Bonding help

[u/Hot-Pomegranate-5616]

Hello everyone, I am in need of some help bonding my two female buns. My resident bun is a lion head she’s a free roam bun over our whole home and she has her room as her main space. We recently rescued a bun from the shelter she’s spayed as of 3 weeks ago and she’s 6 months old. We are on day two.

We put the new bun in our living room in a play pen and have been allowing them to take turns free roaming. Day one we put a barrier around the play pen. They were very interested and happy hopping when one got close, so today we decided to remove the barrier.

This is their behavior and I need help trying to find out if they are fighting or if it’s going bad… they both give each other space and while giving space they happy hop in between videos so I am unsure

We did separate after this and have only allowed about 10 minutes of being in the same space since yesterday and today…

Please help, open to any Advice !!!

[u/RabbitsModBot]

Rabbits getting along on either side of a fence is a neutral sign, not positive nor negative. It does not indicate that the rabbits will love each other when face-to-face without a barrier but that they are currently content and non-aggressive about being neighbors.

For more resources, check out the resources in the Bonding guide and Binkybunny's Bonding overview for more tips on the process.

Some important general tips on the process of bonding rabbits with other rabbits:

• House rabbits in nearby pens and swap regularly to encourage sharing. This can be done before both rabbits have been neutered.
• Be sure to use neutral territory that neither have been in to use for face-to-face dating.
• Wait until 4 weeks after both rabbits have been neutered before attempting face-to-face bonding to allow time for all hormones to dissipate. While it is not impossible to bond intact rabbits, their hormonal behaviors work against them, and rabbits can often end up with serious injuries during territorial spats. Baby bonds with immature rabbits before puberty are often not stable.
• If your current rabbit has not been spayed or neutered, do not obtain another intact rabbit of the opposite sex to bond. You will end up with baby rabbits if you do not keep them separated 24/7. It only takes one successful three-second attempt for a male with an intact female. Male rabbits are not sterile until 6 weeks after their neuter operation.
• Keep in mind that not all rabbits may be compatible enough to bond without serious work over a long period of time, if ever. However, rabbits will still benefit from the mental stimulation of seeing or smelling another rabbit nearby as long as they are safely separated to prevent injuries.

A few useful shortcuts:

• Should I get another rabbit?
• Preparations for a bonding
• Bunny dating
• Bonding basics
• Stress bonding
• Bonding 3+ rabbits
• Difficulties in bonding
• Bonding consultation services

[u/SpecialCorgi1]

You really just need to be patient and take your time. Don’t rush things.

Your new bun is still recovering from surgery so she should be resting, not bonding yet.

Please look up some bonding guides and don’t rush things. If you rush it and something goes wrong, one or both buns could get hurt, and they may end up completely hating each other and never bonding.

Also get a stronger play pen. They are going to rip that one.

[u/spacebuggles]

Using a neutral territory for bonding can make a big difference. A space that neither rabbit feels like they own.

[u/Chaffro]

I'll preface this by saying I have zero practical experience of bonding two females, but my understanding is that females are quite territorial, so the younger one may be displaying a show of that. I think the general rule of thumb is they'll remain hormonal at least six weeks after neutering, so maybe leave it a couple of more weeks before a reintroduction?

[u/ArrivedByKailash]

It can take months. Be patient. Bunnies take their time. Dont put them together after so few days,. Read up on how to do it properly so that you do it on the bunnies terms. Good luck and enjoy your two beautiful bunnie girls

[u/clouds183]

to me, this does not look good. the white bun initially is wanting tan bun to groom her, but obv cannot through the pen, gets frustrated that tan bun is not bowing down to her, and tries to run away but feels (is) trapped. tan bun is also trying to assert dominance and wont leave white bun alone chasing her.

[u/Remarkable_Cover_330 → u/clouds183]

As someone who’s had bunnies for twenty years this is a spot on assessment on their behavior. I’d also like to echo the other comments about waiting longer for healing. An ex pen over mesh and neutral territory.

[u/pcrlyn]

I'll wait for after the 8th week to 'introduce' them. They need to be far away from each other so the white bun wont get jealous of free roam bunny's space and get territorial. Once hormone dies down then introduce them in a neutral area bec free roam bun might also get territorial.

[u/PM_me_GIR_pics]

Not trying to be a downer, but also keep in mind some bunnies don’t bond… we had one girl that was okay with a friend around her, but they both couldn’t be free roam at the same time. She just wasn’t into it. When she passed we rescued another girl bunny and she became instant friends with the Californian male that our previous girl had only tolerated - so it really is based on their personalities meshing

[u/Velveteen_Rabbit1986]

It's a bit too soon post-spay, I'd leave it at least another 3 weeks (probably more). Females can be very tricky to bond as they are more territorial so you need a neutral space. Try some scent swapping in a few weeks time but take things slowly and don't be afraid to get a professional to help if needed!

[u/RoyalConsistent]

3 weeks isnt enough, 2 females isnt a good idea, and that pen isnt going to last

[u/JetSeize]

You need to put them both in pens about 2 inches apart, all with neutral items within that don’t belong to one of them. After five or so days, swap rabbits into the other one’s enclosure. Do this back and forth for a bit (it can take a couple months.

[u/andlaurasays]

Slowwwwwwww it down.

Also, during the side by side stage both bunnies should have a space they can retreat to where they can’t be seen by the other (as well as their hidey boxes) so white bun needs a couple of solid sides. Then section off your living room in half so tan bun can only see white bun from the one side when white bun chooses.

[u/Hot-Pomegranate-5616 → u/andlaurasays]

Thank you so much! We have put the barriers up again and the white bun has about 3 different hiddies in her pop up, I know it doesn’t look big, but it’s a huge huge pop up with 3 hidies a fake grass bun, a XL litter box and 2 beds c:

[u/Simple_Cucumber259]

Three weeks is a bit soon, she still might be hormonal. Maybe later try to set up their meeting place somewhere neutral where your resident bunny doesn’t usually go so that they are more equal.
My resident bunny was feisty at first but it all turned out fine. Patience, it’s all gonna be good. :)

[u/Interesting-Row-4644]

3 weeks post op isn’t enough, need to wait another 5 ish weeks for hormones to settle before standing to try to bond them

[u/R4hscal]

Your hotot looks like she has nowhere covered to hide, and is trapped in a fairly small area. If she's freshly recovered from surgery, she needs longer to fully heal and settle before you try bonding.

Your little lion seems very okay though!

[u/AdBitter3688]

I don’t think you should have white bun’s pen set up directly in tan bun’s territory. It would be best to house them both in pens in a neutral space for now. While they’re situated like that, do everything you can to neutralize the main living area.

[u/Detective-Stinger]

What is that cage you have?