Am I giving up too soon? Need bonding advise please...

If you read Rainbow Bridge you'll know we lost Angel on April 25th. We were contacted by the owner of the rabbit rescue to see if we could home Angel's cousin Princess and we brought her home last Thursday. However, Princess and our boy Merlin are now just constantly attacking each other. Things have actually got worse rather than better.

We've had them out in the car, in the hall, in the pen in the garden (- I've sat in the pen with them for 5 hours this afternoon splitting up the fights and getting bit!!), her in the pen in the livingroom, him outside, him in the pen in the livingroom, her outside. She was initially the one attacking him, but now he's attacking her too, kind of 'I'll get you before you get me'. He looks like a ragamuffin as he's had so much fur pulled! No matter where we put them it's now become tit for tat - she attacks him, he attacks her

I don't think this pairing is going to work, I don't see how they're going to bond. I think we need to give Princess back. I'm gutted and sad and disappointed and sorry but they just keep attacking each other.

Please can anyone advise? Thank you xx
merlin&angel mum is online now Report Post Edit/Delete Message

This site kinda helped me. I know another if you need but here take a look.

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-5/ever-be-friends.html

what about returning the new bunny...but taking your existing bunny to the rescue for speed dates with other rabbits to find one he likes more and could possibly be a better bonding? after all do you really want to FORCE them to be freinds?

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=55913&highlight=bonding this is a good reference to bonding, I have a 'special bit of equiepment which is bit like a broom to separate them ... saves getting bitten.

Is the area you are using neutral ... no other rabbit has been in this area? This is essential.

If you have only just got these rabbits and are not confident I would suggest getting help from the rescue. Bonding some rabbits can be a ' little' scary.

i have always taken the bun needing a partner to the rescue place to help in picking a partner. nitty choose the 4th one as fought with 2 and ran away from the other. but pugsley they had a bit then flomped next to each other!