When better bond sassy teenager and adult rabbit?

[Chii]

Hi everyone!

26.08 I adopted a lionhead girl from shelter. She had some health problems (was fed muesli, had tiny poop), but now everything is fine. She was neutered 22.07. It wasn’t clear what age she is, but now I bet that it’s around 5-7 months, because she is showing a teenage bunny behaviour – she is cage protective, built a nest once, growls and charges at everything in cage, destroyed all toys, is leaving poop/pees everywhere and overall is very sassy. At the same time, she binky a lot, loves head rubs, sits in my lap and licks me. I think it is almost 100% that it’s just a phase and will be over soon.

I have another bunny – 1 year 7 month neutered male rabbit. He is super cuddly and very very calm, laid-back and lazy, affectionate bunny. I want to bond them, but I don’t know what would be the best time to do it?

Currently Miffy (the girl) is very active and aggressive and I am not sure she would behave during bonding. Muffin (the boy) is free range bunny, so I keep them in same room, but Miffy lives in cage on a shelf, where they can’t reach each other. During Miffy’s play time, she uses one part of room and Muffin calmly chills at other part. I am sure they can see each other but doesn’t seem to care.

When should I better start bonding them? Should I wait until Miffy will calm down?

Thank you in advance!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Just curious, was the nest building before or after she was spayed?

When you let MIffy out, where does Muffin go? Is he in a cage or are they both free roam in your room?

Have you introduced them yet?

[Chii]

LittlePuffyTail, She build the nest few days after we brought her home, so it was about a month after surgery. I called to shelter to make sure they actually spayed her She was very aggressive at that time. I left her and nest alone, and she destroyed it herself after few days.

We live in a studio with a hardwood floor. Muffin can’t walk on hardwood, so he walks on the part of room that has carpet and on the sofa. Miffy can walk on hardwood (will have to bunny-proof every corner!) so I sit with her in the “kitchen” part, with no carpet. Between her and Muffin stands the cage (I bring cage from shelf, so Miffy can go out and back without picking her up) and a chair, so they can’t rush to each other. Miffy’s playtime is supervised.

There weren’t proper introduction I guess. First day we brought Miffy home, Muffin sat on sofa and looked on her for some time, and they still sometimes look at each other. During play time they see each other, too. I picked up Muffin (he doesn’t mind much) and showed him Miffy in cage from like few inch distance. They looked at each other and Miffy tried to reach him, sniffing the air. No aggression, though.

[Victoria]

I’m actually going through something really similar. I am slowly bonding them so my shelter bunny can get used to me & my apartment.

[Chii]

Victoria, what do you mean by bonding slowly? And how is it going?

[Author]

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