Rabbits being neutered today – bonding question

[JR]

I have two male dwarf lop ears. They are brothers. They’re about 5 months old.

One has been trying to mount the other for a few weeks and I had to separate them. They have a double hutch outside in a penned off area that is approx 6 feet x 12 feet. To separate them, I simply put a temporary fence down the middle and used an indoor cage I’d bought for one, whilst the other had the hutch. They now each have an area approx 6 x 6 feet.

I’ve given them time together on and off and sometimes they were fine, mostly cuddling and grooming each other, but as soon as the mounting started, I separated them again.

Decided they had to be neutered and actually put them together for 5 minutes this morning before taking them to the vet and they had their first actual fight. biting, scratching and a few bits of fur flying. I had to separate them again, but in the same transport cage to the vets, they were fine.

My question is really about rebonding them after the op. I expect to keep them separated for a short time after today, but I was reading about neutral territory and it’s something I’d never thought of. Clearly, the main hutch will ultimately be their shared home again and whichever one I put in it now is going to be territorial about that.

Should I take the hutch away and only introduce that when they’re bonded?

Should I definitely have a separate, neutral area to bond them? Or will lifting the fence in the middle be ok to bond them?

They will never be indoor rabbits so bringing them in the house to bond is not an option.

[Vienna Blue in France]

You could swap the buns over one in hutch and one in cage… alternately.
And then when they are bonded and ready to go together it could be thoroughly cleaned out safely – but by then it will have both odours and should be OK.

And, au contraire, indoors (kitchen & bathroom are generally safe) would be perfect neutral territory to bond them as neither will have been there.
Some put them in the bathtub to bond. It’s only 10-15 mins per session to begin with. don’t forget to prepare oven gloves as protection and/or a squirty bottle of plain water.

What a shame they can’t come in from time to time – mine do. Main condo outside but when I’m here to supervise they are in…
You’ll soon see that (partially) indoor bunnies are great ! And its nicer for them too.

[Author]

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