Pet Rabbit Infiltration...The CIA Of Bunnies!
Your pet rabbit is like family. You love it and want to give it everything it needs to live a long and happy life. One of the things your pet rabbit needs it a little bit of bunny companionship. Believe it or not, rabbits are very social creatures. Sure, they don't make typical "animal" noises that we would consider communication, but they love to have another of their species around. Well, getting a companion for your pet rabbit is a little more difficult that just putting the two bunnies together in the cage and watching them bond...it takes time, skill, and patience.
Pet Rabbits in Neutral Territory
When introducing a new bunny to your pet rabbit, you will need to begin the introductions in a place where neither bunny has been before. If your pet rabbit is usually kept in the family room or in a hutch in the backyard, you will want to find a place that is free of your pet rabbits territorial "markings". Rabbits have scent glands located beneath their chins. These glands release a scent into the surrounding area that marks that area as the sole property of your pet rabbit. This can cause problems if you just plop the new bunny in on this "scented" area. Trespassing is punishable by biting and clawing. If you get the rabbits together in a safe, neutral place, you can allow them to interact without the older rabbit having bunny hysterics.
Because fights can still break out between the bunnies, make sure that there is one person per bunny so that if a brouhaha occurs, each person can grab their designated bunny.
Eliminating the Strange Bunny Smell
Because rabbits identify strangers through smell, you should eliminate that factor all together. Before introducing the newcomer to the older pet rabbit, you should rub almond abstract into the hind quarters of each rabbit. When they begin their "sniffing" investigation, all they will smell will be the sweet smell of almonds.
Take It Slow
Rabbits are very suspicious creatures. They see a threat in almost everything. Introducing a new rabbit into the life and cage of your pet rabbit can be a daunting task that can take some longsuffering on your part. To get the process moving along, try putting droppings from the other rabbit into opposite cages. This allows each rabbit to become familiar with the scent of the other rabbit in their home cage. When the time comes to actually put the new rabbit into the cage with the family pet, they may actually be willing to "play nice", if the smell they are scenting is a familiar one.
Don't rush the bunny introduction process. Let them take their time to get to know one another. You wouldn't like it if someone put someone in your house and made you like them overnight.