a bonding question

Hi guys.
I know there are literally hundreds of posts surrounding this subject and we have both spent a long time researching this subject.  We would love your advise to the given situation that im about to describe. Thanks for taking the time to read this so far  

We have a bonded pair named frank and betty. They are both around 18 months old and have very much formed a solid relationship. For ages my other half has said 'wouldnt   it be so nice if form a little group' and for a while i said no way but after much nagging,  i warmed to the idea. So we began researching and looking for a new baby! we have read so many different views on bonding a trio and what works best with regards to sex. And came to the conclusion that it reakk6 depends more on the personality of the bunniesrather than the sex! Anyway we have found a gorgeouse little lionhead cross netherland dwarf! He is a boy, very very cute indeed.
So we have now brought the new chap home (Ted) ! He has been given a home in the large kitchen which consists of a dog crate base but will free roam kitchen. We now need to bond the three bunnies together .
Frank and betty live together in the lounge with a large dog crate as base but we never lock them in so they have run of the lounge all the time. I will give you a brief description of their personalites.....
Frank- frank can be a bit of a recluse, he is nervous and grumpy but also calm natured . He lets betty boss him about and is a bit of a wet blanket ! Sometimes betty over grooms him which has actually caused a sore on his back

Betty-betty is very sure of herself , and loves her cuddles but hates being picked up. She is always the one to check out new things first. She can be a bit grumpy sometimes too but generally speaking we have a pair of lovely bunnies. Given your experiance. How would you proceed? We have introduced them by placing teds cage in the hallway and so far the response is positive. Just a bit oc chinning and sniffing. Frank seems to be more interested than betty at this stage. Any feedback would be much appreciated. Regards Nathan and Laura

I'm not aware of any successful trios with two bucks and one doe  

Hi Nathan and Laura ! Welcome to HH! think it's rare for there to be two bucks and one doe - I think they are quite likely to fight :-( with a doe in the mix sadly. The other way around is more likely to work - that said I don't think anything is impossible.

I'm not a bonding expert but hopefully someone who has more experience will be along soon who can help you and give you some actual advice :-)

Hiya thanks for your reply . I have had another person tell me that 2 bucks 1 doe = disaster but I have also heard ppl saying its down to individual rabbit personality too :s I dont know why but I have a gut feeling that betty would of hated another girl coming along and asfranjks a wet blanket I feel he may take to the new arrival! I guess time will tell !we put the newbies cage in the hall last night and allowed them all to investigate each other through the bars and I thought frank seemed quite impressed with his new friend so far . However betty seemed to be not too bothered . She sniffed and then went and sat back down . Think we may do this activity for a while before letting them all get their paws on each other .

If you are intent on bonding them as a trio make sure you do so in a completely neutral area for the best chance of success.

father jack is right - start by cross scenting them all over a few days and having them somewhere so that they can be close to each other without being able to get to each other.

Then try them in neutral territory. A lot of people use the bathroom :-)

keep a good eye on them and make sure things dont get nasty.

Wishing you oodles of luck guys!

Thankyou we have ted in the hallway again(in his cage) and frank went and sniffed him and peed on the floor next to the cage. Betty had a sniff too but now Teds asleep in his cage, franks sleeping in his castle and bettys asleep on her usual spot. Will keep letting them have small meetings and then let them meet properly in neutral bathroom. Will keep everyone posted !

Please do !

I really hope this works out for them :-)

Fingers crossed for you all! Keep us updated  

Everything crossed here too love, I hope it works out.

Hugs

JO xx

i would just add are they all neutered/ spayed? im sure they are but there would be no chance if they are not

Sending positive bonding vibes!  Good luck!

Good luck  

Frank and betty are altered but ted is only 12 weeks old so he is still entire. But as soon as he hits 16 weeks he will be off to the vets. We are not planning on letting all 3 meet properly untill ted has been altered and hormones have subsided .

Ok so a little update ! Disaster struck last night we had ted in his cage in the hall again. Frank went over and ted flopped along side him and they sniffed again but then ted nipped and frank scratched teds nose A bit later betty went over and ted flopped in his cage and started kissing her through the bars a bit which betty seemed quite calm about. Frank looked on but didnt react atall but unfortunately betty then turned on frank and they had a fight. I was so upset . I put ted back in the kitchen area where he lives and then helped my other half split frank and betty up It was horrible watching them fight I felt awful. They calmed down though and about 15 mins later they were grooming each other.
I now feel that atempted this bond with the 3 is a massive no no as I will not put frank and bettys relationship in jeopordy. Both of them have seemed a bit moody with me today ...maybe im being paranoid but do u think its because they can smell ted on me ?
We now have a dilema...do we sadly try and rehome ted which I dont want to do because the little fella is soooo lobing and friendly and I Love him to bits.
Or do we keep ted as a single bunny and keep him company alot but I worry he will get lonely
Or do we wait till hes had his neuter done and find him a wife of his own ?
Does 4 house bunnies sound a bit crazy ? 2 in lounge and 2 in kitchen ???
I feel so selfish for even wanting a third now (

Trios are a nightmare. And any combination of male and female groups which has more than one male in them usually end up in fights. I would suggest that the best option for Ted is to find him a female partner. Whether he stays with you or whether you decide to rehome him is very much up to your finances and the practicality of the space in your house.

As for the behaviour - it can take a good couple of days for behaviour to subside after the invader bun is removed.

Yea I thought they may be grumpy because of the intruder . Just given them some treats and they seemed to like me then I dont think a 4th bun would cost too much more than 3 ....obviously vets bills would be more but then I would never skimp on those sorts of things as its a necessity. Ted has a huge dog crate in the kitchen but is never shut in so a new wife would move in there eventually . We would keep a new wife in a spare bedroom until they are bonded. And frank and betty can continue with the run of the lounge. I would like to see if ted can pick his own wife from a rescue centre if we can do that eventually .

Sounds like referred agrression hope theyve settled down... I personally wouldnt attempt a trio

Yea it does its a shame it doesnt look like its going to work .

I'm sorry to hear that hunni? How are things? Have they settled at all?

Thanks for your reply I havent even attempted letting them near each other again yet. It was too upsetting watching betty turn on poor frank . I wish someone could take them away and send them back all loved up ! Atm my evenings are spent in between the two rooms making an equal fuss of them all :/

Sometimes its just not worth upsetting a bonded pair by trying to introduce a third bunny....
Two pairs arent really much more work
Hope things have calmed down and hope youre ok after the trauma  

Yes things have calmed down now teds being kept out the way poor thing. Frank and betty are grumpy . I dont really know wot to do