Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Preparing the rabbits to be introduced
• Part 2 of 2: Introducing the rabbits to each other in person
• Tips

Rabbits are social animals by nature and enjoy living together. But they are also quite territorial, which makes getting to know or forming a bond more difficult than with other animals. Rabbits are hierarchical by nature, but when properly introduced to each other, they can learn to live with other rabbits. However, strange rabbits that come into their territory are attacked and forced to run. If you didn't buy two rabbits at the same time, and your rabbit has lived alone, you can follow a few simple steps to gradually introduce them to each other so that they can become friends.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Preparing the rabbits to be introduced

1. Choose your combination. Any combination of rabbits can live together. Whether male / male, female / female or male / female, rabbits can live together regardless of gender. The most natural pairing is male / female as this is how they usually mate in the wild.
   • If you buy your rabbits at a young age, or buy them together, it doesn't matter what sex they are as they are likely to bond with ease. They probably already bond when you buy them.
   • It is easier to put a female with a male than the other way around, because females are very protective of their territory. But two female rabbits are likely to get along better than two males.
2. Have your rabbits spayed or neutered. When introducing rabbits to live together, they must be spayed or neutered. This is to prevent the rabbits from fighting or breeding. Each female should be spayed and males neutered approximately 2-6 weeks before introducing them. This will give the rabbits time to heal and the hormones to dissolve.
   • Shortly after they are neutered, keep males away from unsterilized females. They can remain fertile for up to 2 weeks after castration.
   • If you buy your rabbits from the same litter as babies, you will still need to get them served as soon as possible. They will form a close bond when they are young, but if they become sexually mature before you have them helped, then they will fight or break their bond, probably forever.
3. Place the rabbits next to each other in cages. If you brought your rabbits home, you should put them in cages next to each other, instead of putting the new rabbit directly with the old rabbit. If you put the rabbits together in a cage right away, they can start fighting, as the original rabbit will be upset by the new rabbit in its territory.
   • If you want the rabbits to share a cage, it is better to keep the original cage like that neutral possible, and let the original rabbit in it. fix it neutral by properly cleaning it and moving it to a new place, replacing the existing furniture in the cage and putting in a new hiding place, trays and bedding so that it smells less of the existing rabbit (and therefore its sense of territory to decrease).
   • If you don't have cages for your rabbits, put them in adjacent rooms and keep them separate with a baby gate.
4. Watch their behavior. When you first put the rabbits close together, they will be very curious about each other. You can expect them to touch each other's noses through the bars, and will likely show signs of courting, such as spinning and chattering. After doing this for a while, they will become more comfortable with each other, even lying next to each other at the edges of their cages. This can take a few days.
   • If your rabbits take a long time to get to this stage, you can try feeding them close to each other so they get used to eating near each other.
   • They will exhibit mating behavior despite being spayed and neutered. This is how they communicate with each other.
5. Take it easy. You have to understand that the introductory process takes time. Introducing your rabbits too soon could cause your rabbits to injure themselves and each other. You will also make it much more difficult or impossible to get to know your rabbits properly if you get them together too soon.
   • Watch your rabbits to determine when they are ready to meet in person. Depending on the personality of your rabbits, this can take a few days or a few weeks.
   • If you put your rabbits together too soon, they will likely fight, which will make the rabbits see each other as a threat and make it difficult for them to bond.

Part 2 of 2: Introducing the rabbits to each other in person

1. Find an unknown territory. If you think they are ready to see each other up close, you should find a place that is unfamiliar to both rabbits. That way they can meet on terrain that is neither of them. In your house, for example, bathrooms are suitable for getting to know the rabbits. Once both rabbits are in the room, sit on their level and stay on the floor with them.
   • Make sure to remove all things in the room that could be knocked over and harm them if they start moving around and jumping.
   • It is also wise to have a cardboard box with a hole on both sides so that the rabbits can withdraw if they feel too nervous or anxious.
2. Keep a close eye on them. You need to keep a close eye on them, especially when they first meet. There are three common scenarios that can occur when you put the rabbits together in a room. The most common is that both rabbits are wary of each other at first, but one rabbit takes charge and asserts its dominance over the other. That rabbit will take charge and approach the other by sniffing, spinning, and possibly pouncing on the other rabbit. As much as this resembles couples, it is a dominance game. Keep in mind that the less dominant rabbit doesn't hurt the more dominant one while they get to know each other.
   • Another scenario that can occur is that they will automatically attack each other. This is rare, but not to be missed when it happens. This is why you should always wear thick gloves when first introducing your rabbits to each other. When this happens, act quickly so that the rabbits don't injure each other. Then you should put them back in their separate cages so that they can get to know each other better before trying again.
   • In another rare case, your rabbits can automatically approach each other as equals. They will sniff and smell each other and like each other right away.
3. Tackle fighting behavior. Fighting between rabbits is evident when it happens. The rabbits will jump on each other and start hitting, biting and trying to harm each other. To prevent or stop fighting, have an aerosol can on stream mode handy when introducing your rabbits. If you think the rabbits can start fighting, you need to spray to stop the behavior. This can also help when they start fighting, as long as it's not too intense. Spraying them wet will also encourage them to groom each other, which will also help make contact.
   • Snapping at each other is not seen as fighting. This is a way for them to communicate with each other, to get attention and to show curiosity.
   • Jumping and spinning can lead to fighting. If the dominant rabbit jumps from front to back, you have to turn them around.If the less dominant male bites the genitalia of the dominant male, it can cause serious damage.
4. Continue the encounters. You shouldn't keep the rabbits together for more than 10-20 minutes at a time, especially at the beginning. As they become more familiar with each other, after the first few days, you can increase the time to 30-40 minutes. Once they start laying together and grooming each other, the rabbits have formed a bond and can live together without supervision.
   • You can set up small obstacles or hide vegetables to give the rabbits something to play with as they get to know each other.
   • This can take a few days or a few weeks. It depends on your particular rabbits and their character. Stay with it until your rabbits bond.
5. Address resistance to forming a bond. Sometimes rabbits will remain aggressive or will not make much progress in making contact. If this is the case with your rabbits, then you can try to, in fact, force the case. On a day when you are all at home all day, you can set up a good run in the living room and keep gloves and spray tube handy. Put the rabbits in the run and watch a movie. Keep an eye on them while you watch the movie, and spray them if they seem aggressive or look like they are about to fight.
   • After a while, they will get tired of being sprayed and will start to whine. Eventually, one rabbit will go to the other and show submission, starting the official acquaintance process.
   • You can also read a book or play a game with friends or family while you wait. Just make sure to pay attention to them so that you can stop any tendency to fight.

Tips

• The same methods can be used when introducing several rabbits at the same time. The level of difficulty will largely depend on the sex of the rabbits and the general temperament of your rabbits. You should make sure to keep the rabbits in separate cages, regardless of the number of rabbits, until they are properly introduced.
• If you bring two rabbits home at the same time, and you don't have any existing rabbits, the acquaintance process can be much easier. This is because none of the rabbits can claim your home as their territory and they can make contact more easily in a new, strange environment.
• Even if it takes a while, especially in the beginning, keep trying to get your rabbits used to each other. They are not intended to be solitary creatures and like company. Eventually, this instinct will take over and they will bond.