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Our Dwarf bunnies

22 10:41:56

Question
Hi there, thankyou for being a bunny enthusiast like myself.

My question is, my boyfriend and I bought our first lop eared bunny a year ago, for a year he has lived happily with our 5 chickens, we noticed that over time he started behaving like a chicken, and lies on their eggs after they have hatched them, and rolls in the dirt like they do, so we decided that he might be lonely, and we recently bought another bunny (girl bunny) so that he could have companionship,(we plan on having her neutered) while she was growing and getting bigger we kept them in separate cages, but on the weekend we let them out at the same time, and he nearly killed her. He chased her and grabbed a hold of her rump and wouldn't let her go, he was grunting like some wilder beast. she was very stressed after this as you can imagine. so we immediately separated them, to let her calm down. I found the experience quite distressing and slightly confusing. I don't know if his reaction was because there is now competition for space and food, mind you the back yard is very large. So I don't know what to do, I don't want to spend my days, letting one out for half a day and then letting the other out for the other half of the day, and both never being friends. (she is not hostile towards him). They all get along with the chickens. Any suggestions.

Answer
HI Melissa,

you never, never, never just put two strange rabbits together.  What you saw is the reason why.  Yes they are social but with rabbits they know and want to be around.

You have to do this very slowly, it is called bunny dating, or bonding.  First, all your rabbits to bond should be fixed (neutered if male, spayed if female).  Else you will have baby rabbits.  And a lot of fighting because of high hormone levels.  Do not put intact rabbits together ever.

He's been a solo rabbit for 5 years and you threw a potential rival in his territory.  The fact he was getting along with the chickens and even imitating them tells me he wasn't unhappy with things the way they are.  Now that doesn't mean he can't enjoy a second rabbit.

Bonding must occur in a neutral area that neither claims as their territory.  Instead of rehashing well written articles I will point you to them:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/multiple.html

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/bonding-tips.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-4/tough-bonding.html

http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/san-diego/behavior/expect.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-4/marriage.html

http://www.rabbit.org/journal/3-8/rabbits-in-the-plural.html

I suggest reading them, and printing them out for future reference.  I would also pick up The House Rabbit Handbook 4th Ed by Marinell Hariiman either on Amazon or your local big bookstore.

Bottom line: make sure all your rabbits are fixed by a good rabbit vet before even attempting to bond them.   You will have to wait 4-5 weeks after their surgeries so that their hormone levels hit their new lower levels.  Let them be in separate areas that they can see each other across from, but do all bonding exercises in a neutral area.  Read the bonding articles to know what to expect and do.

Lee