Rabbits lost their bond

[GalaxyBunny]

I have 4 rabbits total but this post is regarding two that used to share a cage. They had to be separated when their genders were determined and then for 4 more weeks after getting home from the vet. I re-introduced them in my living room (for a more neutral space) and immediately the male began chasing and trying to mount the female. Even though he’s castrated. She kept running from him and thumping. She ran back to her cage and when he tried to follow her in, she growled and lunged at his face. I put him back in the cage with the male he’s been kept with, and I guess he was still worked up from chasing the female that then he began chasing the male in their cage.
The bonding sessions don’t go any better when all 4 of them are loose together either. It becomes like a battle of the sexes. And I don’t understand what’s going on since they’re fixed and they used to all love eachother. Id love to get them all together in the extra large double decker hutch and for them to be friends again, but they’ve seem to lose their bond completely.
Any tips and tricks to help them would be appreciated.
Ive also read that every time I try and have to stop the bonding session, it basically resets all the progress but I feel inclined to stop it in fear that they may hurt each other.

[Sirius&Luna]

I think you need to start them in a smaller space, they shouldn’t be able to chase and run. Start them off with very short sessions in a small space, and end it before they start getting annoyed. Even if that means they each sit in a corner of a box for a minute, it means they’re getting used to the other’s presence not being a threat. Once they can do a minute, make it 2, then 5, then 10 etc. I think its fine to stroke them both to start with, or to offer food as a distraction.

It might also be too soon after their neuters, my male was still exhibiting hormonal behaviors 6 weeks after his neuter.

[sarahthegemini]

When you’re bonding, it needs to be in complete neutral territory so nowhere near their current enclosures. Have you done any pre bonding?

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