New to bonding advice

[SiobhanRoisin]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask for some advice. I am new to having rabbits and am trying to read up on the best methods for bonding.

I got two rescue bunnies, a male and a female from different sources. The female is about four months old and the male is 12 months. I have had my boy Bertrand neutered last week and he is home and doing really well, back to his normal self and glad I'm not carting him off to the vets anymore I think too. My female is too young to be neutered from what I have read, it is best to wait until she is six months. I want to bond them though before she is neutered as I don't want to keep them separate for that long. They can smell each other and my apartment is divided right now between the two until it is time for bonding. They have not seen each other yet, but I know they can smell each other. At first it really agitated my boy, the smell of another rabbit, but he has gotten used to it now, but they are very curious.

As my female isn't neutered, from what I have read, I have to wait four weeks to introduce them? I had a nurse say to me it was only ten days, but she only said it the once. I don't want to have any baby bunnies, but I want to introduce them as soon as I can. However, will it make it more difficult because she is not neutered yet? Will she be more likely to fight? She is lovely and very needy and I hate having to split my time between them, I think/hope they will get along, and will appreciate having each others company.

Thanks for any advice

Siobhán

 

[Zoobec]

Usual advise is to wait 6 weeks after neuter/spay to introduce, to allow hormones to subside. And a buck will remain fertile for several weeks post neuter too. TBH If I was in your situation i would wait until she is spayed and introduce 6 weeks after. If not hormones may upset the chance of a successful bond.

Dependant on size vets will spay at around 5 months

 

[MightyMax]

Hi,

I just wanted to ask for some advice. I am new to having rabbits and am trying to read up on the best methods for bonding.

I got two rescue bunnies, a male and a female from different sources. The female is about four months old and the male is 12 months. I have had my boy Bertrand neutered last week and he is home and doing really well, back to his normal self and glad I'm not carting him off to the vets anymore I think too. My female is too young to be neutered from what I have read, it is best to wait until she is six months. I want to bond them though before she is neutered as I don't want to keep them separate for that long. They can smell each other and my apartment is divided right now between the two until it is time for bonding. They have not seen each other yet, but I know they can smell each other. At first it really agitated my boy, the smell of another rabbit, but he has gotten used to it now, but they are very curious.

As my female isn't neutered, from what I have read, I have to wait four weeks to introduce them? I had a nurse say to me it was only ten days, but she only said it the once. I don't want to have any baby bunnies, but I want to introduce them as soon as I can. However, will it make it more difficult because she is not neutered yet? Will she be more likely to fight? She is lovely and very needy and I hate having to split my time between them, I think/hope they will get along, and will appreciate having each others company.

Thanks for any advice

Siobhán

Hi Siobhan and welcome to the Forum :wave:

Given that Bertrand (great name ) has only just been neutered, you would have to keep him away from an unspayed doe for 4 weeks, as he can still be fertile. His hormones won't settle until 8 - 12 weeks.

If I were you, I would wait until your female is neutered and then introduce them. By that time Bertrand will be more settled, your doe will be spayed and healed, and there should be maximum chance of success with the bonding!

 

[SiobhanRoisin]

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to the vet about how soon they can neuter my girl Arlo then, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later I don't know what i'll do if they don't bond, I don't want to risk that not happening.

Can I ask too, is there any hope of litter training her before she is neutered? When she is in the kitchen she is very good an mostly goes in her box, but when I let her out further than that, she has taken a liking to a corner of my bed. I have ordered waterproof protection for the bed, but am I right in thinking there is not really any stopping her until she gets neutered?

Thank for all of your responses!

 

[tonibun]

Rabbits like to toilet on soft materials, so your bed should be out of bounds, unless you don't mind.!

 

[SiobhanRoisin]

Rabbits like to toilet on soft materials, so your bed should be out of bounds, unless you don't mind.!

How can you make it out of bounds but still let them in the room?

 

[MightyMax]

Thanks for the advice. I will talk to the vet about how soon they can neuter my girl Arlo then, hopefully it will be sooner rather than later I don't know what i'll do if they don't bond, I don't want to risk that not happening.

Can I ask too, is there any hope of litter training her before she is neutered? When she is in the kitchen she is very good an mostly goes in her box, but when I let her out further than that, she has taken a liking to a corner of my bed. I have ordered waterproof protection for the bed, but am I right in thinking there is not really any stopping her until she gets neutered?

Thank for all of your responses!

Welcome