in the washer. And take the litter boxes and clean entirely especially with vinegar to help get rid of any smell the other rabbits may have given off. Is there any way you could take that 2nd level and configure the house so the 2nd level goes length-wise rather than width-wise? You really want to eliminate the smell and make it look different enough for them to be confused. haha! And maybe flip-flop the box on the top so the opening is on the other side for the second level. What I was thinking was putting the 2nd level across right in the front of the TV so the opening is still directly out towards the room. OR how about making TWO second levels? In two corners of the cage? So having a 2nd level where you have one now but with using 2 NIC cubes long instead of three? And then doing the same thing on the opposite side? Doing this is usually enough change for them to not consider it “theirs” right away. When we had this problem with an issue we were having with litter-box habits inside the cage (not sure what caused it but we needed it back to a neutral territory) and we simply took everything in the cage and flip-flopped it. So there 2nd level was on the opposite side and the 3rd level was flip-flopped to the other side and they were confused enough for it to be neutral again. They spent the whole day getting used to this “new” area.

And then introduce them to the “new area” all at the same time. I think it will really help your situation without forcing you to change around the whole room they are being kept in. I would also introduce some new things in the area that has none of their scents on it — specifically a whole new cardboard box and maybe adding a new one to the bottom somewheres.

[Jackie237]

That’s a really good idea, thank you so much! I will definitely try it.
Should I keep arranging “bunny dates” for them on neutral ground ? They’ve only been meeting about 6-7 days but get along fine from the start on neutral territory. It’s just their territory that is the big problem.

[Monkeybun]

You’ll have to cement the bond outside of hte trio’s space. ANd when the 4 have been together for 24hours+ in the neutral area, fully clean and de-scent the trio’s cage so that its neutral too. Then you won’t get the huge fights.

[Author]

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