Advice needed - Bonding

[Ross_Scott]

Hi.

We adopted our new Bunny Brae last Monday. (Now day 8) he is just under 3 and male. We already had our female bunny Belle who is 3 and half. She lost her bonded partner in January.

Looking for advice as in 7/8 days not seen too much process.

The set up is Belle free roams the whole living room. No cage , no pen.

That is her area.

We have set Brae up in the hallway, so he can come right up to living room door, big space for him to and down with all other room doors shut. They can see each other through the pen and go right up to one another. Though we’ve had to leave it a little apart as day 1 they attacked each other through the cage.

Belles behaviours to Brae - she goes and loafs at the pen / door where he will come up. And is comfortable at times flopping. The bathroom is neutral area Belle has never been in and we have only done 1 small session which was day 6 of getting him after a period of them seeing each other through the cage. we kept making sure we had an object like a brush blocking them as they were giving off impressions of a fight.

Next thing we did was swap them over to let him have a nosey of her area and try blend scents, once she was on his side she started getting stressed biting cage to get back to her living room area. All the territorial signs.

My question is do we move him into living room and keep them separated using a pen, so she can get use to
Him being in her space over the next week or so.

If not then all other tips of set up, Things we should do are fully welcome. It’s day 8 and we are trying not to get too disheartened

Thanks guys

 

[Shimmer]

She is likely to remain protective / territorial over 'her' area. Females do tend to be more territorial, and she is the resident rabbit. Trying to get him into her area is going to result in continued aggression, which can get very nasty.

I would suggest only letting them together in a totally neutral area, or at least somewhere that Belle does not claim as hers (and not within a close enough distance to her area that she will still try to defend it). So that could be the bathroom as a totally neutral area for the bonding. The hallway with the doors closed could be another option, but is less neutral. You could use a pen in the hallway if you have enough space.

The living room is going to be a sticking point. I would keep them both away from there while bonding. Once the bond is secure (in a few weeks / months), they could be allowed access as long as it has been rearranged (ie all the bunny stuff) and all trace / smell of Belle has been removed from the area.

It is still early days. There will be some scuffles and fur pulling while they sort themselves out, but there should be no proper fights.

I'm assuming both are neutered and have been for at least a couple of months, otherwise you are also dealing with rampant hormones.

 

[Ross_Scott]

Hi, yeah Belle has been neutered for a few years now and he was neutered 10 weeks ago. I’m going to try them in the bathroom today see how it goes.

 

[tonibun]

I agree with Shimmer. The last similar bond on the Forum necessitated sending them away to a bonder after several months of trying. This worked and they are now getting along very happily.

 

[Ross_Scott]

Hi thanks for replies. Still trying, but aggression every time in a neutral area (bathroom) so quickly end these

Can anyone recommend a step by step guide for me to restart the process and best advice.

What set up i should have (I have 2 pens)

Belle my first rabbit is in living room. Brae is in hallway.