Bonding rabbits together

Should I Get Another Rabbit?
The following links contain information to help you properly decide whether or not to get another rabbit.
 * House Rabbit Society, Amy Espie, FAQ: Should I Get a Second Rabbit
 * House Rabbit Society, Are Two Rabbits Right For You?
 * House Rabbit Society, Amy Espie, The Case for Rabbits in the Plural
 * The Carrot Connection, June 2002

Preparations for a Bonding
It is considerably easier for two rabbits to bond if they have both been spayed and neutered. Spaying and neutering drastically reduces any aggressive and territorial behaviors as well as prevent any accidental babies if they are of opposite sexes. When unaltered, rabbits will be trying to get along through hormonal and uncontrollable urges, while after altering, the rabbits will be working through personalities and temperament.

If your rabbit has been recently altered, wait at least 2 weeks, preferably a month, before trying to bond. This is to prevent a male from accidentally impregnating an unspayed female and for a newly spayed female from fighting off a male due to being uncomfortable from her new surgery. Additionally, it allows for any hormones to dissipate.

Bunny Dating
Many people do not realize that the majority of rabbit rescues offer "bunny dating" services. The rabbit experts examine the interactions between potential partners to find the best match, as opposed to just trying to bond two rabbits without knowing their preferences. Some agencies offer "speed dating", while others will let you bring your bunny to the shelter multiple times or even overnight. Having the rescue as a resource when the two bonding candidates are having issues at home can make the process much, much easier. In order to participate, your rabbit must be spayed or neutered.

While any two rabbits can grow to like each other, sometimes, it is not worth the stress and the effort. Efforts have shown that that male-female pairings usually have the best of luck. The San Diego House Rabbit Society writes, "Usually the males appear to be dominant at first with their excessive mounting. The female will put up with this for a short while, but will usually assert her dominance by mounting the male or nipping him to show she is the one in charge. At this point, the male usually backs down and they start on the road to friendship."

Same-sex pairing will require at least one submissive rabbit and some more patience.

Some good signs for a first bunny date are the following:
 * Indifference by not perceiving the other rabbit as a threat. Rabbits may lay in separate corners of the room or eat in each other's presence.
 * Grooming.
 * Cuddling.

Rabbits that show the above signs will usually have an easy bonding and learn to live together in at most a couple of weeks.

Some neutral signs in a first bunny date:
 * Humping for dominance.
 * Nipping and minor chasing.

Some not-so-good signs in a first bunny date:
 * Fighting and other dangerous aggression.
 * Excessive chasing.

Rabbits that show the above signs will be a very tough bond. Expect bonding efforts to possibly go on for months or years.

Bonding Basics
See Further Reading for more information on bonding basics.

Stress Bonding
Stress bonding entails creating a situation for the rabbits where they will cuddle together in comfort against the frightful environment and consequently learn that being friends is not that bad. Like any other type of bonding, your mileage may vary.

User neanderthalman from Reddit gives one method of stress bonding: "We put a little warm water in the tub, then after a few minutes, put down a towel to sit on. Forces them to sit together, as they hate the water more than they hate each other. Then after a few more minutes, drain the tub. Then towel dry. We then put them in a cage together so that they aren't separated and 'unbond'. Generally no issues beyond a few squabbles and nips here and there."

Bonding Multiple Rabbits
User neanderthalman from Reddit has had success for a trio using his stress bonding method in the bathtub from the section above. He recommends placing the most aggressive rabbits in the bathtub first.

The following links contain more information about bonding multiple rabbits.
 * Reddit, /r/rabbits, Considering a trio

Difficulties in Bonding
The following links contain more information about dealing with difficulties in bonding.
 * House Rabbit Society, Bonding When the Going Gets Tough
 * House Rabbit Society - Maryland, Washington DC, and Northern Virginia Chapter, My rabbits HATE each other........
 * Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, Valerie Johnson, Coping With A Bunny Brawl
 * House Rabbit Society, Carol Weaver, Turning Fear Into Play
 * House Rabbit Society, Margo DeMello, Ph.D., Will They Ever Be Friends?
 * House Rabbit Society, Holly O'Meara and Suzanne Mallery, Mending a Broken Bunny Bond

Experiences
Below are links containing owner experiences with rabbit bondings.


 * Rabbit Rescue & Rehab, Amy Odum, December-December Romance: Bunny Love, the Second Time Around
 * Rabbit Rescue & Rehab, Abby Wolf, Bachelor Number Three: Floppy Finds a Partner for a New Leap in Life