How do I introduce two Female Rabbits?

Question

My girlfriend just got a new rabbit and we want to introduce them. She works at a veterinary hospital and has asked her vet what to do but we would like to hear other opinions. First, the bunnies:

Her first is a female dwarf who is a year and a few months old. She is pretty stubborn at times but can get along with people.

The new rabbit is a mini-lop who is just a few months old. She was spayed a few weeks ago and her stitches are out and everything is fine. She is very sweet and likes to cuddle. Since she is a mini-lop she is about the same size as the dwarf.

Both cages are in the across from each other in the same room. Both bunnies have time out of their cages and they both go up to each others cages and sniff each other. Before the lop was spayed the dwarf snapped through the cage a few times but she has been doing better. Now they just take turns marking territory by making little poops outside their cages.

The bunnies also share the living room with 5 foster kittens and two adult cats (its a busy apartment lol). They both get along great with the cats and have fun chasing each other around. The kittens even wrestle and play fight the bunnies, they also climb on them and l**k them. Its weird but both rabbits seem to have no problem with it.

We want to know where we should introduce them, and what we should worry about. Our hope is that both bunnies can have fun together without us having to worry to much. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

ok well i have 5 rabbits male and female and it turns out that 2 female got out and got along well(i wonder if they remember they r mother and dauter) but i find that unless the rabbits r family they often dont get along well at first(somtimes never) but i sugest putting them in a pen(large enough so that if they want to they can keep away from each other) maybe with some special treats like apples or somthing s they  find that being near eachother means treats. also u should keep watch for a while to make sure no fites erupt but if they start fiteing more then 2-3 times i dont think they r compatible and shouldnt be in the same cage but hopefully with time they can be great friends!=)

Answer 2

First off, if the dwarf isn't spayed that really should be done before introductions.

Rabbits intros can be complicated, but typically they can be accomplished with lots of patience.  Some are instant best friends but others need a bit of convincing.  You may have some problems since they are already competing to establish their territory.  They are both loose in the same area and they both assume that area is theirs.

Try introducing them on neutral territory.  Somewhere neither rabbit has been before.  You'll both want to be present and you should be armed with a spray bottle, towel and possibly a dustpan to break up any potential fights.

Let the rabbits approach each other and carefully monitor their behaviour.  Be sure to watch for signs of aggression like chasing and nipping.  You want to stop any fighting before it can begin (that's where the spray bottle comes in).  Some rabbits will get along right away, then you can try them in their regular areas and see if they still get along.

Others are a bit more difficult and you'll have to try some more inventive strategies.  Work at least 20 minutes everyday with them.  You can try to create situations where they will cuddle together for comfort because they are a little bit stressed, so things like having them supervised in the backseat of a moving vehicle.

The best ideas are here:

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/intro...

Answer 3

Is the dwarf spayed too?  If not, you could have trouble.  Unspayed females can be very hostile and territorial.  If both are spayed, check out this website: http://www.rabbit.org/behavior/index.htm...  The Socialization heading has a ton of information about what to expect when introducing two rabbits.  There is even a video.  While sometimes they are instant buddies, usually it is a long and drawn-out process requiring close supervision and patience.  My worst case took me 6 months to bond, and that was after I finally found her a friend she didn't try to kill on sight.  The most important thing is that the introduction needs to be done on neutral territory, so use a small room that neither rabbit has been in, or someone else's house if they've been in every area of your home.  Go into it thinking that eventually you will be successful and you will be, just have patience.  Lots of it.  Good luck!  

Answer 4

Is the dwarf fixed also?

What worked for me was to put the rabbits in separate, side by side areas where they have their own territory yet can interact if they choose.  Females can be very territorial so this is a good way to introduce them.  It may take a while, but if they eventually begin sitting next to each other and/or grooming one another try  putting them together in an area that neither has claimed as territory such as a bathtub or living room.

My two females took two months before they became friends.  At first there was a lot of scratching and biting through the gates, they would also mark their territory along the border of the gate.  Now they are best friends always together.