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Tips for Bonding Rabbits
Is it OK to have just ONE BUNNY? How do I bond TWO BUNNIES? These are some of the most stressful topics for bunny owners to consider. Below are aspects to consider regarding bunny pairs as well as tips for bonding rabbits. You can use this information to help make an educated decision that is best for you, your family, and your bunny. |
Should I get more than one bunny?
Unless you are able to get two female baby bunny littermates (who would be most likely to get along together until spaying), I highly recommend beginning with JUST ONE bunny.
After this bunny is spayed/neutered, and if you decide you are able to care for a second rabbit, THEN begin the process of choosing a friend for your bunny. If you underestimated how much care a bunny requires OR don't have the space for two separate areas for your bunnies, then a second might not be a viable option.
*IF you decide on a second bunny, you need to have two separate areas or enclosures available during the bonding process, before/after surgeries, and as a backup plan if the bunnies never bond. Bonded bunnies are a wonderful achievement, but there is always a risk it won't be successful.
Unless you are able to get two female baby bunny littermates (who would be most likely to get along together until spaying), I highly recommend beginning with JUST ONE bunny.
After this bunny is spayed/neutered, and if you decide you are able to care for a second rabbit, THEN begin the process of choosing a friend for your bunny. If you underestimated how much care a bunny requires OR don't have the space for two separate areas for your bunnies, then a second might not be a viable option.
*IF you decide on a second bunny, you need to have two separate areas or enclosures available during the bonding process, before/after surgeries, and as a backup plan if the bunnies never bond. Bonded bunnies are a wonderful achievement, but there is always a risk it won't be successful.
What bunny combinations are best?
Age, size, and breed really do not matter when matching two bunnies. Although a male/female pair is usually easiest, female/female and male/male pairs are often feasible as well. What is most important is that their personalities mesh well (and that both are spayed/neutered of course). Hormones cause a bunny to display negative behaviors such as aggression, excessive mounting, digging, lunging, and incomplete litter training. The best option would be to visit a local animal shelter with your bunny and allow your rabbit to have "speed dates" with shelter bunnies to see if there is an instant connection. This would be especially important if your current bunny has a dominant "diva" personality. If this isn't possible, then I would advise selecting as friendly and mellow of a bunny as you can find to help increase the odds of them getting along. |
When should I attempt bonding my bunnies?
Both bunnies should be spayed or neutered before bonding attempts. Make sure to wait until a month or more past surgery to allow time for the hormones to balance.
If one or both of your bunnies are babies (spayed/neutered adult and baby, two baby littermates), you may begin bonding sessions early, but understand that they may need to be separated when the baby begins to mature and develop hormonal behaviors but is too young for spaying/neutering. There also would likely need to be separation for the weeks after surgery for healing and hormone balancing purposes, and you will need to begin the bonding process over again, which may or may not go smoothly.
*If you get two bunnies at once, MAKE SURE they are of the same gender OR are separated around 3 to 4 months when maturation begins and before spaying/neutering surgery can occur.
Both bunnies should be spayed or neutered before bonding attempts. Make sure to wait until a month or more past surgery to allow time for the hormones to balance.
If one or both of your bunnies are babies (spayed/neutered adult and baby, two baby littermates), you may begin bonding sessions early, but understand that they may need to be separated when the baby begins to mature and develop hormonal behaviors but is too young for spaying/neutering. There also would likely need to be separation for the weeks after surgery for healing and hormone balancing purposes, and you will need to begin the bonding process over again, which may or may not go smoothly.
*If you get two bunnies at once, MAKE SURE they are of the same gender OR are separated around 3 to 4 months when maturation begins and before spaying/neutering surgery can occur.
Bonding Rabbits: The First Dates
- Allow your bunnies to live near each other for 1-2 weeks BEFORE bonding attempts!
- Consider swapping litter boxes or enclosures so they can experience each other's scent.
- Select a SMALL, NEUTRAL area such as a bath tub, bath room, or exercise pen in a neutral territory.
- Begin with a short (15 minute) "date" DAILY and always keep the bunnies within arm's reach.
- Acceptable behaviors: curious sniffing, minor mounting, small nips, minimal tiffs.
- SEPARATE if: biting, lunging, circling with ears back, incessant mounting, full on death charges.
- End the session with a positive reward (treat) and not when the bunnies are fighting.
- It may take DAYS or MONTHS for bonding to look promising, though some rabbits just aren't suitable matches.
- Be persistent and consistent with bonding sessions. Try a different area if the first doesn't work.
Bonding Rabbits: Solidifying the Bond
After numerous successful short bonding sessions without aggression by either bunny, allow the relationship to progress:
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My Bunnies Just Won't Bond!
- Bonding can take days, weeks, or months. Have you devoted enough time to DAILY bonding sessions?
- Are both bunnies spayed, neutered, and it's been at least a month since surgery?
- Are you using a neutral, small territory? Try a different location.
- Swap litter boxes, enclosures, and other belongings to allow scent adaptation.
- Try placing both in a pet carrier. A bit of stress experienced together can help in some cases.
- Try taking both on a car ride. "Stress bonding" can sometimes be successful.
- Have both been examined by a veterinarian? An illness, tooth problem, etc. could be causing a disgruntled bunny.
- Agree to disagree, and keep them in separate enclosures/areas where they can see each other but are protected. They may eventually form a bond on their own, or they may need housed separately forever.