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Forum BONDING Houston, we have a problem…

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    • Morwenna88
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        Last week I started the bonding process with my two-Fatbit, a 3 year old neutered mini lop, and Saoirse, a 1 year old polish cross who got spayed last month. So, I’ve been reading and following advice from articles on bonding, etc hoping to be prepared. Since I got her, I’ve allowed them to interact through cage bars, each getting turns to run around the room and stretch their legs. Before last week, they would “kiss” between the bars and overall get along. Fatbit is a typical happy go lucky mini lop, very puppy-like. Saoirse is sweet and sensitive to me. She likes to show off by bouncing back and forth across my bed, and she’s learning how to do tricks! 

        The first two bonding sessions were held in the bathtub. The first session went great, I used a metal spoon and pan to bang on when they started to fight. It worked beautifully, they both stopped they were so startled. The rest of that session they were tharned and didn’t try to fight at all. 

        The second session was rough, I put his litterbox in the tub (mistake!) she jumped right in and they immediately went at it with fur flying. After that, they were hell bent on destroying each other, and when I put them away, they started fighting through the bars again. I waited a few days to try again. This morning I discovered a scab and bald spot on Fatbit’s side where she nailed him. 

        Tonight I tried again and this time I put them in a big storage tub so I could shake them around and stress them. It worked really well, they didn’t even try to fight, but Fatbit jumped out a couple of times. Then I made the mistake of putting them in an ex-pen in the spare bedroom (neutral) and they immediately went at it again. Fur went flying and Saoirse even tried to attack the broom when I put it between them! I even tried a bit of banana on both of their heads and they weren’t interested. I put them back in the storage tub and shook them around. Again, they didn’t even try to fight in there. 

        What should I do? They are going to be a difficult couple to bond, and I had a feeling from the start. It’s going to be a long process and I’m willing to work them through it, I just need some guidance. I guess right now I will keep putting them in the storage bin and shaking it. 


      • Mikey
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          Its not that they are difficult to bond, its that you are moving too quickly Start them in the tub or the box several times a day for a few minutes at a time. Everyday, increase the time they are in the box by 5 to 10 minutes, 30 minutes only if there was absolutely no fighting or aggression. After about a week or two move them to the neutral pen. Sit in there with them. Start again with a few minute sessions several times a day, every day slowly increasing the time they are together. If they fight or scuffle, stop them, set them directly next to one another, and pet them both for about a minute, then put them away. If they fight more than once a day, dont increase the time they spend together the next day


        • Morwenna88
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            Well I just tried another bonding session in the storage tub and this time they fought despite the shaking. The whole inside of the tub is lined with pulled fur now, and Fatbit’s feelings are very hurt. I’m not sure how to go about this safely without either of them ending up battered and bruised….


          • Morwenna88
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              She did this to him, and they both have nicks and scabs from the past few fights, despite me trying to break them up as quick as possible…. :'( 


            • Morwenna88
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                I almost wonder if this needs stitches, she got him good….


              • Mikey
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                  Stop for a good month or longer then. Get them both checked by a vet and get advice on how to care for the wounds. Give them atleast a month to heal and forget about the fight. If one month doesnt work, move to 3 months before trying to bond again. Also note for next time, if you are afraid of getting cut up yourself for removing one bun from a fight, bring a dust pan and kitchen mittens. Use the dustpan to sliver them apart, and then use the gloves to pick one up


                • Candle
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                    I’ve been trying to bond my rabbits for a few months now and I agree with Mikey about needing to slow down. My rabbits didn’t like each other and I only did 1 or 2 minute sessions at first only 2 times a day. If there was a point when they stopped wanting to fight or hump eachother is when I would end it so it was as positive as I could make it. People recommended car rides and that was a miracle worker. It works to have someone else drive so you can supervise them. I put mine in a laundry bin that was slippery so they never could get a proper grip and feel confident enough to fight. We’d go around turns (gently of course) but it would make them slide and it just made the trusting eachother work much better.
                    We’re on month 3 of them trying to bond and I feel like we’ve made significant process, but it worked best when I didn’t rush it and tried to take my time. Ideally they would bond right away and I wouldn’t have to deal with 2 rabbits living separately but it’s worth it if that’s what’s going to help them not go bonkers and try to kill eachother.
                    They just spent about an hour lying together in a cardboard box themselves with me not doing anything to even encourage it.
                    There IS hope even when it feels like it’s taking forever


                  • Mikey
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                      Also, a tactic my new vet recommended for bonding that i have seen online, but not often, is cones. Put a bunny sized cone on each bun. It will help prevent them from biting one another, and if they do manage to bite, they likely wont be able to bite skin, only fur, making the damage done a lot less worse


                    • Candle
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                        Awwww… I’m just picturing a bunny with a cone. That would be adorable!


                      • Morwenna88
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                          Posted By Candle on 10/18/2016 11:20 PM

                          I’ve been trying to bond my rabbits for a few months now and I agree with Mikey about needing to slow down. My rabbits didn’t like each other and I only did 1 or 2 minute sessions at first only 2 times a day. If there was a point when they stopped wanting to fight or hump eachother is when I would end it so it was as positive as I could make it. People recommended car rides and that was a miracle worker. It works to have someone else drive so you can supervise them. I put mine in a laundry bin that was slippery so they never could get a proper grip and feel confident enough to fight. We’d go around turns (gently of course) but it would make them slide and it just made the trusting eachother work much better.
                          We’re on month 3 of them trying to bond and I feel like we’ve made significant process, but it worked best when I didn’t rush it and tried to take my time. Ideally they would bond right away and I wouldn’t have to deal with 2 rabbits living separately but it’s worth it if that’s what’s going to help them not go bonkers and try to kill eachother.
                          They just spent about an hour lying together in a cardboard box themselves with me not doing anything to even encourage it.
                          There IS hope even when it feels like it’s taking forever

                          Yeah I did slow it down but they almost instantly went at each other in the slippery storage bin tonight. I was wearing gloves and got them separated but not before it was too late for them to hurt each other.  I’ll be calling the vet tomorrow and bringing them both in (separate carriers). It looks like she sliced right through his “ear lobe” and I can see the inner part of his ear. Their vet is very rabbit savvy so hopefully she can give me some insight too. 


                        • Sunnybunny
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                            http://rabbit.org/articles/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Bonding-Bunnies-PPforrabbit.org_.pdf

                            This was the best information on bonding I’ve found. What worked for my bunnies After a few bad session was backing off and doing a week of switching pens every day. No dates. It wAs a pain for me and them but they really got comfortable with each other and the others smells. Dates went smoother, though still bumpy after that.


                          • Morwenna88
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                              I wanted to give a quick update-I’ve been cohabitating them in a wire shelf condo where they share a wall where they can interact. I started putting my second x-pen across the room so each has half of the space, and THIS happened last night. I’m thrilled! I want to see this continually for at least a month before I remove the barrier, still nervous about fighting as they still have minor spats between the bars now and then. Image may contain: dog

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                          Forum BONDING Houston, we have a problem…