Re-Bonding...When/Where/How?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 3sd replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 1 month ago by LittlePuffyTail.

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- 01/10/2015 at 11:16 AM
  RabbitLegion
  Participant
  8 posts
  I have two rabbits, Fiona and Hugo, (female and male). Both have been fixed. I bonded them with the help of a rabbit rescue, and it went very smoothly. Really no fighting, just some humping and then cuddles!
  
  A few months later, their bond was strong (although Fiona humped a lot). The we had another rabbit in the house for about two weeks. After she left, one night out of the blue, Fiona attacked Hugo. No huge injuries, but we got them right away. Bug chunks of fur (mostly from Hugo) were littered around the place. We tried keeping them together that night, but the attacks kept happening so we separated them.
  
  It has been about a week since they were totally separated, and we also just moved into a new home. I had a few questions before I try to rebound them I was hoping someone might be able to help me with…(FYI they are both in good health, just had vet checkups. We also do not have a rabbit rescue near us at this new place, unfortunately)
  
  1. Is 10 days of separation enough for each bunny to ‘forget’ what happened? They are on opposite sides of an apartment, so can’t see each other but may be able to smell each other.
  
  2. How long should each re-bonding session last?
  
  3. I know ‘neutral territory’ is important…could I do several sessions in the same ‘neutral’ spot ( i.e. bathtub)? Or would it then be not neutral, as they had been there before? Also, could a room one bunny was in for about a minute still count as neutral territory?
  
  4. Have any of you successfully re-bonded two rabbits? When I went to the vet I asked, and she seemed doubtful that I could. I think they’d be much happier together, and I really don’t have the room in my apt. for two large cages (right now they are each living in a walk in closet : / ), so I really hope I have a shot at this!
- 01/11/2015 at 5:12 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Have you moved into a new house after the fight? A new home, a completely new territory is the best for bonding.
  
  I’m not very experienced with bonding but I’ve done quite a bit of research and have been a BB FL for quite a few years. Someone more experienced will hopefully be along to help.
  
  1. I would think that 10 days is sufficient time.
  
  2. Start very slowly. You really have to use how things are going to determine when to end the sessions. Try to keep the first few sessions short, 10 minutes or so if all is well and end on a positive note.
  
  3. As long as the bonding spot is 100% neutral (neither bunny has ever been there before). You can use the same spot for a while. Sometimes if things are not progressing well, switching to another smaller spot may help.
  
  4. I’ve read of successful rebondings but never attempted.
  
  Have you tried any stress bonding? If not, I suggest you read up on it. It works well for aggressive bunnies and may be helpful for your situation.
- 01/12/2015 at 5:31 PM
  RabbitLegion
  Participant
  8 posts
  Thanks so much for answering my questions!
  
  We did move house about 1 month after the ‘bond-break’. While we were at our old house, I just put wire grids between them (cutting thew cage in half). The female would attack the male through the wire, so I also had to add a sheet of corrugated plastic so they couldn’t see each other. They could smell each other though.
  
  At the new house they are on seperate sides of the apartment (in closets &nbsp.
  
  I just had the first bonding session today and it went great! Hugo humped Fiona a bunch, which was weird as he was the totally submissive bun before. But he also groomed her for about 5 minutes and laid out in a relaxed way, with his feet sticking out behind him. I think because he was tired from all the ‘exertions’ !
  
  She seemed nervous but allowed the humping and even groomed him for a bit at the end. She humped him too, but not as much. I let them stay together for 15 minutes since they were doing so well. Not one bite or charge!
  
  Not sure what this means, but when I took her back to her cage, she started thumping like crazy. Don’t know what to make of that, she didn’t seem frightened.
  
  I’ll update this thread with our re-bonding progress, just in case others have to do the same thing if their bunny’s bond breaks and see this thread….will try another session tomorrow, maybe for 25 minutes this time if things go as well!
- 01/15/2015 at 5:10 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Glad to hear your first session went well.
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