Urgh Rabbit Bonding!!

[Dopeydonut]

So, brought DC 2 rabbits, both female. Both approximately 13 weeks. We got one about a week earlier than the other. We have a two tier hutch which we have had to separate in to two separate hutches as they simply won't get on. Have tried putting one in a crate in front of the other and they seem fine, put them together and they pull chunks out of one and other! Help!!!

Anybody ?

Hi rabbits can be difficult to bond. They are fiercely territorial so you have to introduce on neutral territory. Do you have somewhere you can move them to? Separate the neutral territory with a double layer of mesh, so they can see and smell each other but can't fight. Then leave them like that for a day and observe. If all is calm you can remove the mesh and watch them. After a couple of days of no scrapping you can move them together back to the hutch. You will need to stub the hutch so it smells neutral. They are like people really and some get on and others not, so be prepared to take one back. Male:female partnerships tend to be much easier with rabbits.

3am gives good advice.

Please also bare in mind that a pair of rabbits need lots of space- at a minimum a 6' x 2' x 2' hutch with a 10' run attached. You cannot keep them confined in just a hutch, otherwise they will inevitably fight.

Personally, I'm not very keen on two-tier hutches, as rabbits aren't climbing animals, but need room to run, stretch and jump.

You really need to be prepared to be with them for the duration. Can you put something like a child's pen into your living room and sleep in there for a day or two to supervise?

This is sort of what I'm planning at Christmas. I got two rabbits, supposedly mother and daughter but turned out to be mother and son. So the son was separated and neutered, but then there was a litter. Four girls, but one possible boy, so he's been on his own for a month whilst he develops, and if he is a boy he'll be going under the knife. That's going to mean I have one group of 5, and 2 singles to bond back together.

Hopefully DP will have built me a shed by then, brand new to them all. Dad will be chased in, and shut into a dog pen. Questionable 'baby' will be taken in in a carrier. Then the rest will be herded in and shut in.

Then I'm going in with sleeping bag, dvd player and water bottle, letting them all out together and staying there for a night or two whilst they re-establish themselves. I'm hoping it's going to be painless and quick. And that the shed heater arrives by then!