Trio, Quartet, or 2 doubles?

[Alex&Clary]

I have 4 rabbits, one pair, and 2 singles. I would like some opinions on what to do with them. I currently have the pair in a different room from my 2 singles, but the girls are in the same room. I have heard that 2 girls aren’t always good, so I was wondering if it would be better to do a trio, a quartet, 2 sets of doubles, or a double and 2 singles. 

So some background I have Clary a BEW Rex about 2yo female, Ruby a REW flemish giant about 4 yo female, Brownie a mix about 1 yo female, Tumbleweed lionhead 7yo male. Currently Brownie and Tumbleweed are a bonded pair, who get along pretty well, some humping from Tumbleweed still,  but they cuddle and groom and get along well. 

I was thinking either bond Clary and Ruby and have 2 pairs, or bond Clary to my current pair of Brownie and Tumbleweed, or do a quartet of all 4. I think I want to start by trying to bond Clary and Ruby because that was always my goal when I adopted Ruby, but I know 2 females can be hard, so then I was thinking if that doesn’t work I’ll try to bond Clary Brownie and Tumbleweed, and if that works that I would try to add Ruby. I would really like to have a nice harmonious quartet if possible. But if I can’t I will also be happy with my pair and 2 singles, or even if I have to 4 singles, but I don’t predict that. 

Just looking for advice from someone who has done groups in the past, I have never done more than a pair, so I am hoping for some positive stories. 

Any advice is welcome! 

I wouldn’t start prebonding for a few weeks if not months still just so I wait until I have time, but I still want to at least get a plan in place!

[Sirius&Luna]

If it was me, I would start by aiming for the ideal, which is a quartet. If that doesn’t work, then hopefully you’ll have at least learned who might like to pair up/who definitely won’t work. Of course, that does risk breaking your current pair, so it shouldn’t be taken lightly! It does depend how territorial your current pair are.

[Alex&Clary]

My current pair turned out to be very territorial of one another, and Clary and Ruby really don’t like tumbleweed, so it looks like it will probably be 2 singles, Clary and Ruby, and my pair Brownie and Tumbleweed. I tried a date with Clary and Ruby since they love to mirror each other and sit near each other through the bars, but it only lasted about 5 minutes before devolving into a bit of a spinning event, its strange since they share food and grooms through the bars, but as soon as they are together without bars they are out for blood, not that they have ever actually drawn blood from each other, they did get me once, but I might go back to prebonding and try switching enclosures more, since I was really only switching things and litter boxes, but this could also be that Ruby is just too territorial for a partner, either way, they are happy as is, and I might look for a partner for clary since I know she loves to groom, but she’s also a humper, so might take a while to find a parter for her! Anyway this was long and rambley, if you read it thanks, lol, just wanted to share!

[Bianca]

I would go for two pairs to start with, and then you could always look at a quartet down the track once your pairs are truly established. If there is still humping going on they don’t have a 100% bond anyway – that’s a dominance thing still being sorted out.

Females can be bonded. It’s more of a challenge, but depending on the rabbits it isn’t that hard. The main thing you need is lots of patience. It may take quite a few months. Lots and lots of pre bonding. Then short dates. If they scuffle after 5 minutes, keep the date shorter than that. Try dates in the bathtub – I have found that a really good neutral territory for initial bonding dates.

Lots and lots of patience is your main thing.

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