When is it safe to leave them alone? Help!

[OskarAnnie]

I’ve been bonding my two rabbits, Oskar and Annabelle (both neutered/spayed) for the passed week. Slowly but steadily progress has been made and the two of them even took a nap together this afternoon, but I’m not sure when it would be okay to leave them entirely alone. What should I look for to see if there is still any hostility between them? How can you tell that it’s time to trust them to be alone?

They got into a minor skirmish yesterday, but Annabelle just scared Oskar after she did a binky near him and kicked him in the face (he was not very happy about that and thumped). I’m afraid that maybe something will happen to Oskar because he’s about 6 pounds lighter than Annabelle. What should I do?

[Monkeybun]

if they can handle a few hours together with no huge issues ( a thump is fine ) you can probably start an over night session. camp out on the floor just in case

[Beka27]

Unfortunately at this stage, you just have to go for it. I started off by moving them into their final “together” space and leaving them there all day, then all night, then all the next day. You want to keep them together and confined in their space for two weeks straight.

[Elrohwen]

I stayed home with the bunnies for the first couple days they were living together in a pen and I slept on the couch near them every night. I didn’t really sleep that well, because I was worried about them, but it went fine and I’m glad I was nearby to stop any potential fights.

[OskarAnnie]

Thank you all! Today was the first day that I let them both out in the cage unsupervised. It was only for about a half hour, and when I came back they were both on opposite sides of the pen ignoring each other. I hope that this is a good sign! I just want them to get along.

[MarkBun]

It would be better if they were closer but any time there isn’t any aggression being shown is a good time. The hardest thing is to make that last step – especially because you really don’t want to go backwards. Once you make the decision to have them together you shouldn’t separate them again unless there is an actual injury. It sucks but if you separate them when they fight, they’ll think that fighting is how to get rid of the other bunny.

[Scousebunny]

I tried to introduce my neutered male bunny to my unspayed female bunny at the weekend. She went ballistic, grabbing at the bars of the cage. Then when she finished she just circled the cage he was in like a shark! I guess I shall have to spay her unless anyone has any other ideas?!

[Monkeybun]

Definitely spay her. It’s better for her health, and unspayed females are more territorial and aggressive. Better for her to get spayed for everyone involved

[LoveChaCha]

Please get her spayed. It will make bonding easier, as well as less aggressiveness.

[OskarAnnie]

My two rabbits now live together and are left alone, except they only occasionally get really cuddly with one another. Does that mean they’re still getting used to each other? Have they bonded yet? They share the same food bowl, litterbox and water, they just don’t sleep right next to each other.

Hopefully it’ll just take time?

[cactuspancake]

PLEASE be careful. My vet says she constantly gets rabbits in with missing eyes/ ears/ and ripped lips from not being properly bonded. She said I was really lucky to only have a piece of my bunny’s ear missing. Bunnies can turn vicious quick. HRS says to wait a few weeks. Jasmine and Franz did ok for a few hours in the beginning, then there was blood. Just be careful!

[OskarAnnie]

Are there signs for that happening? There was a turn around today, they both kept following each other, I just don’t know what it’s like to know when bunnies are properly bonded. How can you tell if you’ve made it?

[Monkeybun]

Not all bonds are lovey dovey. Some bonds are more best friend-like, some are comfy roommate type. All bonds are different, yours may just be the way they are, not attached at the hip so to speak.

Keep an eye on them, don’t let them have playtime separate from each other for at least 2 weeks. They need to cement the bond. They will settle into it as time passes

[Scousebunny]

I will definitely be getting Cynthia spayed, they are being kept 20 miles apart at the moment because I don’t want Rupert hurt. I have booked two days off work next week to look after her post-op.

As for other bunnies bonding, I had two male rabbits years ago who did everything together and doted on each other – rammed up together to go to sleep. But I have had bunnies who are a bit more independent. I think it just depends on personality like humans choosing to sit apart on a bus even though they are mates!

[jerseygirl]

OskarAnnie, if they’ve been sharing the habitat and going about normal bunny business without fighting then there’s a bond there. It should develop over the next week or so. Here, we often refer to it as ”cementing the bond”, as in strengthening it. So keep them together to allow that to happen.  There is a period where there might be a few little things the need to sort our between them but if it’s not going into full blown fights then it’s all good.
My pair seemed to grow closer over time. You might notice that with your own or they may just stay roomies rather then be couple-like. ;o)

[OskarAnnie]

They’re doing wonderful together, but now Oskar’s a lot more reserved and isn’t being his normal self. I’m afraid that may be he’s not getting enough food but this started this morning when I changed their food and water and instead of both of the rabbits coming to the bowl, only Annabelle did. Throughout the day Oskar hasn’t really moved, even during playtime. I picked him up and put him on my bed, he ran right back to his pen, so I don’t think there’s anything wrong with him physically (he was hoping around and lounging in his pen just fine) Is this kind of behavior normal? Tonight is their fourth night and Annabelle’s still acting the same.

[Beka27]

That behavior sounds like a bunny on the cusp of a stasis-like episode. If he is still like that today, especially if not eating or pooping, is your vet or ER vet open?

[OskarAnnie]

He was fine today, he ate a lot and was completely ready for playtime. Should I take him to the vet anyway? I’m just confused as to what happened.

[Beka27]

Just keep an eye on him. When my Mead gets borderline “stasis” behavior, she will behave similarly. If I lift her she runs right back and hides. She’ll squash down in the litterbox (and she never lounges in the litterbox when she’s well).

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