Rabbit introducing questions.?

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aesthetic

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Just got a new male rabbit who is neutered from the shelter, and we find it in his best interest to get him a buddy. Is it better to get him a spayed female, or get him another neutered male companion? And should we get one that is about his same age, younger, or older? Any other information would be appreciated.
 
If you introduce 2 new rabbits they will try to kill each other... for about a week. It will be brutal!!! But they eventually will get along. Its just something they have to go through.
I say a female. Same age... sometimes if a new little one is too same it can really get hurt in the mess of things. But then again it is faster to run away. I say a younger!
 
my experience has been that the easiest to bond couples are neutered male/spayed female.
Age has never seemed to matter nor has size or breed.
Both should be away from one another for the first week or so just to make sure no bun has anything infectious.
Best way to introduce is to put them in side by side cages for a couple weeks but at least 6 inches apart. Too close and you risk a trip to the vet to get some buns face stitched.
giving treats at the same time on the shared side of the cages will help them associate one another with something pleasant.
Start very short dates in a small and easy to control neutral territory. A small bathroom or even bath tub works. You do need to be on your toes though because with some a fight can break out very fast. Rabbit fights can be astonishingly vicious.
Keep a large towel ready to toss over and scoop up the aggressor should it happen. Never use your bare hands.
It is normal to see mild aggression in the first few dates. This would include, whisker nipping, nose to butt circling and humping(do not allow frontal humping on the head). Serious aggression of course would be ripping out fur, lunging and leaping over the other bunny (the death leap).
first date should be about 5 minutes unless serious aggression and each subsequent date 5 minutes or so longer than the last.
good signs are rabbits presenting themselves to the other for grooming (head and shoulders to the floor in front of the other rabbit) grooming, comfortably laying side by side especially if they are stretched out with feet behind them.
I have had a couple bonds that were so easy within weeks and on the other side of the scale one couple was the bond from hell that took over a year. Most were 1 to a few months so you need to be patient. On extremely rare occasions it will be love at first sight.
 
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