Bonded rabbits can also break their bond. This can happen if they've been separated, for example if one bunny needs to spend a few days at the vet. It can also happen if you move house, move or change your rabbit enclosure, or upset the hierarchy by introducing new rabbits.
Once the rabbits have bonded, DO NOT separate them. If one rabbit needs to go to the vet, both need to go. If they're separated and one rabbit comes back with a different smell or change in health, they may reject each other and begin fighting.
All buns must be spayed/neutered before being introduced. Unfixed bunnies are much more territorial and are more likely to fight, which makes bonding MUCH harder. Wait at least 2 weeks after a spay or neuter before introducing bunnies.
It's important that rabbits live with at least one other rabbit at all times, so that they feel safe. As they're social animals, they also enjoy eating together, grooming each other and lying down together to keep each other warm. Living together will also make sure that they have companionship.
The whole bonding process can take as little as one day or up to several months – it all depends on your rabbits. Usually, it's a few weeks before your bunnies will be living happily together but it is well worth the wait.
As a general rule, rabbits are bonded once they can spend 48 hours together without any chasing or aggressive behaviors. You also want to see positive signs such as grooming, sharing food, and sleeping next to each other to confirm that your rabbits feel safe around each other.
In general, the only time you should give up on bonding rabbits is when they have injured each other. You should also reevaluate the bond if one rabbit is a bully, making the other rabbit anxious and afraid to eat, use the litter box, or even move around too much.
While they shouldn't be in the same shared area together at first, due to rabbits being highly territorial, they should be able to see each other. Separating the areas with x-pens is a good idea as it allows the rabbits to see and smell each other, but not be in close enough contact to allow any biting.
They will also take care of each other's play and grooming needs. Even if you have a pair of rabbits, 24 hours is the maximum time they should be alone. Like all pets, rabbits rely heavily on their owners. Domesticated rabbits lack the survival skills of wild rabbits.
If your rabbit leaves behind a bonded mate, he, too, will grieve. Now more than ever, your surviving rabbit will need you to help him through his grief. Rabbit grief is very real. Just like people, rabbits grieve in their own way.
Neutral territory is imperative. Put the rabbits in a small, neutral area for about one week.
Split mixing is the safest way of bonding two rabbits. You can use split mixing for first introductions, when a bonded pair is of mating age but awaiting neutering or if a rabbit is returning from veterinary hospitalisation.
Your rabbits will still interact with you and show affection but will not be so "needy". Bonded rabbits also bring their own advantages to us as owners. There is little to compare to the happy sight of a truly loved up couple sleeping nose to nose, or getting into mischief together and egging each other on.
If your rabbit is one of a bonded pair it is a good idea to take them both to the surgery. In some cases the vet may need to examine the other rabbit (in case of infectious disease etc) but generally they will just keep each other company.
If the death happened at a veterinary clinic, you must bring the body back and put it in the rabbits' home (their crate or pen) with the survivor. If a necropsy has been done, the veterinarian can stitch the body closed again and send it home with you.
Even if your rabbit is generally gentle and calm, when a new bunny enters the scene, you may see some very aggressive behavior. Rabbits can bite, claw or swat at each other potentially inflicting great harm. For this reason, all bonding must be supervised.
Nipping will most likely happen at some point during the bonding process. It is normal and isn't always a negative action. Sometimes a rabbit will nip the other because they want him/her to groom them.
Although trying to bond rabbits will inevitably be stressful to them, there are other factors that cause stress too and every rabbit owner should be aware of them.
There is no set time for how long a bond will take, some take hours some take days but as a minimum time scale we would suggest that you put aside two days at least where you can be with the rabbits 24/7 to err on the side of caution. Be prepared to sleep next to them and be on hand to ensure everything is going well.
Do rabbits have dominant individuals? If you're watching a group of rabbits, you should be able to tell which is the dominant male – he's the one who is constantly patrolling his territory. You'll also notice that subordinates tend to move away when he approaches.
Basically, this method is bonding rabbits in a very small neutral space over a length of time and slowly increasing their space every 24 hours or every 2-3 days (depending on their progress), while still keeping them together until they are fully bonded.
This is called “targeting.” Then when they are together they will both want to do it at the same time and you will reinforce (give a treat) to both. This is a great way for them to interact with each other in the same space and have something good happen without mounting each other.
Bonded rabbits spend the majority of their days and nights together. They tend to visit the litter tray at the same time, eat together and groom together. A lot of time is spent simply snuggled up together sleeping. They can become competitive with each other over food and attention from us.