Taking the plunge- getting two rabbits

[SquatApe]

I’ve reserved two bunnies from a shelter, they’re really sweet together already but they’re young. Both are unspayed females Around 3 months of age. I can’t pick them up from the shelter until both have been spayed. My question is: since the shelter keeps them together will they already be bonded, or will they likely go through a hormonal period and need to be separated? The shelter also said they might not be ready to pick up at the same time. I know time away from each other can break the bond, so if this is the case do I bring the first one back with me to pick up the second so they can rebond in the car?
Any advice would be appreciated. I’ve never taken on the challenge of two bunnies.
Thanks

[Dface]

Once separated the rabbits will have to undergo the entire bonding process again.
There is a chance the rabbits arent actually bonded , young rabbits are often good with companions and once they get their hormones they will begin fighting.

Honestly if I were you I would talk to the shelter about the bonding. There’s a chance they could do it for you ,(it will delay getting the rabbits but its better to bring home an already bonded pair than the pain of doing the bonding yourself) or even if they had a pre-bonded pair?

[Meesh]

Depending on how old they are, they could be bonded now, but there are many stories about the spay I’ve heard. Either the bunnies are perfect and still bonded after getting spayed, or they completely turn on eachother (or something in between). I would ask them if they could get spayed close to the same time, so that they can recover while in each others presence (the cage next to each other) and so they can still smell each other a and know the comfort of their bun friend is still there, and so so you can pick them up together on the same day. Or like Dface said, ask if they’ll bond them for you.

[tobyluv]

Do you know when the shelter normally spays their rabbits? Since most females aren’t spayed until they are around 6 months old, the bunnies likely should be separated now or very soon to avoid any aggression and fighting brought on by puberty and hormones they will soon be experiencing. Also, rabbits are sometimes mis-sexed, even by vets, and you don’t want any accidental litters if one happens to be a male. Hopefully, the shelter is well versed in rabbits, but it can be difficult to tell in young bunnies. The bond they have now is mostly a temporary baby bunny bond. They will need to go through the bonding process after their surgeries and a few weeks have elapsed for healing and for hormones to abate.

[Moo <3]

I’m surprised that they are “bonded,” considering that they’re not spayed. If they are bonded, however, I would ask the shelter to house both bunnies until they are both ready to go home. Otherwise, talk to the shelter about bonding and see if they are willing to have the bonding done for you, like Dface mentioned. Even after the surgeries, it would take an additional 3-4 weeks for the hormones to completely die down. Best of luck! Keep us updated.

[SquatApe]

So the shelter called me on Wednesday and said I had to come pick them up, or I’d lose my deposit and they’d go up for general adoption. I went to get them, and they rode in the same carrier on the way home. I had them housed together for a couple days, but then one (Moya) started chasing the other (Tex). So now they’re in separate cages, but placed next to each other. Tex seemed really distressed when I moved Moya out, but Moya seemed indifferent. I’m going to let them heal from their surgeries before trying to bond them. They were both spayed at 3mo 3wks old.
Should I keep switching the cages they’re in though?

[Meesh]

If you are waiting for them to heal before bonding, that means that won’t be let out at the same time? So switching cages isn’t necessary, but maybe switching toys.

[SquatApe]

Hey guys,
A quick update:
I tried reintroducing the bunnies, as both were getting quite lethargic and timid. They would hang out at the cage wall that separated their two spaces. The reintroduction seemed to be a huge success. There was very little nipping, one instance of chasing that lead to minor fur-pulling. But within half an hour the two seemed as inseparable as when I got them as babies. I think I’ll still leave them in their own cage overnight and while I’m at work, but I’ll start letting them have larger spaces together while I’m home, as well as tearing down the dividing wall between the cages when I’m home also. The one bunny, Moya, can still be a bit territorial over shelters (I have 4 for the two bunnies and Moya seems to want them all to herself), but they’ve definitely worked out who is in charge. I’m super relieved that they’re getting along as this is my first bunny bonding experience.
I’ll try to figure out how to upload pictures for you guys.
Thanks for all the advice!

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