Are they ready to spend the night together?

[GlennTheLionhead]

So I have been bonding Maggie and Glenn for quite some time now, they had about 2 months of pre bonding living in adjacent pens and for about 4 weeks they have been properly bonding with stages of strong supervision through to the point where now they explore eachother pens and play around together in the lounge while I focus on TV and just keep an ear out for them. They are very comfortable around eachother and it’s clear Glenn is dominant.

However I don’t know if they are bonded, I don’t know what bonded bunnies should look like, they play together and explore the lounge together and they will flop within a few feet away from eachother, they will eat out of the same food bowl and they follow eachother around a lot. Maggie definitely loves him and she grooms him, and just as I’m writing this post they’ve layed down and snuggled their heads together for a snooze but here’s my concern… Glenn won’t groom her back yet they will sometimes force their heads under each others chins asking for grooms but with no luck and Glenn still trys to hump her on a daily basis but she often runs away, he will also poo where she sleeps in her pen. He isn’t aggressive towards her and fights never break out, I have confident in leaving them unattended for short period of time like while im cooking ect.
They are semi free roam buns, they have the freedom the roam the lounge when I’m home but I have to keep them in a nice sized pen when I’m at work/night time as they are both destructo buns and constantly eat walls and furniture.

So my main question is do you think they are ready to be locked in the same pen all night long or should I hang on a bit longer? And if they do sleep together what precautions should I take during the first few nights?

Sorry for the long post, I thought I’d give the fully story.
Thanks!

[Wick & Fable]

I’m not experienced with bonding, but I believe the strong recommendation is that the owner needs to be supervising them for the full 24 hours (night included) to make sure nothing happens. A lot of people literally sleep in the pen or right outside it so they can wake up and intervene at any time.

What’s the longest they’ve been together in non-neutral territory?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[GlennTheLionhead]

Okay thanks! I didnt know that so perhaps I could try this tonight and tomorrow night.

I have had some time off work the last couple days and have let them free roam between eachothers pens from morning till night, at the very least 12hrs, they spend most time in Glenns pen, and Maggie now uses his litter tray as well, but still the occasional humping and poop marking from Glenn

[GlennTheLionhead]

Okay thanks! I didnt know that so perhaps I could try this tonight and tomorrow night.

I have had some time off work the last couple days and have let them free roam between eachothers pens from morning till night, at the very least 12hrs, they spend most time in Glenns pen, and Maggie now uses his litter tray as well, but still the occasional humping and poop marking from Glenn

[Wick & Fable]

I’ve read people say you want a good number of no-issue 24-hr supervision days before letting them go unsupervised.

Other BB members with bonding experience can chime in!

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[GlennTheLionhead]

Okay thanks! I will make sure I do this plenty of times, any ideas whether It needs to be done consecutively or if its better done staggered?

And yes if anyone had any advice on what Glenns behaviour says about the relationship that would be great!

Thanks again

[sarahthegemini]

If they can spend 12 hours together, that’s a really great sign! You need to put them together for 48 hours solid and supervise them so do it when you can put up with not much sleep This is known as ‘cementing the bond’ and if they go the full 48 hours with no issues, they’re bonded. Good luck!

[1and2bunns]

My bunnies bonded after 2 days so I’m sure it’s fine. I suggest though watch then during the day and see how they are doing if any sign of like aggression towards one another I suggest leave it off for a day and keep working with them

[Wick & Fable]

Rabbits bonding in two days is great but extremely uncommon, so best proceed with caution and supervise at all times, so I think Sarah’s advice is very good.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[GlennTheLionhead]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I have decided to attempt to cement the bond starting Wednesday as its most practical for me, I will definitely supervise them at all times. I have learnt to be very patient with this bonding as I think it’s been a moderately difficult bond for them probably due to Glenn being a solo bunny for a year before getting Maggie and there was a bit of bad air between them when I (very naively) attempted to bond them before Maggie was spay. Even after 2 months of pre bonding there was still a lot of circling during the first week. However since then weeks have passed and they now seems to be on a good terms with Maggie grooming Glenn all the time and Glenn has even started to groom Maggie, on top of that they have been lying next to eachother and spending most of their time side by side. The humping has dwindled down and only seem to happen when Maggie begs for grooming too much, perhaps its Glenns way of saying I’m boss and I will decide when I groom you!

Maggie has been very accepting and submissive, Glenn seems to have had a harder time with it but I can see he’s coming around and starting to enjoy her company a lot.

Hopefully the ‘cementing’ goes well later this week, I will let you all know how it goes!

Thanks again and any further advice is welcome

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