Bonding Rabbits...the return.

[foleyrabbits]

Hi everyone,

I posted a few months ago regarding our pair of rabbits and a third rabbit (their son) which we're trying to bond. Since my initial post (https://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/...required-bonding-rabbits.490236/#post-7373460) the youngest rabbit has been fixed so all three are now neutered/spayed.



We're now at the stage where we'd like to bond them together and I have a few questions regarding the logistics of this. Currently the bonded two (Cinammon F and Oreo M) share a hutch and run and are let out into the garden for long period of the day while my wife works from home. The third male rabbit confusingly called Joan M lives on his own in a hutch/run combo but we cannot let him out into the garden as the female Cinammon attacks him after a short period.



We've taken them inside to a neutral area and they play well together here, lots of grooming all round and they all remain very relaxed. The dominant rabbit Cinammon humps Joan and Oreo in what I presume is a display of dominance but it doesn't seem to upset or hurt either rabbit. (Incidentally, should we let this behaviour continue if no rabbit is hurt or stressed?)



The issue occurs in the garden outside of their hutches and runs where I presume Cinnamon sees everything as her territory and will chase Joan.

How do we go about changing her attitude to this area? The runs are both sat close together and as long as Joan is kept in his hutch and run the other two are fine.



Should I continue bonding them inside for longer and more frequent periods?



Any help would be great.



Keith

 

[Omi]

In my view you are half-way there, as the three interact in a friendly way when inside the house in a neutral area. I would not intervene when Cinammon humps the other two, as long as it causes no stress, which it seems it doesn't.

The issue is, as you rightly suggest, that Cinammon is territorial about the garden. I would certainly continue bonding them indoors for longer and more frequent periods. If it's possible, I would select a different area indoors some of the time, so that they get used to each other in different locations. I wouldn't try to rush this stage. Once they seem perfectly OK indoors in different areas, I would select a smaller area of the garden and section it off, preferably a part where Cinammon doesn't spend a lot of her time. Then try them there for a while, obviously monitoring them carefully. So, in essence, I would move the three of them to different areas, inside and out, until they are completely comfortable with each other. Only then would I try all three together in the whole garden.

 

[foleyrabbits]

Thanks so much for your reply. I'll try and section off an area tomorrow and get them more familiar with each other outside of their own hutches and runs like you suggested. I hadn't thought of trying them together in different areas of the house but that's a really good idea, at the moment when they're in the house they roam the hallway and have a specific spot that they like to congregate in together. It will be interesting to find out if they will still flop together in more unfamiliar territory.

One last question - would Cinnamon have to completely stop asserting her authority/humping the others, before we can put them all in together for good? She only humps Oreo when she is also with Joan - when she and Oreo are together just the 2 of them she's fine! When it's the 3 of them, that's when she gets fiesty with both boys.

Thanks again for such a detailed reply!

 

[Omi]

As you say the reason for the humping is to assert authority. My guess is that, once she feels she doesn't need to do this any more, the behaviour will reduce and probably stop completely. It is also spring fever time for bunnies, which could be a contributory factor.

I wouldn't let the behaviour prevent having all three bunnies together, as long as no bunny is stressed by it and as long as they are settled with each other completely in other respects.

 

[foleyrabbits]

Thank you all for your help. Very positive week. We followed the advice about the movable run which we placed in various parts of the garden. This worked really well and now Joan is happily part of the group in the garden in general. Cinammon isnt attacking him and the humping has completely stopped. A little scuffle broke out when Joan got into Cinammons hutch. Any advice on how I might go about moving to the final stage of all three of them living in one hutch (it will actually be two hutches joined by a pipe but essentially one unit).
Many Thanks again

Keith

 

[Omi]

Hi, good to hear it's been a positive week. I think in general the advice would be not to rush things. I think, as there was a slight scuffle when Joan got into Cinnamon's hutch, I would try them together first of all in Joan's hutch and see how that goes.

If it goes OK, I would leave them together like that for a few more days before opening it all up. If at any stage things start to feel unfriendly, then go back to the stage before when things were OK before progressing again.

It really sounds as though you're almost there and so taking your time with the last bit will be worthwhile. Good luck.

 

[foleyrabbits]

Just a quick reply to say thank-you for all the help. All three rabbits are so comfortable and happy around one another and sharing all areas of the garden as well as their hutch brilliantly together. Very happy to have sorted this with your help!

 

[Omi]

Thank you for posting such a lovely update And such a brilliant final photo!
Three happy bunnies.

 

[Pets mum]

I've only just caught your thread, but what a lovely ending well done bunnies, and well done to you too lovely photos !