Bonding Lola and Strawberry and have Questions

[LolaBuns]

We started bonding Lola and Strawberry on Sunday. We started out in a small space maybe a foot and a half square. They did great. Berry immediately mounted Lola and then groomed her. After that they just sat nose to nose so we let them have more space (maybe 2 ft by 4 ft). Berry started mounting again and Lola kept trying to get away. He was persistent so she nipped him once and after that they sat side by side for about an hour. We called it quits for the day after that. Day two was pretty much the same.

Day three we started with the bigger area they ended in the previous day. Same thing happened…Berry kept after Lola until she nipped him once and then he sat by her nicely, sometimes nose to nose and sometimes side by side. He also grooms her frequently and tries to get her to groom him but she hasn’t yet. After about an hour of quiet we moved them to a larger space (our front entryway). Berry tried to mount a couple times and Lola moved away. After that nothing. I gave them a litter box and some hay and they sat in the box for an hour munching away together. So we let them out into the living room where they each get free roam time. No mounting, they followed each other around the room, through their tunnels and into the litter box. Eventually flopping together for a nap. We called it quits at supper time. They were together for almost 5 hours.

Today is day 4 and we started out in the entryway.  Berry immediately tried to mount Lola several times and she kept running away and he would keep following and trying until she started thumping at him. It stopped him for a few seconds but then he was after her again. This went on for about 30 mins. Now they are just sitting there a couple feet apart, he’s loafing she is in a flop. Should I move them to the living room again? How long should I have them together? 

There hasn’t really been any fighting other than the mounting business and that wasn’t really even a fight. Just a nip here and there. Will Berry stop the mounting before they are bonded?  How do I know when they are bonded? 

[Sarita]

Are these all different areas that you are using for bonding? I’m wondering if that is the reason he keeps mounting her – new area, mounting. He may never stop the mounting and it may only be on occasion – like stress or excitement. It sounds like it’s going very well. I would try the familiar places again.

[LolaBuns]

The first two areas were the same spot we just made it bigger(used nic cubes and made a wall). The entryway and the living room are two rooms connected and downstairs from where we were the first two days. The entryway was neutral neither had been in it before yesterday. I have them back in the living room again now. He’s never tried mounting in here but she watches him close and if he gets too interested in her butt she moves. How long should I keep this stage going? What should I do next?

[Sarita]

I think it would be good to keep them together as long as possible since they are not fighting. I know alot of that depends on if you are able to be with them until they are fully bonded but as long as their is no fighting and they are grooming and relaxing with each other, you should just let them stay together – the longer they can stay together the better without separation.

[LolaBuns]

How do I know when they are bonded?

[Sarita]

When they can stay together full time with no fights basically. Some rabbits bond quicker than others and it sounds like your couple is off to a good start – hopefully it will be a quick bond.

[LolaBuns]

Does Lola have to groom him back first? She is being pretty stubborn about that.

[Sarita]

No, many times it is just one doing the grooming. Sometimes there is no grooming. Each couple is different.

[LolaBuns]

Thank you!

[LolaBuns]

Berry and Lola have been together for about 10 hours now. Everything is going super well. I think. We had them roaming in the living room (their normal play area) then at dinnertime we moved them into Lola’s pen that they will be sharing if all goes well. They ignore each other for a while, napping in different parts of the pen, and then they will spend time together either napping or Berry will groom Lola or they will munch on hay in the litter box, then go back to ignoring each other. No more mounting since we moved them into the living room about 8-9 hrs ago. Lola doesn’t seem to care at all that he is in her space. She is currently flopped next to him in her favorite spot in her condo.

This was before the flop

[Sarita]

Wow, that’s great – they are sharing a litter box? That’s very good.

[LolaBuns]

We have two litter boxes in their pen but most of the time they are in the same one.

They did great all night. I stayed up with them until about 1am then I slept for a couple hours, checked on them and slept a couple more. They have been together for almost 24 hrs now without any problems at all. Can I consider them bonded and leave them alone?

[Sarita]

I think so. There is no chasing or aggression and it sounds to me like they are getting along great.

[LolaBuns]

YAY! Thanks for all the help Sarita!

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