My female rabbit is scared of a male. Will spaying help them bond?

Hello. Your bunnies are adorable! It’s good that they are spayed and neutered, as this should help your efforts to bond them. I’d recommend to give them ample space to retreat and feel safe when they’re together and always supervise them during the transition until the relationship is more secure. One way to start the process would be to feed each rabbit on either side of a baby gate or other divider that allows them to sniff and see each other. Provide ample hay, greens and pellets on each side of the gate so they’re spending a good amount of time near each other as they eat. After several days to a week of peaceful eating, remove the gate but keep the food the same. Monitor them closely during this time for signs of fear or aggression and separate them quickly if you see this. If there is a favorite treat, only give that out when they’re together so there is a positive association of being with the other rabbit. However, just like people, rabbits are individuals and may not get along no matter what we do. Be prepared for this possibility and don’t force it. While rabbits tend to be peaceful animals, they certainly can fight and when they do it can be serious.

Rabbit bonding is more based on the rabbit and who they like then on female/ male status or neutered or intact status. Some bunnies bond well and some don’t. I think considering a bonding mate for her would be a great idea. Just go slow with introductions and be ready to take bunny #2 back if they don’t like each other. Good luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Generally spayed/neutered rabbits tend to be less aggressive as the sex hormones are eliminated. Aggression and dominance do also have some behavioral component so the surgery alone does not necessarily mean that EVERY rabbit that gets it done will gentle down. In general though, they become more tame. I hope this helps!

Hi Pam, Rabbits are extremely territorial. Neutering helps but it does not eliminate this behavior 100%. Also, it can take up to 35 days for the testosterone levels to go down after neutering so 2 weeks is not likely enough time before trying to bond them. Bonding two males is difficult even when both are neutered. A male and a female are an easier pair to bond (if both are fixed). This article may help you: http://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/company/introducing-rabbits-to-each-other/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.

The best way to reduce aggression is to have both of them spayed. Spaying females drastically reduces aggressive behavior, as hormonal aggression is most common in female rabbits. Hormones drive them to compete for territory and to protect their home from invaders. I recommend having them spayed before bringing them together.

This is the best resource I have found regarding bonding rabbits to each other. I suggest you read it and follow it closely so you can create harmony right from the start. It is strongly recommended that Dizzy be spayed and fully recovered before you attempt introduction. ( https://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/ )

There is no way to know if spaying will help to change her behvavior or not. There is no guarantee but it probably will help somewhat. Rabbits are very territorial so once that behavior is ingrained in them it is hard to correct it even with surgery. When they are spayed younger, the surgery has a better chance of working to change unwanted behaviors. It is recommended to spay around 4-6 months. Here is a link to an information sheet that may answer more of your questions. http://rabbit.org/faq-spaying-and-neutering/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.