KandTheBuns
New Kit
Hi! I have 3 rabbits, a 4 yr old female, a 2 yr old male and a 4 (approx) yr old male. They’re all adopted/rescues and none of them have ever lived with another rabbit to my knowledge. (All spayed/neutered).
Personality wise Dora, the 4 yr old female Netherlands dwarf is... highly strung. Much like a small dog she thinks she’s far bigger and more in charge than she is and she grunts and stamps and charges around like she owns the house (she’s adorable despite it haha). I wouldn’t say she’s bitey but she’s the only one of the 3 that’s ever nipped me before.
Last year I tried to bond her with the 2 yr old male and it was instant carnage. I did it by the book as far as I can see - neutral territory, no toys to get territorial over, put him in first, all very calm on my side. She growled at him, ears back, charged and promptly bit him (not badly but it did break the skin). I tried again the next day and same result - it turned into a tight circle of flying fur. So I gave up on that because the boy was only young and I didn’t want to sabotage any future bonding experiences for him!
Sooo fast forward to this morning I’ve tried Dora and the 4 yr old male. He’s a big french lop, and the sweetest temperament. He’s so relaxed, all he cares about it having some hay to munch and a comfy spot for a nap. He’s also never lived with another bun, but I’ve had their runs in the garden side by side all week and they were stretching out next to each other and very calm so I thought great! This is going to be love!
Tried it this morning and it went the same as before. He sat one end, I don’t think he’d even registered she was there yet and she instantly charged him, bit his ear (again not badly but there is a mark). I split it up but did manage to end it on a positive note with one down one end of the pen and one down the other both eating some nuggets. But I kept having to move her back away from him because even with a mouthful of food she was trying to go for him.
Sorry for such a long post but basically my question is where do I go from here? This is my first time bonding rabbits but I’ve read up so much on it I can’t see where I’m going wrong (although tell me if I am please!). I know my buns very well, I really wasnt misreading her body language, she literally growled at him aha. Do I just need to persevere? I feel like I’m failing by having 3 rabbits and none of them have friends, but I don’t want a bloodbath. Or do you just have to initially allow some biting and fighting and then it’ll calm down? I’m conscious of a) their size different and b) his lovely droopy ears that are prime targets for biting.
Any help, Advice, thoughts and prayers all welcome! Thankyou!
Personality wise Dora, the 4 yr old female Netherlands dwarf is... highly strung. Much like a small dog she thinks she’s far bigger and more in charge than she is and she grunts and stamps and charges around like she owns the house (she’s adorable despite it haha). I wouldn’t say she’s bitey but she’s the only one of the 3 that’s ever nipped me before.
Last year I tried to bond her with the 2 yr old male and it was instant carnage. I did it by the book as far as I can see - neutral territory, no toys to get territorial over, put him in first, all very calm on my side. She growled at him, ears back, charged and promptly bit him (not badly but it did break the skin). I tried again the next day and same result - it turned into a tight circle of flying fur. So I gave up on that because the boy was only young and I didn’t want to sabotage any future bonding experiences for him!
Sooo fast forward to this morning I’ve tried Dora and the 4 yr old male. He’s a big french lop, and the sweetest temperament. He’s so relaxed, all he cares about it having some hay to munch and a comfy spot for a nap. He’s also never lived with another bun, but I’ve had their runs in the garden side by side all week and they were stretching out next to each other and very calm so I thought great! This is going to be love!
Tried it this morning and it went the same as before. He sat one end, I don’t think he’d even registered she was there yet and she instantly charged him, bit his ear (again not badly but there is a mark). I split it up but did manage to end it on a positive note with one down one end of the pen and one down the other both eating some nuggets. But I kept having to move her back away from him because even with a mouthful of food she was trying to go for him.
Sorry for such a long post but basically my question is where do I go from here? This is my first time bonding rabbits but I’ve read up so much on it I can’t see where I’m going wrong (although tell me if I am please!). I know my buns very well, I really wasnt misreading her body language, she literally growled at him aha. Do I just need to persevere? I feel like I’m failing by having 3 rabbits and none of them have friends, but I don’t want a bloodbath. Or do you just have to initially allow some biting and fighting and then it’ll calm down? I’m conscious of a) their size different and b) his lovely droopy ears that are prime targets for biting.
Any help, Advice, thoughts and prayers all welcome! Thankyou!
