Bonding Cid and Alex!

[Zurrz]

I haven’t posted on here in about a month! A lot has happened since then, my male got fixed (which went wonderfully other than him almost jumping off the table when we first brought him in, how dare someone other than myself pick him up! Such a grump. ) And I began the bonding process! 

Bonding these two was something I was dreading as it’s my first time attempting it. Boy were those fears unnecessary! In between the constant grooming we’ve had pooping contests, flopping contests, “I care way less about you than you do about me” contests, and last night I was even graced with a “I can pee much better than you” contest.

Not a single fight, thump, hump, or any other argument. 

Grooming happened day one and hasn’t let up since!

Any suggestions of when I should give them free roam of the room, when they can be left alone for short periods of time, and when they can share a condo? 

Also, I know that humping is a dominence thing, should I be concerned that none has happened or do you think it’s not an issue since Aly has never had an issue putting her head down?

Thanks SO much! I’m still quite new at this.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

That’s so wonderful that your buns are getting along so well! As long as there’s been no lunging/grunting/biting, I would probably go ahead and try supervised free roam of the room, making sure there are no corners you can’t get to – in case a fight brakes out. It’s up to the buns, and your comfort level when you feel they can be left alone for short periods of time.

Neither of my boy buns have ever humped…so I wouldn’t worry that yours haven’t either. Baxter the more aggressive bun grooms baby Boo – but I’ve never seen it in the reverse. But they get along beautifully….

[Jesse97]

The bonding sounds like it is going really well. Sounds like your bunnies will become great friends. I would say it should be a good time to bring them to a larger area. Where are they bonding right now? When you can leave your bunnies alone together for about 48 hours without any scraps between them, they are pretty much bonded.
Don’t worry about the no humping scenario. Sometimes their will be one dominant bunny and other times the bunnies will come to a place where they make it equal between them. It sounds like its going really well.

[tanlover14]

WHOO-HOO! You are a very lucky bunny parent! Bonding can be… well, hell. For lack of better terms. I have a bonded quartet and will bonding a fifth here in a few months when she is spayed so believe me – I know!! Lucky lucky lucky you are!!!

Sounds like they are getting along very, very well. What is the longest you have kept them together so far yet? I would not free-roam yet until you can leave them in their confined area for 24 hours – then open up the area. I say this because sometimes dynamics can change when you move bunnies to a different location. Something in the area can spark humping, marking, demanding grooms, ect. Behavior that MAY annoy the other rabbit. I have never had this problem until I bonded my quartet so I think it’s pretty rare in just a duo but I would pay attention to the possibility and expect it rather than not expect it and have you go backwards in the bonding. Is the condo going to be one that is fully neutral? If so, you shouldn’t have any problems just moving them in for the 24-48 hour mark to make sure they’re not fighting. It would be the perfect place to do this.

I wouldn’t be concerned about no humping either. Sometimes buns don’t care and sometimes they do. It may have just been love at first bun sight, it does happen! Hahaha. Two of my boys have been inseparable since they met. No humping,nothing but grooms and loves from literally the SECOND they met.

[Zurrz]

Thanks everyone!

They’ve only been bonded in one room, which is the room they’ll be staying.
I was willing to move them elsewhere if my room was too scent heavy and caused issue, but it never has.
I did a lot of scent mixing, exchanging of litter boxes, exchanging of stuffed animals, I even had them totally switch enclosures.
I alternated their out time so they always had the other around. Cid seems to have totally accepted her, and I think since Alex has been previously bonded she just really wanted another friend!

The last session we had was the longest, fairly certain it was eight hours but definitely at least six.
I’m sure they wouldn’t have had an issue going longer, but I wanted to go to bed. :b

I really appreciate everyone’s advice!
I’ll keep you posted about how it goes!

[Author]

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