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Bonding Your Rabbits

November 1, 2023 JOLLYES TEAM

Questions

Why should rabbits live together in pairs?
Why aren’t my rabbits cohabiting positively?
What does it mean to bond my rabbits?
Where can I get help bonding my rabbits?

Rabbits are social animals. They like to live in big groups in the wild. It’s important that rabbits are housed with at least one other companion as this helps to make them feel safe and secure.

Rabbits like to have a strong bond with their fellow furry friend. Once this bond is made, they’ll spend all their time with their companion, eating together, sleeping together, and grooming each other regularly. Rabbits enjoy the company of others, this does include humans, but the most rewarding relationship for them is one with a fellow rabbit.

Why should rabbits live together in pairs?

Rabbits are very sociable creatures. They live together in big groups in the wild and they crave attention and affection from other members of their species. Companionship is very important to them. Without it, they can become stressed and anxious.

It’s cruel to keep a rabbit on their own, especially in an indoor rabbit cage, as this is not the social norm for them in the wild. It’s often not feasible to keep domesticated rabbits in large groups, however, we can pair them up to give them the opportunity to find a friend and bond. If they have at least one other rabbit, this will help them to feel safe secure, and content in their environment. Bunnies that are kept in pairs are generally calmer, less anxious, and happier in their surroundings. All of these things have a positive impact on their life and will help them live longer. Our bunnies should not be deprived of the company of their own kind.

Why aren’t my rabbits cohabiting positively?

Usually, rabbits that are from the same family will get on very well from the get-go.

If two rabbits are introduced that are from different families, this can sometimes cause some friction.

The introduction of two unfamiliar rabbits should be done slowly and gradually over a long period of time. You should expect it to take two to eight weeks for them to become accustomed to each other and accept each other. If rabbits that don’t know each other are suddenly thrust into the same living environment, this can often mean that they don’t get on. They may both feel like their territory and personal space has been invaded and they may feel threatened. This can cause them to be defensive and lash out and attack the other rabbit.

If one or both of the rabbits are unneutered, this can be a big bone of contention. Unneutered rabbits can view the other rabbit as a threat and they’ll often fight savagely as they feel their chances of finding a suitable mate (and therefore procreating) are being compromised.

A neutered male and a neutered female are often a good combination as they won’t feel like they need to compete against each other.

If two rabbits of different sizes are put together this can cause problems if one is a lot larger than the other, for example mixing a giant rabbit with a dwarf.

What does it mean to bond my rabbits?

Introducing two bunny babies together and having them live with each other is called bonding or pairing.

Two bunnies that are not familiar with each other can 'bond' over time given the right circumstances.

Rabbits that bond with each other will slowly become used to each other as they get more and more comfortable and familiar with the sight, smell, and sound of another rabbit.

If the two rabbits are allowed to have short periods of interaction when they have a positive experience and there’s no hostility between them, gradually they’ll start to enjoy each other's company, and a bond will be formed. They’ll become accustomed to each other's smell and start to groom each other and sleep together. Eventually, they’ll spend more time together than they do apart, and a beautiful bond is formed!

How do I bond my rabbits?

Slow and steady is the key here. If you want to do it properly, you do need to take your time. Ensure both rabbits are fully vaccinated, ideally have been neutered, and are free from any disease. Your vet will be able to examine your rabbit and help out with all of these things. Winter time is a better time to start introducing them as it is likely they will be producing less hormones. If you have a rabbit living on their own in the Spring, however, it’s still better to go ahead with the bonding rather than let them live on their own for months.

Put both rabbits close to each other in separate cages for a short period each day. Allow them to be close enough to sniff each other but not so they can come into direct contact with each other. Make sure both bunnies have a safe place to retreat to if they suddenly get scared or anxious.
When they are separated, you can put something from each cage in the other rabbit's enclosure. This allows them to smell the other rabbit in a non-threatening way.
When your two rabbits are familiar with the smell and sight of each other, you can begin to allow them to mix with each other in a neutral location for very short periods of time. It’s very important to keep them supervised at all times when this is happening. Neutral ground, that neither rabbit has been on before, helps as both the bunnies won't feel the need to protect their own territory. Ensure again that there are places for each rabbit to retreat to and hide if they feel the need to. Also, ensure there are lots of enrichment objects in the space such as hay and rabbit toys and tunnels. If either rabbit shows any sign of stress or tension, separate them immediately. Do this each day, gradually increasing the time the rabbits spend together.
Allow the rabbits to spend more time in each other's company. It’s important that this time is always heavily supervised. Start to feed them together but always have two bowls and water feeders as rabbits can be very competitive over resources such as food and water.
When you see the rabbits choosing to snuggle up together and sleep, and also groom each other, this is when you have hit the bunny jackpot. Now they can be left unsupervised as they have formed a special bond.

Don’t worry if one of your rabbits seems to be the dominant one. It’s completely normal for one to come out on top in the battle of dominance. The dominant rabbit may mount the subordinate one, this is a sign of them establishing a normal hierarchy. The subordinate rabbit may also lick the dominant one. This is all normal behavior.

Where can I get help bonding my rabbits?

Some organizations and individuals offer a rabbit bonding service. The advantage of this is that it’s a neutral human on neutral territory. This means both rabbits are in new surroundings they are not familiar with so they are less likely to display territorial behaviour. The downside is that an unfamiliar human and environment can be very stressful for the rabbits.

Rabbits are sociable creatures and they thrive off the company of other members of the same species.

It’s recommended that all rabbits are housed with at least one bunny bestie. Some rabbits can come paired with a litter mate already. It’s possible to bond two rabbits that have not previously met, it just takes time and patience! For more rabbit essentials, hop on over online or in store.