Prebonding vs neutral territory and getting a new rabbit

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This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 6 months ago by vanessa.

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- 05/14/2017 at 2:43 PM
  Floppy
  Participant
  84 posts
  I have researched into bonding a lot and have found a lot of conflicting info.
  
  I have agreed to provisionally adopt a 1 year old spayed female rabbit as a potential partner for Casper, I will be collecting her after Casper is neutered in mid June. It is a 30 minute journey for the new rabbit to my home. Should I keep her in a seperate room to begin with? The other room has my hamsters in it, is this an issue?
  
  The family are rehoming her because they say she would not bond with their existing rabbit and that their rabbit isn’t good with kids, I don’t have kids.
  
  What are opinions here on prebonding first vs neutral territory meetings first? Do I need to wait a month after my rabbit has been neutered, even though she is spayed? Even for pre bonding? (Putting cages together)
- 05/14/2017 at 2:54 PM
  BunnyFriends
  Participant
  383 posts
  It’s alright if they’re in the same room, just make sure there’s always a few inches of space between cages so no biting or mating (for unfixed buns) occurs. Hamsters also shouldn’t be a problem as long as neither can access the other.
  
  Pre bonding should be fine, just give a week or two for her to settle down. It’s just swapping items and seeing each other so it’s okay. And yes, you should wait a month so he heals and the hormones die down.
- 05/14/2017 at 3:02 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Both pre-bonding and neutral territory are essential, it’s not a one or the other type of thing. You need to let your new bun settle in. After a couple of weeks you can begin pre-bonding, then after a month or so you can begin actual bonding on neutral territory.
- 05/16/2017 at 5:58 AM
  Floppy
  Participant
  84 posts
  Thanks for replies I’m still confused? Should I let the new rabbit settle in before putting her in same room as existing rabbit? Then progress to having the cages in the same room and then meeting on neutral territory ?
  
  Sorry if I’m being a bit dumb
- 05/16/2017 at 6:20 AM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Posted By Floppy on 5/16/2017 5:58 AM
  
  Thanks for replies I’m still confused? Should I let the new rabbit settle in before putting her in same room as existing rabbit? Then progress to having the cages in the same room and then meeting on neutral territory ?
  
  Sorry if I’m being a bit dumb
  
  Don’t be silly, you’re not being dumb
  
  I suppose it depends on how your current bun would react. I would probably put new bun in another room and then after a week or two (so new bun can settle a bit) do some scent swapping (litter trays, blankets etc) and then move new bun to the same room as current bun. Continue with scent swapping/pre-bonding and then proceed with a meeting on neutral territory
- 05/16/2017 at 7:22 AM
  vanessa
  Participant
  2212 posts
  I agree with Sarah. Although I wouldn’t either see the harm in letting the new bunny settle in same room with enough distance between the cages – it depends on how your current bun reacts.
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