Separating a Bonded Pair

[Lydia O]

Today my two french angoras, James and Harriet, are 3 months old! Hooray!

They are brother and sister and have never been apart for more than a few minutes. But, as they are getting closer to being sexually mature, and I don’t want any Oops litters, I will be separating them soon. I wonder if anyone has any tips for destressing them after they are separated. They are very well bonded and spend most of the day and night snuggled together. It feels pretty awful splitting up such a close pair, I am especially worried about James since he has always been the most affectionate of the two, but it’s for their own good. Once they have been fixed I will be rebonding them.

I will be alternating their cages daily so they stay used to each other’s scent and may try the bunny double trick (stuffed animal with the other rabbits scent) hopefully this will help make the rebonding process much smoother.

Any tips for destressing while separated or helping along the rebonding process are greatly appreciated.

Thank you!  

[JackRabbit]

My lops are half-brother and sister, and were separated at about the same age as yours. They each had an xl dog crate and we kept those right next to each other. Marlee and Moshi couldn’t touch, but still slept “next” to each other (I set the crates up end-to-end with the “layouts” as mirror images), ate together, tried to touch noses, etc. We had them spayed/neutered on the same day so both would “smell” like the vet’s office. Once their hormones died down, we let them have play time together every day. They moved back in together a few months ago (would have been sooner but we were renovating their new bunny room). Their bond was never broken.

[Lydia O]

Thanks for the encouraging response. I hope it will go just as well with my bunns! 

[Author]

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