We have a ten year old female who has been bonded four times, all easily, and they spent 24 hours a day together. It would take about two weeks, but we have never had a problem. She has always shared a (large) hutch and run, and when we are home they've had the entire garden to play in.
About three months ago we adopted a three year old male from the RSPCA, and he is gentle and adorable. Both bunnies love to be stroked, fussed and cuddled. However, they just will not bond. We have tried the usual things of swapping hutches for a while, taking turns in the run, bringing them indoors. It all goes fine until they are in the garden together, then they would rip each other to pieces given the chance. Indoors, and in the supervised small area in the garden they will groom each other, cuddle up, but as soon as we take a step back, yikes, scary. The male bunny was at the vet's for a week with a very bad scratch, and the old female had a nasty bite.
What can we do and why isn't it working this time? They are both such friendly rabbits who come up to us in the garden and love being petted, even love each other when we sit with them. I desperately want them to share a hutch, but we had to buy Molly's mansion for the new one! At the moment they take turns in the garden, but sit next to each other, separated by the mesh in the run, as if they want to be together.
Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated.
About three months ago we adopted a three year old male from the RSPCA, and he is gentle and adorable. Both bunnies love to be stroked, fussed and cuddled. However, they just will not bond. We have tried the usual things of swapping hutches for a while, taking turns in the run, bringing them indoors. It all goes fine until they are in the garden together, then they would rip each other to pieces given the chance. Indoors, and in the supervised small area in the garden they will groom each other, cuddle up, but as soon as we take a step back, yikes, scary. The male bunny was at the vet's for a week with a very bad scratch, and the old female had a nasty bite.
What can we do and why isn't it working this time? They are both such friendly rabbits who come up to us in the garden and love being petted, even love each other when we sit with them. I desperately want them to share a hutch, but we had to buy Molly's mansion for the new one! At the moment they take turns in the garden, but sit next to each other, separated by the mesh in the run, as if they want to be together.
Any helpful suggestions would be much appreciated.