Like any relationship, a new pairing
of rabbits can be slow to develop or be love at first sight. Almost all rabbits can work
out their differences and enjoy the companionship of another rabbit. Still, the process of
bonding two rabbits will take time, patience, commitment and a little work on your part.
The following tips are from HRS
volunteers who have matched up many, many rabbits over the years.
• Relax! Take a deep
breath and relax. If you are a nervous wreck, the rabbits will be, too.
• Males & females We
seem to have the best luck in pairing neutered males with spayed females. Usually the
males appear to be dominant at first with their excessive mounting. The female will put up
with this for a short while, but will usually assert her dominance by mounting the male or
nipping him to show she is the one in charge. At this point, the male usually backs down
and they start on the road to friendship. Same-sex pairing is not out of the question, but
requires at least one submissive rabbit in the group and a little more patience on your
part.
• Spaying & neutering It
is considerably easier if BOTH rabbits in the pairing have been fixed. In fact, you may
not be successful with the match if they are not. Once fixed, you are working with
temperaments and personalities, not hormones and uncontrolled desires! If the rabbits are
newly altered, (6 months or less) they may still be quite amorous towards each other. This
behavior should dissipate the longer they are fixed. Please see our handout "Altering
your Rabbit's Future" for more reasons to alter your companion rabbit and for our
list of recommended veterinarians.
NOTE: If your
rabbit has just been spayed or neutered, it is highly recommended that you wait at
least two weeks (a month is better) before introducing him or her to another rabbit.
This will prevent the male from possibly impregnating an unspayed female (or continuing to
exhibit hormonal behavior), and a newly spayed female from fighting off the male due to
being uncomfortable from her recent surgery.
• Time Although the
average length of time until most rabbits are pretty well bonded is about one week, we
have seen rabbits take as little as one afternoon or as long as many months to become
friends. Neutral territory is imperative. YOU MUST put the rabbits (and keep the
rabbits) in a small, neutral area for about one week. Beginning the bonding in a small,
neutral territory is vital to this relationship working out. A kitchen, bathroom, or
portable exercise pen all work well. DO NOT put them in a cage together until they have
been getting along perfectly for several days. If a serious fight breaks out in a cage, it
is generally difficult to separate them.
• Fighting, nipping &
mounting Although these behaviors may look similar to you, they are all very different
and it is important to recognize the different ways rabbits speak. Fighting is usually an
instantly, purposely vicious attack. Rabbits sometimes attack the other rabbit's face,
underside or genital area. DO NOT separate the rabbits unless they are truly fighting.
Every time you separate the rabbits, you will have to re-introduce them, making this
process take even longer.
Nipping at each other in a playful
manner is not usually serious and is done for several reasons. Remember, rabbits sometimes
communicate by nipping and this could be done to say "Hey, pay attention to me"
or "Who are you?" and "Get out of my litterbox!" This too should
dissipate as they learn how to approach and communicate with their new partner.
Both sexes may mount each other.
Although mounting can escalate into circling, which could develop into a little fight,
mounting usually dissipates after the first week and is only for the sake of asserting
dominance. It is important to allow the rabbits this very important part of their
courtship. Be watchful of backwards mounting, though. We have had a couple of serious nips
in one's most vital areas! If your rabbits are mounting each other a lot, instigating
fights, stop them, DO NOT SEPARATE them; place them side by side. Pet them together and
talk to them quietly. Do not let too much chasing ensue.
Check your rabbits for injuries each
day even if they appear to be getting along well.
Another great
article on bonding is "Bunnies Teaching
Bunnies." |
