i have a rabbit that is about 8 months old , i bought a new one yesterday to keep her company but the original one is very aggressive towards her. They are house rabbits and so have free run of the home downstairs but have their own cage for when we are out. can anyone suggest a good way to intruduce them again without agression? The new one is about 8 weeks old and is far to small to protect herself. i am obviously keeping them seperate for the time being . any suggestions would be greatly appreciated ( The older one has been spayed so maybe that makes a difference ? although i thought that mellowed them? )

The way i use to do this same with most pets was to have one large hutch with a wire partition so they could see each other and pick up each others cents and be able to have some sort of contact then to keep swaping them round so they got used to sleeping and living in each others partition.Or to do the same thing the best you can if you have not got anything big enough they should accept each other may take a week or so but should be ok.

This is absolutely the only way to bond rabbits.

Both should be neutered first off, allowing at least 4 weeks for the hormones to subside. Take them to a neutral spot where they have never been before and let them out together. Offer at least two hiding boxes and plenty of food and toys to distract them. Arm yourself with a water gun or spray bottle and watch. Usually they will mojnt and chase each other and even pull fur out. This is totally normal and to be expected. The male may 'buzz' which is a mating sound and again nothing to worry about.

If they start to fight i.e lunge and bite/scratch with vocals such as a loud grunt or squeal spray them with water until they seperate. Do not remove one and then reintroduce it....the last thing they will remember is that this strange bunny tried to attack them and then they will be on the defensive again. If at anytime the attacks are constant and injuries become apparant ie blood is drawn, then you have to accept these two will never become friends.

Over the next 48 hours the humping will subside and they will slowly decide who will be dominant and who submissive. When you find them lying together or see them grooming they are ready for the next stage.

Clean out the hutch and spray it with vinegar water and scrub thoroughly. Once dry rebed it. This will remove any smell of the previous rabbit and render it 'neutral' territory. Both rabbits can then be placed in the hutch and observed. If no fighting breaks out you have a successfully bonded pair. From now on they have to go everywhere together....to the vets etc. If one goes into the house so does the other and so on.

If you have real trouble then PM me.....I have successfully bonded many pairs and even a trio of rabbits, so far with no failures and can bond for you.

PS unrelated female to female pairs are the HARDEST bond as they are the most territorial.

We introduced one of our male rabbits to his new girlfriend over the weekend using the method described by Sooz and it worked a treat. I would just add that we used hiding boxes with 2 doorways - so the weaker rabbit could escape if the stronger rabbit pursued her in there (although as it happened that wasn't a problem). Also we waited until the younger rabbit was a good 3 months old before putting them together. 8 weeks sounds everso young to have to stand up to an older, established rabbit!

Now we just need to find a partner for our other male rabbit which won't be such an easy proposition as he's very dominant! Incidentally, when he started fighting with his male friend (hence the need to separate them in the end) we tried squirting with water and he loved it! It did stop them fighting for a bit, though, while he turned his face full into the spray with a look of delight on his face :hihi:

thankyou so much for all your advice i will hopefully have 2 ' friends' shortly!! :)

i just wanted to say thank you again and that i now have two very happy bunnies running and jumping around my living room :hihi:

Aaaaw that is great news - I love happy endings :)