Castration or sterilization and a sense of boundaries are prerequisites for a successful introduction.
Animal behavior studies show that the main cause of conflict between rabbits lies in sex hormones and the strong territoriality of the species. Before bringing two individuals together, both animals should be neutered or spayed and at least four weeks should have passed since the procedure, even six weeks would be even better. This time ensures that hormone levels decrease and helps to prevent aggression outbursts caused by a desire for dominance.
The literature emphasizes that the best pairs consist of a neutered male and a spayed female rabbit. Introducing two individuals of the same sex is also possible, but requires more attention from the owner, as mutual power struggles arise more easily.
Stages of introduction or bonding
Introducing rabbits requires patience and thorough preparation, which specialists recommend doing gradually.
The first step is to acclimate the rabbits to the scents without physical contact. The rabbits' living areas are placed close to each other, with a grid or safe distance between them to prevent biting. Owners can swap out the animals' bedding, toys, or hay boxes, which helps the pets adjust to the scent of another individual without feeling threatened.
Physical encounters should only take place on neutral ground, i.e. in a space that neither rabbit has been to before and that neither considers to be their territory. Initial encounters should be brief, lasting only a few minutes, and under the watchful eye of the owner. If the rabbits begin to calmly sniff each other, lie side by side, or groom each other, this is a positive sign.
What to do in case of conflicts and bloody fights?
If chasing, biting or so-called rolling occurs during an encounter, the rabbits should be separated immediately, for example using thick gloves or a towel.
Veterinary research suggests that as prey animals, rabbits have an extremely long memory for negative experiences. When a bloody fight breaks out between rabbits, a strong traumatic connection is formed in the animal's brain, where the other individual is considered an immediate, life-threatening enemy. Restoring such a broken connection is extremely difficult. After a serious fight, the animals must be placed in completely separate rooms for weeks, provided with peace, and then the whole process must be started again from scratch.
From sources
The article is based on recommendations from the International Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund and research published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science .
