Strange Question – i.e. Too Many Bunnies

[alienkitties]

Hi – Nice to “see” everyone again.

I have successfully bonded a pair of my bunnies together, but I am still left with one adult fixed male, and 2 4-month old bunnies, 1 male, 1 female. (I will fix the boy baby bunny in another month.) Is it possible to get them all together in ONE LARGE room/area together without a battle? 

What is the greatest number of bunnies anyone has living together, and are there problems with this? Should I even bother trying?

I would simply like to be able to have them together, as I am running out of individual space… Or I will need to find homes for the last rescued bunnies, and that is hard to pick…

Any advice, Ideas?

Thanks!

 

[RabbitPam]

Hi,
FIrst, you must keep the female away from the non-neutered male completely. Not even cages side by side because they are both old enough to get her pregnant.
Second, even if you get him fixed tomorrow, you need to wait at least one month afterward before it is safe to have him near your female. The same is true if you get her spayed first.
So, the need to bond them as a group has to wait until the procedure makes it completely safe.
That said, the neutered male and the female can be together, or both males. However, hormones for the two not yet fixed will be kicking in very soon, and either of them will be aggressive and harder to bond.

Kind of doesn’t answer your question. Well, after all are safely speutered, you definitely can bond a group. Several members have experience with group bonding, and 3 or 4 seem to be the optimal number. Some prefer 4 to have two pairs that hang out well together.
Head over to the Bonding forum and search for groups, posts about 3 or 4, etc. You will find others who have written about their group experiences and progress.
Please don’t reply to any older posts, however. We don’t lock them, but they are basically retired from activity after a few weeks. Full of good info. however.

[tanlover14]

Personally, I think it’s very possible if you’re willing to put in the time and energy that bonding so many unique and dynamic personalities. But make sure you’re willing to put in this time and energy. Bonding multiple rabbits is very different from bonding a pair because you must access and change your bonding strategies and techniques to what fits the group as a whole.

As RabbitPam said, you will not be able to start bonding until all buns are neutered and spayed. Any buns left can develop aggressive hormones to the other bunnies, possibly resulting in a fight that the bunnies won’t recover mentally from – making them MUCH MUCH harder to bond. And like RP mentioned, the female and male need to be kept completely separated.

I have a bonded quartet and in June (most likely) will be adding a fifth to my bonded group. The quartet took about a month to bond from start to finish – but this was with VERY aggressive bonding. My bunnies spent almost every night together – for more than 4 hours in each session. I only did it so aggressively because one of my bonded trio was becoming aggressive towards his bonded mates – so be ready to expect this. Your already bonded pair may break up. I would look through the other forums – at the pros and cons – at the different possibilities – and then make your decision! If you plan to go forward with the bonding, I would love to help! So keep us updated on your decision!

[alienkitties]

I would prefer to keep ALL these last 5 bunnies together God willing. I plan on fixing Frost at the end of the month – or as soon as he is old enough – he is only 3 months now. I can’t fix her for another several months, since she is also 3 months. I am just not sure how to start blending them together. This is tough.

[jerseygirl]

Can you start working on a trio with the bonded pair and adult fixed male?
If you can successfully get a trio bond, then you can add in the younger 2 down the track.

The main issue i believe with groups (particularly larger ones) is the heirachy and the lowest being picked on or not getting access to food easily. The most subordinate may be more stressed and susceptible to illness. So that is something one would have to keep an eye on and counteract. You mightn’t see this too much in a group of 5 thankfully.

I do think groups need space. So if you plan to keep them, try maximize the space they’ll be allowed.
I think some rabbits would do well in a group where as others just never will.
All personal opinion. I don’t have a group, it’s just what I’ve learnt or observed from some people I know that have had or currently have groups.

[alienkitties]

That is sound advice so far. I will do some reading on how to bond the 3, then bring in the last 2 young ones after they have been fixed. Hopefully, since I will be making a big ole bunny haven, they won’t feel as territorial. Crosses fingers. I have never heard of anyone with a large group of bunnies. If it works, it will be 3 male, 2 female.

[tanlover14]

I will have two female and three male when I bond them all in June! Don’t worry – it is possible. There’s a rescue – I can’t think of the name who keeps all their bunnies in really large groups (obviously spayed and neutered). And I’ve heard A LOT with people who have large groups of bunnies (I followed a thread where they bonded 7 bunnies together and the bunnies were fine together after a few days) that the more you add, the more it goes on their natural instincts to be in a large group.

I had much more success bonding my quartet of four bunnies together in a group rather than doing single bonding sessions. I will let you know how the bonding of the fifth bunny goes! I’ve made the decision to start by putting her in the group immediately (in a neutral territory) and seeing how that works out. And then working on in pairs if certain bunnies are fighting.

[jerseygirl]

That’s what I’ve heard too TL. That the rabbits already in a group accept the newcomer more readily.

Are you thinking of a rescue in BC Canada? We have a member on here (not currently active) who worked in a rescue there that kept the rabbits in a large group.

[alienkitties]

So how do I start? Should I bond the pair and the older/fixed male together all at once? Or one on one?

[tanlover14]

I would introduce them separately in pairs and see how each bunny reacts. And then try them together in a very neutral territory as a three-some and see which one you have the most positive reaction from and then work off from there. When putting them in a group though, make sure you have something very stressful nearby. I always used my vacuum cleaner as it would put them all on mega-edge and stress them out if anyone started chasing or being nippy.

I would also try a smaller area. I’ve noticed that the more space I gave my buns when first starting to bond, the more chasing that occurred. I did things really simple in a big box and in my laundry basket. So I could also shake the box to freak them out a little if anyone started being aggressive.

[tanlover14]

Ah, Jersey! Just looked it up – I always see them in my thread but have never added them on Facebook. It’s the Richmond Auto Mall Rabbits? Through Rabbitats I do believe? I’m not sure how they are linked but I know they are the ones who have the bunnies all in a group. I look watching the videos and photos they post – they’re all so interesting to see so many bunnies interacting so peacefully.

[alienkitties]

Thanks!! I will keep you informed.

[alienkitties]

 My first try at a bonding session went decently well. I took ALL 5 bunnies out and set them in my fenced area. It is mostly a neutral spot with the dogs loose OUTSIDE it for a stressor. 

The first try went pretty well. No bad moments beyond a few separations, and I had them all together for about 30 minutes or so. The girls tended to circle each other more, and the boys also. (2 girls, 3 boys) 

There are 2 bonded pairs of a male/female set, and my one unbonded male. 

My second try did NOT go well, and fur flew. I had to quickly separate and remove them. It has made me leery of trying again. 

I will try again, but I am not sure I am going about it right… The main thing, is I am glad I had my gloves on. 

[MoveDiagonally]

Are they all spayed and neutered?

Instead of putting all of them together I would introduce them in pairs.

[tanlover14]

I just began bonding my five the other day also! Sunday actually.

Here’s my thread if you would like to see how I’m going about it.

https://binkybunny.com/tabid/54/aft/125513/Default.aspx

First off, you cannot let them get away with that behavior. The fighting and fur pulling. Which means you cannot end a session like that. If anything they must be stressed bonded. I’ve realized with mine if I really stress them out (a vacuum or something similar – banging on a large metal pan or shaking the pen) they will settle down for a bit. When you get them to settle down and ignore each other THEN separate. Separating while fighting only makes them realize if they fight the other bunny will go away. They will fight every time knowing you will get the other bunny away from them if they do so.

Second off, what does “mostly a neutral spot” mean? It has to be COMPLETELY neutral or bonding will be much more difficult.

It can be very stressful and time consuming and with so many personalities and dynamics it probably won’t be easy bonding them all together. So make sure if you’re going to try you are willing to battle through. Everyone on BB will definitely give you advice and be here to vent to when it gets difficult but there’s lots of people on here who will help you if you decide to keep going!

[alienkitties]

I enjoyed your post on bonding 5 bunnies and will be following!!

I will have to figure out what to do. They area I have blocked off is where their hutches are, so there is poo smells from each of them. Maybe I should make the area smaller – as you suggested – first, and away from the hutches. I am limited on where I can find SAFE neutral territory, as these poor bunnies are outside. I am trying to get them bonded if possible by fall so I can make them one big NICE bunny hutch. If they are in the different ones, they are limited in what I can do for them, and for their comfort. I can’t wait to get rid of the old ones. BUT first have to bond them – otherwise the hubby won’t let me do it.

[bunnygirl]

No!! Don’t bond now!! Didn’t you say not everybody is spayed/neutered?! You’re setting yourself up for a pregnancy AND ruining the chance of a cemented bond in the future, since the bunnies will fight b/c of hormones!!

[alienkitties]

All of the males are fixed. It is the 2 females that are not yet fixed. So I should not try bonding the group until the females are fixed FIRST?

[MoveDiagonally]

All the bunnies should be fixed BEFORE bonding.

I’m confused at your situation. You have 5 bunnies and some are bonded? Which are fixed and which are not?

[MoveDiagonally]

Okay, I re-read a bit.

So, you have:
2 male/female pairs where the female is not spayed?
1 single male that is neutered?

Is this correct?

The reason the girls caused more issues in your bonding session is because they are not spayed. Something else to be aware of is when you spay the females there might be issues with their existing bonds. A rabbits smell changes as their hormones die down and sometimes other rabbits do not “recognize” them. This should not be used as a reason not to spay, they SHOULD be spayed. Not only for bonding but because of the high risk of uterine cancer. I just wanted to make sure you were aware of it so you could keep an eye on them and separate them if they start to fight.

I wouldn’t do anymore bonding until the females are spayed + 1 month. At that point you can assess your situation and see if both bonded pairs are still bonded and then move forward from there.

[alienkitties]

My plan is to fix the girls as well. It just takes a while to earn the money for the girls. So I started with the boys first. Glitter is only a few months old, so isn’t old enough to be fixed yet – and Juju (Princess Ruby Jewel) is just shy of a year. My fixed males are Hummer (shy of 3 years), Faji (around 3 years) and Frost who is 6 months. I used my “egg” money to fix them first, since the cost was so much less. It will cost just shy of $150 – $180 to get EACH of the girls fixed, so it takes longer. I only make about $30 or so a month with eggs.

So should I stop trying to bond the bunnies completely until I get the girls fixed? Or should I continue to try them as a complete group? I know this sounds like a mess, but I really do want to do what is best for the bunnies regardless of the “mess” here!! LOL Maybe it would make bonding them all easier, as the smells will be different if I wait? I am concerned for Hummer’s relationship. He has been depressed, as bonding for him failed several times. I tried bonding him with several other bunnies, and although he was game, not a one until Glitter wanted to be with him. He was a sad bunny… So I am worried about fixing Glitter, but I want what is best for the both.

I have also read conflicting info on how soon to re-bond after fixing a female bunny. I know she needs anywhere from 1 week, to a MONTH, so what is correct? It is summer, and very hot here, so her recovery would be inside… which will make the hubby unhappy… but that is what needs to happen for her sake.

ALSO, is it better to take BOTH females to be fixed at the same time? To stress ALL of the bunnies to the same degree? Or one at a time? Because I was thinking if I fixed them BOTH at the same time, then brought them ALL together to try bonding again, maybe that might work best? What do you think?

[MoveDiagonally]

 I definitely understand it taking a while to save up the money for it. I also have 5 rabbits and spays/neuters are costly. I also have no doubts that you love and want what’s best for them. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be here asking for advice!  

My advice is to STOP bonding until the females are altered + 1 month for healing and hormones to level out. Continuing to bond them now may put everyone in a dangerous situation, break bonds, or generally result in a “mess” later. 

 

Here is what I would do:

Pick a male/female bonded pair and get the female spayed as soon as you can. Bring them BOTH inside while she heals for 1 month. I would try to keep them together while she heals as a way to preserve the bond. If her smell changes slowly while the male is around it may prevent a bond break up. You will need to be careful and watchful though, the last thing you want is for them to hurt each other while she’s healing from surgery. 

 

If the bond is broken – re bond them. 

If the bond is preserved – bond them with the single male, making a trio. 

 

Spay the other female and do the same thing as you did with the first. Bring them BOTH inside for 1 month and try to preserve their bond, etc. 

 

If the bond is preserved – Try to bond the trio with the pair.

If the bond is broken – Do NOT re bond. Pick on of them and bond them with your trio, making a quartet. Once you have a quartet bond the last rabbit with the group. 

 

Does that make sense?

[alienkitties]

Yes!

Got it. Ok then, I guess… I will email again… in about… a month!! LOL

[tanlover14]

I didn’t realize they weren’t all fixed!!

I definitely agree with MD. You really don’t wanna get into a mess with them and their hormones fighting and making bonding difficult or impossible.

[alienkitties]

Sounds like a plan then. I will get the lovely ladies fixed. Starting with one pair, then on to the next as advised. I will let you guys know how it goes after another month or so, since it’s apparently going to be a while longer….

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