males

Question
Hello,
my name is Angela and i would like to know if i can keep two male rabbits togetther even tho they look at eachother threw pens all the time. I would like to put them together so they can be friends.
Thank you
Angela

Answer
Hi Angela,

thanks for the question.  The long answer is yes, with a but.

If they are not fixed, no, never put two unfixed rabbits together.  You will either get a pregnant rabbit or have vicious fighting.

So, first things to do.  Both need to be fixed.

Second, you need to wait a month to let the existing hormones in their bodies be used up.  After this time, they will be more mellow rabbits and will not be hormonally driven to fight.

Third, you can't just place one in the others' cage (ie the others territory, his space is being invaded) cold turkey and expect it to be okay.  

You have to use a space in your house where neither have been (neither of them already own it).  Like a bathroom, or maybe a basement room.

You have to do what is called 'bonding'.  Rabbits don't just get along with other rabbits, they pick their friends like us.  We don't automatically get along with other people too!  Further with rabbits one is always more dominant, and dominance is an issue that must be determined before friendship can happen, if it does at all.  This is what you are hoping to do in these bonding sessions.

They may never be buddies who share the same cage, but they may become friendly enough that you can allow them to play together in common areas during the same exercise time.  Trust me that is a huge success if you can even do this.  

Generally two males are considered to be the hardest pairing combination, so I would not be surprised if it does not work out.  But that is okay.  They may become bonded enough to be able to play with each other, and then when playtime is over, you take them to their respective cages and that is fine.  Lots of rabbits like their own space, but get along with others in a common area for awhile.

Kind of like us, right?  We don't have our friends living with us, but it's good to hang out with them for awhile.  Nice to come back to your own place, though, when it's over.

I would strongly encourage you to visit the House Rabbit Society's web site (www.rabbit.org) and browse their extensive information on bonding rabbits.  If it doesn't jump off the page where to go, just use their search engine and type in 'bonding'.  Print off their articles and keep them handy.  They also have links to any state chapters of the House Rabbit Society too, and these are people I would call and talk to about bonding. I work with them in Wisconsin and they are very knoweldgeable about bonding rabbits.