Having a large family of rabbits is the dream of any rabbit mom. It’s a happy scene to see all your rabbits running around and playing together. But rabbits are usually very territorial. Another rabbit invading their space can cause a little tension.
Have you ever thought about how to introduce a baby rabbit to an older one? Will it be trickier to bond rabbits of different age groups? Let’s discuss it all!
Can a baby rabbit and an older rabbit live together? Yes they can. Rabbits are very social animals and would love to have some more friends with them. If left alone they could be stressed or sick, having more rabbits can reduce the chance of it.
Want to know more about how to have a baby rabbit and an older rabbit together? Keep reading!
Let’s hop straight in!
Can You Put A Baby Rabbit With An Older Rabbit?
It’s no new fact that rabbits are very social animals. They love to have companies. They grow up as a family with many rabbits. If left alone, they can develop health problems and can feel lonely.
Behavioral problems can also be developed if left alone. That’s why it’s a great idea to have more than one rabbit.
Now let us discuss how to keep a baby rabbit with an older rabbit…
Can you put a baby rabbit with an older rabbit? Yes, you can.
Rabbits in the wild always live in a group and are never alone. A group can consist of 10-15 bunnies. Large warrens can be home to 100 individuals or more. This shows us that a baby rabbit and an older rabbit can live together with no problems.
Rabbits are not meant to live alone. There can be a few symptoms and signs that your rabbits show which means they should be bonded with another furry friend.
Let’s discuss some of those symptoms:
- Become sluggish and lethargic
- Hides in their cage
- Over scratching things
- Over-grooming themselves till bald patches come
- Refusal to eat and drink
- Constant illnesses
- Depression
Rabbits crave company if you keep noticing more than one of the above symptoms often. Rabbits love to have you giving them full-on attention all the time. But it’s practically definitely not possible. This is why it’s important to introduce other furry friends to keep company.
However, you have to make sure that the older rabbit is neutered or spayed before bringing it to close to the baby rabbit. And the neutering of the baby rabbit should be done as fast as possible. Or else both the rabbits could show hostile behavior and can result in violent fights.
The introduction process is very crucial if you are planning to have two rabbits. The introduction should not be rushed. You have to give your rabbits time to get along and to get acquainted with each other.
We will discuss how to bond your baby rabbit with your older rabbit in this article so keep reading…
Do Rabbits Get Along With Baby Rabbits?
Do rabbits get along with baby rabbits? Yes and no. this is a tricky question. If the introduction process is not done properly then there’s a chance that your rabbits won’t get along with each other.
If the bond is not formed between the rabbits then there’s a chance they will end up fighting. When your rabbits start fighting, there are a few tips you can keep in mind to avoid the fight.
The first tip is to distract them. When you distract the rabbits, they will come off each other. You can spray water at them. As all rabbit moms know, rabbits and water don’t go well with each other and they hate it.
When you spray whatever they will stop fighting and will start to groom themselves. This may be enough to prevent them from fighting again.
You can try spraying the water again if they fight again. If it still doesn’t work then you’ll have to manually remove the rabbits from each other and put them in each other’s cage. You have to be careful while separating them.
Sometimes the rabbits could harm you or the other rabbit. Only try to introduce them again after a day or two.
If they still fight, after a few days it is probably because both of the rabbits are of the dominant type. Dominant rabbits can be territorial. Bonding can be hard in such cases. You can wait out a few weeks before leaving them out together again.
Even after a few weeks, the baby and older rabbit continue to fight then that’s not a great sign. This means that they aren’t getting along at any point. At this point, it’s best to rehome one of the rabbits and try again with another rabbit to see if they’re compatible.
You have to first remove and give extra care to the baby rabbit. Baby rabbits are more likely to get hurt by older rabbits. The baby rabbit should be handled gently.
How To Bond A Baby Rabbit With An Older Rabbit?
Bonding is necessary before putting the baby and older rabbits together in a cage. It can cause very harsh behavior from both rabbits.
Bonding two different aged rabbits are very tricky just like bonding any other pair of rabbits. However, the good news is rabbits love company and groups!
The first step is to set up two different cages for your rabbits. You can choose a hutch that provides your rabbits with a clear vision outside.
In this way, both your rabbits can see each other in different cages and get used to the idea of another rabbit in the room. Make sure you keep the two hutches in different places in the beginning and start to move them closer very slowly.
Make sure your rabbits are spayed to prevent them from being territorial and violent. After a few weeks of keeping them in different rooms and getting them acquainted, start to move the cage to each other.
Keep both cages a small distance. It helps them feel safe as they aren’t invading the other’s territory.
Curious rabbits will naturally sniff around the other rabbit. This will help in the bonding process. They will start coming closer and communicating eventually. Make sure you choose a neutral space for the bonding and not a place where neither of them feels territorial.
Once your rabbits have gotten to know each other, it will be clear from their manners. They will no longer be alert. After these signs, you can bring them face to face. Make sure you choose a room where neither of them feels territorial. Keep them together and supervise them.
If they start to fight then separate them immediately. Otherwise, let them be for 10 minutes. You can do this every day till they are fully comfortable with each other.
When your rabbits feel comfortable together, their body language will change. They’ll start lying down, grooming themselves, and eating around one another. Grooming is the best sign of bonding in rabbits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Two Unneutered Female Rabbits Live Together?
Unneutered/ Unspayed female rabbits won’t get along as easily as spayed females. Both the rabbits need to be spayed before you introduce them.
What Happens If You Put Two Female Rabbits Together?
If you put two unspayed rabbits right away it can cause fighting in the rabbits. Make sure you do not put them together at once. You have to bond with them first. Bonding is a time-consuming careful process. You should never skip it and introduce them all at once.
Final Word
We finally have the answer to the question: Can a baby and an older rabbit live together? Yes, they can! It is very common in wild rabbits so we can have a baby and an older rabbit in our houses also.
As we discussed above, bonding is a crucial and unavoidable step. It takes time and care. Keep in mind to choose a place where both of them don’t feel territorial during the introduction process.
In case the bunnies become violent and fight, you have to separate them and get their wounds checked by the wet immediately.
If you do the introduction process carefully, you can have a small furry friend’s family for yourself. I hope this article solved all your questions about how to have a baby and an older rabbit together. For more questions comment down below!
