When the rabbits are bonded in this way, it is incredibly important that you don't separate them except in extreme circumstances. You see, you might have two rabbits that are bonded with each other. When they are more comfortable, put them together for short periods and gradually increase the time they spend with each other. BUNNY 911 - If your rabbit hasn't eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Separating your rabbit should be the first thing you do if they start to fight each other. Thus the rabbit will mourn and feel alone. On rare occasions, bonding takes 6 months to a year. The animals will be best friends. The initial introduction should only be for 5 - 10 minutes at a time, but repeated regularly throughout the day. Rabbits need to be protected against 3 fatal diseases. Have hiding places and toys ready to put in the area, but leave it empty for when you first introduce them. Rabbits aren't truly bonded until after they've been fixed and have gone through the whole bonding process. Above all be patient with your rabbits. Always supervise them and separate the rabbits at the first sign of a fight. Some new rabbit owners don't understand that having odd numbers of rabbits can be problematic. As a result, the grieving rabbit will be stressed. When initially bonding, the rabbits should be introduced in a neutral space and kept in separate enclosures until they are fully bonded. Although two female rabbits are spayed, they will try to attack each other. Something like ski gloves, or thick leather gloves work best. It has been over a year now and I have not been able to rebond them. . If one gets hurt, then separate them and go slower and if one fights back, then you must prepare for a lengthier introduction period. Let your bonded rabbits spend 48 hours in the same pen. Rabbits who are unknown to one another will need separate housing until they are successfully bonded. Also be aware that if you do separate them, they could unbond and you wouldn't have the option of putting them back together if you wanted too. Even though rabbits can breed as early as 2 to 3 months old, it's not advisable. The Baby Rabbits After the Separation. The Animal Humane Society says bonded rabbits really shouldn't be separated since there is a possibility that once they are reunited, anything as minor as a new fragrance might drive them to fight. One big pile of greens on one plate is best. When they are ready and the relaxed behaviours of lying side by side in their own cages has been seen on several occasions you can start to slowly introduce them with the bonding process. Bonded pair dogs also play, sleep, and cuddle up together. Even if you have two rabbit hutches, and two separate pairs of rabbits, due to this keen sense of smell they will know there is another strange rabbit around and they act out. They're healthier and happier, plus it's really stinkin . Prepare a neutral area separate from their enclosures. . A male and female pairing will bond with each other very well and it may not be as difficult as trying to bond two female rabbits. Bonded Pair Suddenly Fighting. Some of the most devoted also enjoy humans as much as their mates. If one rabbit needs to go to the vet, both need to go. Most of the time, bonded rabbits should not start to fight all of a sudden. This is the time they can make a lot of mistakes, such as mentioned in #1. The most natural coupling is male/female because this is how they typically form in the wild. Once bonded, rabbits form deep, life-long attachments. Reference the section below titled "Prevention and Home Care" for information about practical ways to protect against this. Now - with the nice weather we have been having they have been kept in the hutch and run which is . . Check out VET RESOURCES. Ideally, your vet should allow for . Rabbits are better off when they have a friend (or several) of their own species. BunSpace.com Forum: should bonded pairs have separate cages? The process should always take place in a neutral territory and all rabbits involved should already be spayed or neutered. The bunnies should be introduced to each other in a neutral environment and kept in separate cages until they are completely bonded. This morning, following their breakfast our bonded pair (male/female, both fixed) suddenly started a high-speed chase. There are many reasons your bunnies may be fighting. At any sign of tension, separate the rabbits (using a towel to intervene to prevent injury). It means that they are scoping each other out and trying to figure out if they can trust each other. Separating 4 month sister rabbits. I have to rehome my bonded pair of rabbits They must stay together, they are bonded, separating them will damage their mental health Male and Female - Neutered and Spayed Both are around 2 years old Requirements: Indoor rabbit enclosure Responsible adult care taker Older kids in the home preferred Pick up only It is always preferable not to separate a bonded pair of rabbits. The Nobivac injection is given once a year and protects rabbits against . They can seriously injure themselves or each other. This process can take weeks or even months. To prevent the adult from feeling lonely by itself, the dividing panels between the two cages won't be . YES, rabbits can die of loneliness. One is fun, but bonded is better! Un-spayed does often develop ovarian cancer (among other health issues), so . Separating bonded rabbits can result in loneliness in rabbits. Thread starter Nena4o8; . . Bonding rabbits may seem quite daunting . AND in time the stressed rabbit will become unhealthy. Rabbits that are not fully bonded need to be kept separate when you are not with them. Be present: Do not leave an un-bonded pair of rabbits alone! Can You Separate Bonded Rabbits? Bonded rabbit pairs use the same litter box and bowls. The highest risk is in the first few days. Also, bunnies don't need to go outside, house rabbits live quite well without it--being outside only adds to the possible health problems they could have. . It is vital to separate them before reaching sexual maturity to prevent unexpected pregnancies and inbreeding. These rabbits will get along well, but things can change if another rabbit is brought into the mix. A rabbit may fight to show dominance. Prepare a neutral space for the introduction, somewhere that neither rabbit feels is "their" place. Biting and nipping are also mating behaviour. Shortly after weaning, it is best to separate your male rabbits from their sisters and mother. With special consideration for their digestive system. Also, bunnies don't need to go outside, house rabbits live quite well without it--being outside only adds to the possible health problems they could have. Bonded rabbits can fight, too. Not having a playmate and being lonely will cause anxiety in rabbits. . Would you ever separate a bonded couple? Lastly, you want to keep an eye out for the baby rabbits after the separation. Please also read our How To Give The Best Care For Your Rabbit, Neutering, Vaccines and Diet in the tabs above. Their relationship can be influenced by their age, sex, neutering, and other stresses or changes in a household. It may seem tedious . I had to separate my bonded buns after one of my rabbits was ill. It was pretty clear things were out of control so I clapped and yelled to stop it. For a pair, the best match is often considered to be a male and female who . Bonded rabbits often groom each other as a sign of affection and this is a useful indicator of the hierarchy. Stress in rabbits can deteriorate the health of a healthy bunny quickly. Lunging at another rabbit, or bumping at each other is also very common among unbonded rabbits. There can be many reasons why your rabbits might not be getting on. Basically, this method is bonding rabbits in a very small neutral space over a length of time and slowly increasing their space every 24 hours or every 2-3 days (depending on their progress), while still keeping them together until they are fully bonded . If you choose to adopt two bonded pair dogs, there are certain things that you will need to know before taking them home. Before bonding takes place, it's a different story. Rabbits are individuals, but all are curious & enjoy time away from their mate in varying degrees. We would never recommend separating bonded rabbits. Don't separate them, once they are bonded keep them together at all times. However, if your rabbits do have to be separated for any reason, such as being hospitalised, you should take care when re-introducing them to each other to minimise the risk of fighting and other welfare problems. Rabbits request grooming by putting their head on the ground or nudging in under the other rabbit's chin. We MUST see photos of housing before we adopt. 5) If the female is already pregnant 6) Two males fighting 7) Two females Fighting 8 . A separation between bonded rabbits causes psychological trauma and anxiety and they may un-bond if they are separated for some time. This is due to their inexperience. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. If you wish to avoid the bonding process then you should adopt baby rabbits from a breeder, rescue or individual, this is because baby rabbits are born bonded to their brothers and sisters. Make sure your rabbits will get along in a space that's at least 16 square feet or larger so that you know they can share territory. Paradoxically, rabbits may even fight as part of their bonding process. Over time, you will want your rabbits to live together in the same hutch . The short version is that separating bonded bunnies can cause them to die of loneliness. Spaying will not only improve their temperament, but it will help with their litter habits as well. If your rabbit is not spayed or neutered, then it's probably hormonal-related aggression. Caring for Bonded Pair Dogs. It is tempting to move too quickly. 4. A rabbit may bounce at another rabbit if the rabbit feels irritated. . There have been several cases where a rabbit passed away after a few days of its bonded partner's death. On the contrary, trying to bond two male rabbits can be quite easy. I have owned rescue rabbits for 9 years and successfully bonded four pairs during that time. It is a constant love fest that is sickeningly sweet. Creating a fun and enriching environment will hopefully keep the rabbit's interest on these items instead of each other. Thus the rabbit will mourn and feel alone. It can even put the rabbit in danger. Last summer my one of my female rabbits bonded with a male cottontail rabbit. If two rabbits are bonded and live together, they will become inseparable. Whether it is male/male, female/female, or male/female, rabbits can learn to live together no matter what sex they are. Another option is to adopt a mother and baby as they will also being bonded. Take it slow and give your rabbits time to work out their disagreements. 2022-01-17 2020-12-22 by Jess Faraday. If you have two bonded rabbits, adding a third means that the original pair may reject the third rabbit. Encouraging rabbits to bond may take patience, time and commitment from you. Losing a friend or a bonded partner will cause the rabbit to grieve and depression. It's best to bond two rabbits that have been spayed or neutered. Decorate this area with lots of interesting things like boxes/tunnels and yummy food items. If they're separated and one rabbit comes back with a different smell or change in health, they may reject each other and begin fighting. Even if the little critters can now eat adult food, you still want to assist them in this transition. However, this can unfortunately happen sometimes with bonded rabbits whether they are males or females. It is very important that you make a point not to separate your dogs if you can . Try again the next day, gradually increasing the time the rabbits spend together. When two new rabbits (or, for that matter, two existing rabbits) fight, then you must prepare for a full introduction period. 1. This went on for a few months. They bonded when there is no unwanted behavior such as chasing, biting, and fighting in their time together. 4 - Three Is a Crowd. A rabbit will not understand what has happened to his/her partner. A quick bonding can take two weeks while the more difficult ones can take 3-4 months. If separated from each other, both rabbits will become depressed. Research shows that bonded rabbits should stay together. Both rabbits must be desexed to avoid breeding, fighting, and other behavioural problems. Once the rabbits have bonded, DO NOT separate them. Even rabbits who seem well bonded can get into fights in these early . . How To's: Work with Space Rabbits are extremely territorial. Most young rabbits are not ready for motherhood. Our lady bun, Opal, started chasing Simcoe, her husbun around the room and through their condo. This phase can last for anything from a few days to 4 weeks or more, but in most cases the pair settle down again to bonded bliss once more. That is not to say that your rabbits might not bond very quickly, just a reminder that the process can take some time. Fighting. Morning, We bonded our two male rabbits at the end of last year - they spent the winter together and have gotten closer and closer ever since. Also, removing him from the bonded group will impact the dynamics of your mother's two rabbits, so there's actually no guarantee that they will continue to get along without him being there, depending on his role in the hierarchy and how the other rabbits react with him gone. Make sure the litter box is big enough to fit both of them. This fighting may happen because of hormonal reasons. This means that you would have to take both rabbits to the vet, even if only one will receive treatment and they should never be housed separately, unless a fight has broken out. This prevents any inbreeding, or just breeding in general, when the rabbits reach sexual maturity. Each bonding process has been different, ranging from 1 week to 6 months. This is both to . However, the rift in some . It is recommended by many animal experts that if you have two rabbits that share a bond, you should avoid separating them. At worst, they can become aggressive and physically pick on your new rabbit. The Bonding Process. Stress in rabbits can deteriorate the health of a healthy bunny quickly. Well, it really depends - I think in the best of all worlds you do want to take a bonded pair into the vet together and that is what I have done in the most part in the past when I've had bonded pairs however there have been cases when I did not and I had not problem but these particular rabbits had been bonded for a very long time. . First, I had to set up three separate rabbit-friendly spaces: one for each bunny to inhabit singly, plus a third, a neutral space for them to get to know each other. They unbonded. The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. If your rabbits were happily bonded and now seem to be fighting, it could be a sign of a dominance change. Please note that separating him from the trio may not only impact him, but also your mother's rabbits. 4) One of Them ill need isolation. Be careful when separating battling bunnies - you may get bitten in the confusion! Prevention. If your rabbits are fighting, immediately separate them until you can find out what the problems are. Pick your pair. If there's fighting, go back a step. Hey all, I have 3 bonded guinea pigs (1 adult and 2 babies) currently in a 3x4 C&C, so space isn't an issue for them. A rabbit will not understand what has happened to his/her partner. Once the rabbits are comfortable with the sight and smell of each other, they can be introduced for short . Being around their best friend can make them feel safe. As social animals, rabbits depend on others for comfort. This area needs to be somewhere neither rabbit has been housed before. To bond two rabbits, keep them separated, and introduce them so they can become acquainted. Both male and female rabbits can experience this change in dominance, which normally happens around the age of one year. Avoid separating a bonded pair because it can make their condition worse. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Yes, separating them is cruel, if they are bonded they could actually die of heartbreak--I've seen it happen. According to the Animal Humane Society, bonded rabbits should not be separated as there is a risk that when they are reunited, something as small as a new smell could cause them to fight. Separating bonded rabbits can result in loneliness in rabbits. While accommodating rabbits in a small cage, a rabbit may lunge and bump the other one to one corner of the cage and create space within the enclosure. Don't bond them immediately after the bunnies have been desexed; males take up to 6 weeks after being neutered to become sterile and wait at least 2 weeks before bonding a spayed female bunny so the wound can heal. Rabbits are territorial and will see another pet as an infiltrator into their claimed space. Step 1. Female rabbits can be very territorial in nature. Bring the bonded partner with you for the visit. Generally speaking, the "top" rabbit will get the most grooming from its rabbit partner (s) and/or its human owners. We ONLY adopt to INDOOR HOMES. They still enjoy interacting with humans. Separating Bonded Companions. Leaving them outside so they don't destroy the house is mean. Bunnies bond for life and separating bonded pairs can result in death from heartbreak (it sounds crazy, but it's absolutely true.) Remember that caregivers can spread the bacteria from one group to another. Once they start grooming and eating together with no aggressiveness, they are bonded. Even if you believed that your rabbits were properly bonded, this is a process that must be started again, from the beginning. We will NEVER separate a bonded pair and adopt them separately. Yes, separating them is cruel, if they are bonded they could actually die of heartbreak--I've seen it happen. No surprises then when some bonded rabbit pairs suddenly start fighting in early spring! Vaccines; RABBIT VACCINATION HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER. 1) When you don't want any litters 2) Male or female showing dominance and possibly hurting the other 3) Controlling Breeding show rabbits or fancy rabbits. Leaving them outside so they don't destroy the house is mean. It's common for first-time mothers to eat their babies by accident. Dos and Don'ts When Bonding Rabbits Not having a playmate and being lonely will cause anxiety in rabbits. Repeat this until the rabbits are relaxed in each other's company. Have Two Separate Cages. A few weeks ago they were happily grooming one another and laid together when resting. They like to eat together so either one big bowl for pellets (and water) or two smaller bowls side by side is recommended.