Bonding journal: Harvey and Boo (bonded!)

[Sofia]

So I’ve see a few people do these bonding journals and thought they were a great idea, and now I’m starting my own As you might now, I adopted a bun called Harvey a little over a week ago. The first couple of days he wasn’t eating and pooping, probably because of the stress, I gave him meds and now he is doing amazing. He’s settled in so well, and will even let me pet him if he’s feeling relaxed enough
Him and Boo have met very briefly a couple of times through the cage bars, they sniffed each other out, but a few times Boo has put her head down, requesting grooms, and it “looked” like Harvey had actually accepted her request and groomed her through the bars (I was pretty far away and couldn’t see exactly). I have seen absolutely zero aggression form either of them.
I was told when I brought him home that I couldn’t start prebonding with Harvey yet as he had been neutered only recently, but I immediately started prebonding with Boo. I gave her one of Harvey’s blankets and just left it on the floor. She sniffed it all over, groomed it very briefly, and then she payed no interest to it whatsoever after that. Yesterday I put it next to the spot where she loves to sleep, she started digging at it and trying to move it, eventually she stopped and went to the other end to go to sleep. However, today I am seeing her sleep with it, on top of it, beside it etc. she doesn’t seem to mind it anymore, although she pooped LOADS on it and around that area. I’m guessing this was territorial?
I was told that I could start prebonding with Harvey today if I wanted to. So I gave him one of Boos teddies (a carrot to be exact). Again, he sniffed it very briefly and has been ignoring it since. I’m still watching him but it’s not bothering him at all and he’s not paying attention to it either. I have not seen any aggression from him at all.
Since they both seem to be getting along ok with each other’s scents and not acting particularly territorial or aggressive, how do I know when to move onto actual bonding? I know it’s still too early to start it now, but what would be some signs that I should start bonding?

[Nutmeg]

Hey!!! Yay for bonding journal!

Ok – let me start off with the ONLY Negative I see – you need to make sure there is at least 6 inches between their cage bars. They should not be able to touch each other at all. Rabbits have been known to fight – and do serious damage – through cage bars. It may seem ok now – but Harvey is still new and not acting 100% himself yet.

You may want to give Harvey a the rest of this week to settle. Then start swapping toys and litter boxes for a week or so – and then start fully swapping their cages for another 3 weeks (so a month total)

But ignoring and mild interest in the blanket / carrot is good.
Pooping is definitely marking territory – so is chinning. (where they rub their chin on something)

[Sofia]

Their cages are both far away from each other, sometimes when I let Boo out she will find his cage and they will start interacting. This has only happened a few times, and it literally lasts less than 15 seconds. I am always there to make sure nothing happens. I was a bit worried at first and started putting things up to block them but Boo would wiggle her way through somehow, and they got along so well that I kind of gave up. I might start switching litterboxes in a couple of days, for now I’m just letting Harvey get used to the “carrot”

[Nutmeg]

Oh ok – sorry I didn’t realize it was when they were on their “out time” when you were watching them. Just watch them closely in case the one in the cage suddenly gets territorial. It can truly happen in an instant and you don’t want to end up having to go two months with out them even being able to see each other if one holds a grudge.

But everything else is sounding really good and pretty normal for bunnies who don’t start off aggressive from the beginning.

You’ll really get a good idea when you start important items (like the litter box) and swapping full cages. watch for pooping to mark territory and chinning to calm down too.

[Sofia]

Sorry I haven’t been active and giving updates lately, things have been busy to say the least. So I switched litterboxes two days ago. Neither of them had a problem with it and hopped right in to eat some hay. Although Boo was thinking Harvey’s litterbox a lot before she went in. I kept it there yesterday and since there were no problems I switched their cages today. I did Harvey first, he was very very curious. He wasn’t territorial at all, no chinning. He was pooping everywhere but I suppose he doesn’t know where to go. Boo was also a bit curious. But she seemed more interested in the food
My question is how long do you think I should keep them in the cages until I switch them back, or should I keep them the way they are until I start bonding? I also want to start bonding asap since I see no point in waiting really. I haven’t gotten an aggressive reaction from either of them since Harvey arrived, they both seem curious and interested in each other. I know the guideline is whenever they seem used to each other’s scents you can start bonding, but both of mine already seem so used to it and ok with each other that I’m not sure when to start.

[Sofia]

Sorry for no updates in a while, the thing is there’s literally nothing to talk about they literally do not care in the slightest about all this swapping litterboxes, cages etc. I’ve watched them for hours waiting for a reaction out of either of them, but nope! They practically behave as if they’re in their own space.
So I swapped them back into their own cages this morning, again, no reaction. I’m planning on introducing them on Saturday, as that’s around a month after his neuter, and really there’s nothing else holding me back.
Harvey’s also having some diet and weight issues (nothing really serious) so I’m a teensy bit more focused on that than I am on bonding. But that should pass soon enough so we can be back on track

[Nutmeg]

Hey I’m with Boo.. no need to apologize! We all know how life gets

I would be swapping them every day or two – even when you do start to do the formal bonding dates.

~ And pooping everywhere can be a form of marking territory! Did Harvey do that again when you put him back in his own original cage (as he would know where to go there)

And I would wait until Harvey is back on track with the diet and weight issue. I know you said its nothing serious, but formal bonding with dates can get quite stressful for bunnies. Penny had a bit of stasis and her poops got really small during the first two weeks from it.

But I’m glad to hear things are going well with the pre-bonding!

[Tony's Mum]

I missed this post somehow, this is definitely one I want to follow!

[Sofia]

Nutmeg : theyre both pooping everywhere so I don’t know who’s poop is who’s. Especially since theyre swapping cages as well.
First proper bonding session was 20 minutes long. I set up a kind of enclosure out of boxes and stuff in my attic, as it’s the only place in my house that has no bunny scent at all. I brought Boo up in her carrier, and Harvey up in a box. I set them up at opposite ends of the enclosure. They were very curious, they both immediately went to inspect the new surroundings, but were not particularly bothered with each other. After a couple minutes, Boo would go into Harvey’s box to sniff it out, and Harvey would go into Boos carrier to sniff at some hay, both completely unbothere that another bunny was in their “territory”.
Contrary to what I thought would happen, Harvey was acting more dominant. There was no humping, but every time they went near each other, He would put his head down, requesting grooms. The first or second time Boo just ignored him and hopped past. However the next time it happened in the carrier, it started a bit of a scuffle, although I couldnt see well because it was in the carrier. Harvey ran out and Boo followed him (chasing) they started almost circling each other? They weren’t very good at it and it was all a bit unclear, but I could tell it was getting aggressive so I put my hand in and stopped it.
There were no issues after that. Harvey kept on requesting grooms but Boo ignored him. Boo also kept doing this thing, putting her head under his butt or burying her head in the fur in that area, anyone know what that means? I tried to end it on a good note, I put them side by side and petting both their heads, however Boo was not having it and kept running off.
It all went ok overall, I was expecting them to be best buds because of their friendliness through the cage bars. Do you think it’s a good idea to try another session this evening? Should I make it a bit longer?

[Sofia]

Oct 13th
20 min session (I was aiming for 15 mins but I let it go on a bit longer)
This session was quite eventful (to me at least haha). Is started off normal, they were ignoring each other going round sniffing things, and then they both got into the carrier and just sat there together for a couple minutes. Not doing anything, just sitting beside each other.
They explored some more. Them they they faced each other and both put their heads down, both requesting grooms. After a couple seconds Boo started grooming him, everywhere. On his nose, cheeks, ears, neck. After a little bit of her grooming, she would put her head down again. And the same thing would happen, she would give up and groom him again. This happened over and over again for the rest of the session basically. Near the end of the session, she went into a loaf. This may not seem like a big deal, but it takes a lot to get Boo so relaxed that she loafs. She will only do it if I am the only person in the room. Maybe I’m completely wrong but I think that she feels quite comfortable and safe around Harvey.
So because she was loafing and not paying attention to Harvey, Harvey shoved his head under hers, and then she groomed for the rest of the session.
I decided to end it there so it could end on a good note.
I think I’ll do another two sessions tomorrow. Should I extend the time?
I am in school so I could 2 sessions a day on a weekend, but probably only 1 on a weekday.

[Sofia]

October 14th
1 hour
So we’ve gone up to an hour since yesterday was so successful. Absolutely no signs of any aggression today. Harvey is still constantly bowing his head, but Boo doesn’t put her head down as well anymore, she just goes straight to grooming him with no hesitation. Lots of loafing from Boo and Harvey, they were always sitting beside each other and loafing together, I guess you could call it snuggling? Most of the session was made up of grooming and snuggling really.
At one point my dad had to bring a big machine into the attic so there was a lot of crashing and loud noises (at one point it fell down the stairs). The buns were of course, petrified. But they both went into the carrier and sat there together even after all the noise had stopped. Maybe it was some unintentional stress bonding?
I also swapped the carrier and box, so neither would get to territorial about it. ( so Havrey in the carrier and Boo in the box).
Want to try another hour in the evening if I have time.

[Sofia]

October 14th
40 minutes
Mostly the same really, more grooming more snuggling. Today though, Harvey groomed Boo for the first time! It was very short though and straight after he bowed his head so Boo could groom him. I kind of want to shake things up, maybe add some toys or a litterbox, so we can move forward a bit more. I’ve got a full day of school tomorrow so I’ll probably only fit in one session of maybe one and a half hours.

[Sofia]

October 14th
40 minutes
Mostly the same really, more grooming more snuggling. Today though, Harvey groomed Boo for the first time! It was very short though and straight after he bowed his head so Boo could groom him. I kind of want to shake things up, maybe add some toys or a litterbox, so we can move forward a bit more. I’ve got a full day of school tomorrow so I’ll probably only fit in one session of maybe one and a half hours.

[Tony's Mum]

It’s all going really well. I like the idea of adding a litterbox to see how they manage.

[Nutmeg]

Hey! Just catching up on this now!
I would introduce food before the litter box if possible… they are both things bunnies can get territorial over – but the litter box even more so than food for some strange reason.

Things are sounding like they are going really well though!

[Sofia]

October 15th
2 hours
I doubled the time because I could only fit in one session in a day, I was actually aiming for 1 and a half hours, but they just looked too cute snuggling so I let it go on I also increased the space by about a half what it was before, just because things were getting a bit boring. Didn’t seem to faze them at all, more to explore
I hadnt read your responses before I started. So today because I knew it would be a longer session, I put some hay in the carrier, just in case they got a bit hungry, since my pair are both food lovers. I didn’t pay much attention to it, the hay was just there for nibbling at.
The first hour all they did was eat the hay, since it was in the carrier I guess it could count as a sort of litterbox? They had no problem sharing the hay, absolutely no aggression in this session either. At one point, while they were eating hay they both had the same stalk and it was like the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp. I had my camera open on my phone, ready to capture the moment when they kissed, but Boo was being especially bratty today so she pulled the stalk out of his mouth and ran off. ?.
After that they mainly just snuggled, Boo had even fully stretched out at one point. more grooming requests from Harvey, more grooming from Boo. We ended with more hay eating together. Any ideas on what I could do next? Maybe put in an actual litterbox?

[Nutmeg]

Thats great!! Sharing and stealing food with no issues is a really good sign!
I would keep doing what you are doing for a bit before you introduce the litter box… you want to have things exactly the same when things are going good for a bit – to help nail in that good behavior and loving feelings between them. Keep increasing the time whenever you can.

I waited until I had them together for 6 hours straight before I introduced the litter box.

It’s very tempting when things go well to go too quickly… and you could be lucky and have a nice easy bond… but you don’t want a set back because you pushed them to fast.

Mine wouldn’t start chasing until about the 3 – 4 hour mark. Can you do a longer session this weekend and see how they do?

When you do introduce the litter box I would either use one they BOTH have used (if there is one) OR buy a new one that has neither of their scents in it. That’s what I did. From what other members have told me some bunny’s can be more territorial over the litter box than the food.

Sounds like things are going really well though!

Has Harvey been grooming Boo? or is it still more once sided?

[Tony's Mum]

I can’t believe how well this is going sp far. I’d love to see how they manage over a really long session

[Sofia]

16th of October
3 hours
Sorry Nutmeg, I didn’t check the thread before the session, so I added a litterbox not thinking about it. I took the litterbox out of Harveys cage, since theyre swapping cages daily its both of theirs basically. But on a good note, it went extremely well! No aggression, both completely content with sharing. A few times Boo started thumping out of nowhere, but I don’t think it was at Harvey, as I was watching a movie and I think it scared her ? but otherwise more grooming and snuggling. I think I might do the next session in the living room. And no, I’ve only ever seen Harvey groom Boo once and it was very short. It’s very one sided, always Boo grooming.
Currently in the middle of another session, this time in the living room which is our “semi neutral” area. All’s well so far

[Sofia]

17th of October
5 hours
I almost feel as if they are ready for anything. So today I moved them to the living room. They had quite a small area, around 5ft by 4ft. But they handled it well as always. I also put in the litterbox from yesterday.
Mostly snuggling, eating and grooming. I actually caught Harvey grooming Boo once or twice, but it was mostly Boo.
I feel like I can really trust them. Throughout the whole session, I was doing things around the house. First I would go for 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, then 20 minutes. I want to try something new again tomorrow, not sure what. They can handle anything at this point, the past 2 days we’ve introduced food, a litterbox and moved to semi neutral, also having multi hour sessions. It wasn’t a bother to them at all

[Nutmeg]

That all sounds super good!
I’m no bonding expert = mine has taken way longer then yours to bond hahaha. So maybe someone else can chime in on what is a good next step?

I know they say that you need to have them out together for a full 48 hours straight with no negative signs to call them officially bonded.

[Sofia]

October 18th
4 hours
Ok, so I may have gotten a bit cocky. As I said in the last post, I really thought they were ready for anything. So without thinking about it I just let them in to the living room, no enclosure, just free roam of the entire room.
Bad idea. I don’t know what went through my head, but anyways, what’s done is done.
I forgot that before Harvey came the living room was Boos territory. I tried to clean it a bit but it’s impossible to get rid of a rabbits scent completely. However yesterday they were in the corner of the room, where Boo probably couldn’t recognise her territory. So that’s why all went well then.
The first hour they were ok. Then, Boo started humping. I was a bit surprised since I haven’t seen a single hump since we started. Harvey did not like this at all, and would try to get away. This would result in chasing and raised tails.
I thought it was a once off, put my hand in when the chasing started. And let the session go on. This kept happening, and I didn’t know what to do. It finally went through my head that this was Boos territory. I immediately put the enclosure back into place. Put them inside and resumed the session.
Maybe for the first hour they ignored each other, and would loaf at opposite ends, this was quite unusual, especially because of their habit of constantly snuggling. I thought that we had just had a massive step back and I had screwed everything up.
Thankfully they started snuggling again, and Harvey even groomed Boo a few times. The session ended with snuggling.
I don’t know where to go from here. Any pointers?

[Nutmeg]

Oh boy, ya definitely a bit fast, but you are right – what’s done is done.
Thankfully there was no real fighting (biting and blood drawn) so I think you are ok in that they wont hold grudges.

You need to get them to the point that they can go at least 24 to 48 hours straight in the neutral territory with no negative signs. This usually helps cement the bond, as they realize the other one isn’t going anywhere and they really start to expect and want the other rabbit around.

I would start off by putting them together and going at their pace…. if they can go 4 hours again then great.. if things start to get tense sooner than that they end on a good note sooner.
Then just keep lengthening the sessions and then on a weekend when you don’t have school or anything you need to leave them out for the full time – and you will need to commit to sleeping near them so that you can wake up if anything happens.

(Rabbits are nocturnal and being snuggly during the day – when they are more sleepy is – is one thing. You need to see how they are when they are at their most active.)

I would just go back to basics – what you were doing previously – and keep lengthening the sessions until you have time to do the marathon bond.

[Sofia]

It’s been a while. I think it’s safe to say that this journal was a fail
Sorry, just kept forgetting or not having time etc.
In short, from my last post. I basically had 4 to 5 hour sessions everyday in different places. I did 12 hours last weekend. And this weekend we did a marathon of 36 hours. Completely rinsed their final pen with vinegar. And as of now we’re cementing in there for the past 2 hours or so

[Nutmeg]

OMG that’s amazing!!
So much faster than mine was!! My journal is 8 pages long hahaha.
So happy for you guys!

[Sofia]

We finished cementing, now they have the whole space to themselves. They don’t snuggle as much as they did when they were bonding, but there’s no aggression at least. I think they have to get a bit more comfortable with each other until they start cuddling. They’ve been together non stop for almost a week now! I still have to introduce them slowly into the garden because that’s where there were problems last time, but for the most part they get along! Yay!
(and now their pen smells like salt and vinegar crisps ) Extremely lucky that it only took 2 or 3 weeks

[Nutmeg]

YAY!
Mine took a bit to start getting more snuggly again in the new space… took about a week and they are finally getting more snuggly.

[Author]

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