Wow, thanks for all the info. Our first rescue bunny is neutered but our most recent addition (we adopted our foster bunny in Dec.) has not been spayed. We got her from the SPCA and they adopted her out to bond with my Gus, knowing she wasn't yet spayed. She is a little over a year old. I'm going to try to have her done in the next 6 months. Also she was used to living with another bun in her previous home apparently...
@KelzBelz76 thats ok :) i realised how much I was typing like, oh this is a long explanation! lol!
well it's a good start that she previously lived with another bunny - many single rabbits don't know how to respond when put with others. I'm suprised she wasn't spayed whilst with the SPCA, most rescue animals are fixed before they're rehome. If i was you I'd try getting her spayed ASAP, the longer you leave it the more chance of her getting repriductive cancer. let me know how bonding goes :)
@KelzBelz76 hi :) sadly I spoke too soon - they're going through another hormonal period and cant be together now or they hump and chase each other :( They're 8 months and ready to be spayed, once I'm finished this tough college period I'll get them spayed!
Well first things first, are they spayed/neutered? They will fight untill they're fixed, after which their hormones will settle. The best thing to do is keep them near each other - cages in the same room ect, so they're used to seeing...
@KelzBelz76 ... each other. feed them near each other - have their hay and pellets as close to each other as possible so they assosiate yummy food with being near each other. Then start swapping their stuff - toys, blankets, litter trays - anything with their scent, swap over so they smell each other close up. When you come to bonding them, find a neutral territory - back of a car/bath tub ect, so neither owns the area. baths are great because they can't move fast, so they can't attack! ...
@KelzBelz76 ... spend a few minutes at a time allowing them to touch each other. perhaps harness them (only if they're used to harness') so you can control and restrict their movements. If you think they're likely to bite or scratch wear long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself. If these initial meetings go well, put them in a large room together (again, a neutral one) and give them LOADS of boxes, toys, food ect to distract them, and sit with them. good signs are them exploring and not...
@KelzBelz76 ... becoming agressive. it's better for them to ignore each other at first. gradually increase these "play dates" from about 5 minute to an hour or so, or as long as they're behaving and you're on guard. remember, bonding can take as little as a few days to as long as several months, so you need the patience of a saint lol! if they fight, go right back to stage one. at night, swap their cages. if you trust them enough, you can then try leaving them together longer. good luck! <3
Wow, thanks for all the info. Our first rescue bunny is neutered but our most recent addition (we adopted our foster bunny in Dec.) has not been spayed. We got her from the SPCA and they adopted her out to bond with my Gus, knowing she wasn't yet spayed. She is a little over a year old. I'm going to try to have her done in the next 6 months. Also she was used to living with another bun in her previous home apparently...
KelzBelz76 1 year ago
@KelzBelz76 thats ok :) i realised how much I was typing like, oh this is a long explanation! lol!
well it's a good start that she previously lived with another bunny - many single rabbits don't know how to respond when put with others. I'm suprised she wasn't spayed whilst with the SPCA, most rescue animals are fixed before they're rehome. If i was you I'd try getting her spayed ASAP, the longer you leave it the more chance of her getting repriductive cancer. let me know how bonding goes :)
vixitrixalina 1 year ago
Aww, they're friends now :)
My gosh they are adorable.
I would like to bond my bunnies but I am nervous! I don't want them to hurt each other... or me in the process. Any tips?
KelzBelz76 1 year ago
@KelzBelz76 hi :) sadly I spoke too soon - they're going through another hormonal period and cant be together now or they hump and chase each other :( They're 8 months and ready to be spayed, once I'm finished this tough college period I'll get them spayed!
Well first things first, are they spayed/neutered? They will fight untill they're fixed, after which their hormones will settle. The best thing to do is keep them near each other - cages in the same room ect, so they're used to seeing...
vixitrixalina 1 year ago
@KelzBelz76 ... each other. feed them near each other - have their hay and pellets as close to each other as possible so they assosiate yummy food with being near each other. Then start swapping their stuff - toys, blankets, litter trays - anything with their scent, swap over so they smell each other close up. When you come to bonding them, find a neutral territory - back of a car/bath tub ect, so neither owns the area. baths are great because they can't move fast, so they can't attack! ...
vixitrixalina 1 year ago
@KelzBelz76 ... spend a few minutes at a time allowing them to touch each other. perhaps harness them (only if they're used to harness') so you can control and restrict their movements. If you think they're likely to bite or scratch wear long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself. If these initial meetings go well, put them in a large room together (again, a neutral one) and give them LOADS of boxes, toys, food ect to distract them, and sit with them. good signs are them exploring and not...
vixitrixalina 1 year ago
@KelzBelz76 ... becoming agressive. it's better for them to ignore each other at first. gradually increase these "play dates" from about 5 minute to an hour or so, or as long as they're behaving and you're on guard. remember, bonding can take as little as a few days to as long as several months, so you need the patience of a saint lol! if they fight, go right back to stage one. at night, swap their cages. if you trust them enough, you can then try leaving them together longer. good luck! <3
vixitrixalina 1 year ago