We have had our 3 bunnies for about two weeks now, and they are making progress – slowly. Once we brought the bunnies home, and started working with them, they decided that they wanted to fight. The fights weren’t too bad – but Honey did get a cut eyelid. (It has healed completely now.) Honey still wanted to assert her authority, and Jack and Thumper were trying to figure out where they stand in the “pecking order.” They would try to get away with anything – from trying to go into Honey’s “area” under the chair, to trying to get into her cage, which is forbidden. (Bunnies all need their own “personal space” away from the others – a place they feel safe and secure.)
She has taught them that she is the “queen” around the house, and that she’s in charge. We’re still working with them on getting along together – they can’t be trusted to be alone together yet. I take about 20 minutes a day, and put all three in our oversized bathtub, and just let them figure things out. They sniff each other, and ignore each other, and sometimes try to nip at each other. I keep a squirt bottle, set on “jet” at hand, and spray any bunnies that are trying to fight in the face. This serves two purposes: it distracts the bunnies from fighting, and allows them to be comfortable grooming themselves near each other. They don’t like having wet faces. Once they’re comfortable in a “neutral territory” together, I’ll move them outside together, and work using the same techniques, in a different, less neutral territory. My goal is to have them comfortable around each other, and have all three eventually become friends. I realize that this is a very time consuming proposition, but they seem to be making progress. This is a great lesson in patience for me!