Rabbits are social animals who enjoy the companionship of their fellow rabbits, so while it is always best to get a bonded pair, not all pet rabbits start as a pair. If you have a pet rabbit and decided to give them the joys of a bunny friendship, or perhaps you are adopting two rabbits that did not grow up together, how do you introduce bunnies to each other?
Keep your rabbits apart initially and get them used to each other by swapping their litter boxes. Supervised playdates in a neutral area encourage positive experiences. When your rabbits show curiosity, place them in a small area together and gradually increase with more positive behavior.
As cute as they look, bunnies are extremely territorial and can get aggressive when they feel their territory is at risk. Therefore, it is crucial to be careful when introducing a new rabbit to your pet rabbit. Before allowing the new bunny into your original bunny’s territory, they need to be bonded.
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How To Introduce Bunnies To Each Other
There are many methods of bonding two (or more) rabbits, but the method discussed in this article is the most common and has a higher success rate.
Before attempting to bond your rabbits, ensure that your rabbits are de-sexed. Rabbits that are de-sexed are less hormonal, which makes bonding easier. At the very least, at least one rabbit, preferably the male, must be de-sexed.
The key to a successful bonding is to take it slow. The slower you introduce your rabbits to each other, the lower the chances of negative behavior that could potentially set your progress back to square one.
Bonding takes time and patience; it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and during this time, your rabbits shouldn’t spend time together without your supervision. You will need to keep a close eye on them and be ready to intervene should a fight break out.
1. Prepare Your Home For The New Rabbit
Before bringing home your new bunny, you should prepare your home by sectioning off a space for your new rabbit that is off-limits for your original rabbit. As you will keep them separate for the first few days, you will need bowls and other supplies for each rabbit.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ex pen (or two if both rabbits are new)
- Two water bowls
- Two food bowls for pellets and greens
- Two litter boxes
- A hide-out for each rabbit
- Lots of hay
- Two blankets
- Two hay racks or hay sacks
- Something to protect your hands like a dustpan, or oven mittens
- Toys for each rabbit
2. Place Their Pens Next To Each Other
Once you have bought the needed supplies and decided where to keep your new bunny, you will need to clean that area to remove any scent of the other rabbit. Apple cider vinegar and some water will do the trick.
Set up the ex-pen in your dedicated space, along with water and food bowls, hays, toys, a litter box, a hide-out, and a blanket. If both your rabbits are new, you can set up two ex-pens next to each other. Leave a space between the pens to prevent the rabbits from biting each other through the fence.
Litter boxes are best placed away from the fence, while you can place food and water closer to the fence. Eating is a social activity for rabbits, so placing their food closer to each other creates a positive environment through association.
3. Introduce Your Rabbits To Each Other’s Scent
While keeping your rabbits separate, you can get them used to each other by introducing scents. The scent of the other rabbit will familiarize them with each other without the risks of confrontation.
If your original rabbit is free-roam, you can swap their litter boxes once or twice a day. For two new bunnies in separate ex-pens, you can either swap their litter boxes or place them in each other’s ex-pens daily. Keep doing this until they are ready to be placed together.
4. Setup Play Dates In Neutral Territory
After a few days or a week of inspecting each other from afar, set up a mini play date in a neutral territory to give your rabbits a chance to meet face to face. Ideally, placing them in an area where your original rabbit rarely goes, like a bathroom or study, would be best.
Limit their time together to 10 minutes and encourage positive behavior, but be ready to intervene with a dustpan, cardboard, or oven mitten. Treats, like bananas, work like a charm for creating happy memories! Avoid ending the play date on a negative note.
5. Place Them In A Small Area
Once your rabbits have had a few play dates and showed signs of curiosity, sniffing, and playfulness, you can begin the bonding process.
You have only introduced them to each other and given them time to adjust. Now comes the time to place them in the same ex-pen.
The ex-pen recommended in this article has eight panels. Start with three panels if your rabbits are small or four for larger rabbits. Add a litterbox, hay sack, and water bowl. You can continue having playdates in the neutral zone to give them space to exercise under strict supervision or exercise time separately.
6. Look Out For Positive Signs And Minimize Jealousy
Giving your rabbits the time to become accustomed to each other on their terms and in their own time encourages a positive bonding experience. Hopefully, these positive experiences will pay off once they are in the small ex-pen.
Watch your rabbits closely and look out for these positive signs:
- Flopping or sleeping next to each other
- Grooming each other
- Sniffing each other
- Curiosity
If you are acquainting a new rabbit to your rabbit, your original rabbit may display signs of jealousy. Combat this negative feeling by giving them more attention and showing them that the new rabbit is not taking their place in your life.
7. Increase Their Area Slowly
This is undeniably the most critical step, as this is where most rabbit owners experience setbacks as a result of rushing the process.
You must increase their area extremely slowly! After observing positive signs in the smallest area for a few days, add one panel and stay at this size for at least a week. Many rabbit owners see positive signs after two or three days and increase the space again, only to find their rabbits fighting over the additional space.
Adding too much space too soon will ignite your rabbit’s territorial instinct, and they will start fighting over this new, unclaimed space. Rather move slow and steady to prevent moving backward.
If you witness any negative signs, give your rabbits a few minutes to sort it out themselves before intervening. If it persists, move back to a smaller space and repeat the process.
Negative signs to look out for include:
- Mounting – this is normal and should only be intervened if it becomes aggressive
- Circling (chasing each other in circles) – normal behavior
- Thumping
- Biting, scratching, or fighting – intervene immediately!
When your rabbits display positive bonding signs in the largest size of the ex-pen, they are bonded and can be free-roamed. Congratulations!
Conclusion
Introducing rabbits to each other must be done slowly. Rabbits can feel threatened, territorial, or jealous, and listening to their cues will guide the speed of the process.
While the bonding process can be long, frustrating, and tiring, seeing your two bunnies happy in each other’s company makes it all worth it!
