We have a pair of house rabbits that are five months old. Unfortunately, one of them died yesterday so we have since bought another one to keep the other company. We have a separate cage for them both and don't let them out at the same time, but the established rabbit seems determined to hurt the new one. How do we go about making them friendly towards each other?
2007-02-25 19:51:21 · 11 answers · asked by maitreyauk 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Here are many links to helpful tips about introducing new rabbits> http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=introducing+a+new+rabbit&btnG=Google+Search
If you just check through them, you may find the one that works best for you..
2007-02-25 19:55:43 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know why the rabbit died...how long have you had them for? Have they gone to the vet? If you have only had your rabbits for a short time and didn't take them to the vet, it is very possible the other one could be ill. A rabbit hides their illness very well most of the time, and they can go from happy and chipper one day, to dead when you wake up the next. Getting them spayed/neutered are a very smart idea. Most likely they are both males, and males are very territorial and aggressive towards another male. First step is to take them to the vet and keep them separated for about 2 weeks to ensure they are healthy. And if they have had contact then they should go to the vet ASAP. Also, when you finally do introduce them, make sure you do it in a neutral territory...where neither of the rabbits have their scent. Make sure it is a place you can easily clean up messes as well. Let them find each other, DO NOT set them right in front of one another because that will most likely cause a fight. Hope everything goes well with your rabbits.
2007-02-25 20:11:32 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, I'm very sorry that your rabbit died.
Your first rabbit is exhibiting his/her territorial side. Rabbits are very territorial and while they are social animals and can bond with another rabbit, it often doesn't happen right away. The most successful bonds are between neutered males and spayed females, so the first step is to verify the sex of each and then get them spayed/neutered. They will need about one month to heal and the male will take at least that long for the hormones to calm down.
Then take it slowly. Set up a neutral space where neither bun has been. It should be a small enough that they can interact but not so large that they don't have to interact. No hiding places either and you should be in with them to stop an aggression before it starts. Some rabbits bond very quickly, some take longer and a few will never bond. While m/m and f/f bonds are said to be more difficult, I have read of many of them working too if you are patient.
Here is a link to several articles about bonding your bunnies:
http://homepage.mac.com/mattocks/morfz/rabcare.html#bond
Good luck
2007-02-26 07:23:12 · answer #3 · answered by Martha G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A female rabbit will kill another rabbit if you introduce it into her cage, however if you introduce the female into a males cage it will be okay most of the time. Be very careful though. A rabbit has sharp claws and can cause serious damage. Wounds do not heal like a cat or dog. If they get abcessed they do not break and drain but instead get a mashed potatoe like substance in it which has to be cleaned out after the abcess is lanced. The wound needs to be cleaned regularly and kept open so it heals from the inside out.
If you have two males that are neutered they should get along okay after giving them time to get to know each other. If they are not neutered they will try to mate with each other and possibly fight. The females could be a problem. Make sure they are also fixed. Give them plenty of time to get to know each other in separate cages. Do not put them in the same cage if they are not fixed they will fight and one will probably kill the other.
When you do decide to put the bunnies in the same cage make it a neutral cage, that is a cage that neither rabbit has claimed as their own. It would probably be better to let them decide if they want to be together by offering a new cage big enough for both along with each still having their own. Just leave the door open for them to investigate when they want. If your bunnies fight, keep them separated, they will not become friends.
Bunnies, as cute and sweet as they look can be very nasty. I had a mommy bunny slash her own offspring from under its ear to mid throat and it took a lot of work and time before the bunny healed. We don't know why she did that but we had her fixed after that.Hope you find this information helpful.
2007-02-25 20:35:52 · answer #4 · answered by tuxedocat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are heaps of websites that can help you on this. When we introduced our new female rabbit to our existing male one he was fine with her until he saw her in his cage when he went crazy and chased her round the room. We separated them and put them in the bath (minus the water obviously) as this was a neutral territoryu they had never been in.
We did this a couple times then let them run around together in the house and they have been great ever since. All the websites do say it can take time tho so you may have to be quite patient. It should happen tho. Good luck!
2007-02-27 04:17:55 · answer #5 · answered by Neil W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you didn't say if they are male of female.
neutering ios a very good start, but also just let them see each other and not get to each other for a long time. Get two pens to put next to each other and let then settle for maybe a few weeks.
when you first let them out together do it in a neutral place, not one where the established rabbit already has a territory.
itwill take some time, but will be ok in the end.(as long as they arn't unneutred males that is)
2007-02-25 20:01:12 · answer #6 · answered by Fred 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell them how you feel about the situation....and that their fighting is making you very sad.......j/k
i've never heard of house rabbits....i would guess that you just need to let them get used to each other over some time....you said the deceased rabbit just died yesterday...give them some time. they will eventually come around to eachother
good luck
2007-02-25 20:02:20 · answer #7 · answered by Mandy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give the one that just lost the one and give it a few days to get over it and then take them both out at the same time and hold one and let the other sniff them and do that to the other one and just let them watch each other and soon put them down and don't be scared but keep and eye on them and i hope i helped you.
2007-02-26 02:19:17 · answer #8 · answered by rachel w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bonding is something that takes time and patience. some rabbits take more time than others. this is a website that is very informative on bonding house rabbits. there are many other things on this website that i'm sure you would find interesting. www.rabbit.org
2007-02-26 04:08:38 · answer #9 · answered by punkbun03 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out this site http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/ they have loads of advice and information for rabbit owners
you can help support this charity at http://www.petmillions.com aswell!
laxxy
2007-02-26 00:05:02 · answer #10 · answered by petmillions.com 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋