When to start prebonding?

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This topic has 6sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 3 months ago by Moonlightbunny66.

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- 08/21/2020 at 7:55 AM
  Moonlightbunny66
  Participant
  694 posts
  I got my bunnies on Sunday and they were neutered on Wednesday last week. Should I wait 4-6 weeks from last Wednesday to start prebonding? Or should I be starting now?
  
  They’ve seen each other before a bit since they are from the same animal rescue. They were also in carriers next to each other in the car on the drive home (about 10 minutes). I don’t believe they have ever touched each other. I still have the blanket up covering one side of Muffin’s pen so they can’t see each other. I know their hormones will need 4-6 weeks to cool off. So would it be better to start the prebonding then?
  
  They will be sharing their playtime area (my bedroom, they are housed in here). So I’ll have to cover one pen while the other bun is out. Someone told me to not let them out for 10 days after the neuters so they can heal.
  
  Also, I have heard that people use stuffed animals for prebonding (but no beaded eyes). They rub a plushie on a bunny and give it to the other so they get used to the scent. People also put the bunny’s fur into the plushie. I have some cute white fur from brushing Pinky this morning lol. Is this a good idea for prebonding?
  
  Thanks.
- 08/21/2020 at 8:05 AM
  Moonlightbunny66
  Participant
  694 posts
  (Or they give it to the bunny for a few days for the bunny to get its scent on it, then give it to the other bun)
- 08/21/2020 at 8:08 AM
  HipHopBunny
  Participant
  640 posts
  @Moonlightbunny66
  
  I would say it is best to wait a month after the neuter happened to start pre-bonding, for hormones will still be ‘floating around’. After I’d say around 3-4 weeks of pre-bonding, then you could start sessions. 🙂
  
  The stuffed animal trick you were describing is called the ‘stunt double’ and it works great with rabbits. 🙂 As soon as you start pre-bonding, then you could put in the stunt double. I would replenish the fur inside it every 2-3 days and rub it on the bunny so the scent stays strong. 🙂
  
  Good luck!
- 08/21/2020 at 8:28 AM
  Moonlightbunny66
  Participant
  694 posts
  @HipHopBunny Thank you so much!! I’ll wait then!
  
  Oh nice! Thanks for the tips. 🙂
  
  When should I take the blanket off to let them see each other?
- 08/21/2020 at 9:33 AM
  HipHopBunny
  Participant
  640 posts
  You could take the blanket off when you start pre-bonding I’d say. 🙂
- 08/21/2020 at 10:10 AM
  Louiethebunny
  Participant
  604 posts
  I would also recommend trying to mirror their pens for example, having both litter boxes as close as he can sing with food and water bowls just so they can see each other while doing those activities.
- 08/21/2020 at 12:36 PM
  Moonlightbunny66
  Participant
  694 posts
  @HipHopBunny Thank you!
  
  @Louiethebunny Thanks for the tip! 🙂
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