Boy to Boy Bonding **UPDATE**

[Malp_15]

I am looking for any advice on boy to boy bonding or anyones stories who has done this I have heard probably 50-50 bad-good stories about it, so I would just like some first hand experience.

I never planned on getting a boyfriend for Tait , let alone any other rabbit in the next year or so. But…. we had a 3 yr old white lop mix(?) male unaltered surrendered at my work last weekend (for those who don’t know, I work at a vet clinic). He has snuffles at the moment, so he is in isolation and on antibiotics for the forseable future. And he is just so freaking CUTE I wanna die! He is totally fine with being held, likes pets, and totally just flops anywhere, AND he licks the antibiotic from the syringe. The first day we had him, he was on the treatment table and was just flopped right out, even though there were cats and dogs around. So I was thinking about once he is done his antibiotics and no longer contagious, to bring Tait into work for some bunny dates? Obviously if they don’t get along this whole thing is moot, but I thought I would try. And I would have to get him neutered before bringing him home, but at least I can leave him at work through all of this for free. I would also have to reassess the bunny living situation because Tait is currently free-range in my room and never locked up, unless I am housesitting, etc. This rabbit was very obviously kept outside because his coat is ridiculously thick and dirty, and last week we had -29 celcius here . He is pretty skinny, but snuffles aside he is in good health.

Here is a picture of Mr. Airplane Ears (sry about the phone quality)

And one new one of Tait

So anyway, I would just appreciate some thoughts!

[Stickerbunny]

Mmm, I am not sure you’ll get an accurate reading of how they get along unless he is neutered and given time for hormones to die down before dating. But, boy-boy can work as well as girl-girl and boy-girl if the personalities mesh.

[3 buns mom]

Aw, such cuties! I have 3 boy buns all bonded. I didn’t do it the proper way because I didn’t know any better at the time. I just got lucky. I had one rabbit that wasn’t caged and two that were in their own separate cages. The uncaged one would visit with the other two by hanging outside their cages, then he eventually would sleep next to them. By the time I let one of them out his cage full time, they were already bonded. And then when the third came out of his cage months later, same thing. Like I said I was lucky. They are all neutered, so that helps. There were times when one would try to dominate the other(s) by mounting them. I discouraged it as much as I could, but who knows what happened when I wasn’t looking. They figured it all out and all get along great. Two of them are inseparable! Where one goes, the other follows. They are never away from the other. It’s the cutest thing.

[Malp_15]

Woops sorry Stickerbunny, I forgot to mention that I know about the before neutering not a good time to get an accurate reading. I thought I would just give it a shot and see since both are so laid back. And maybe if they flat out hated each other I could talk myself out of it haha fat chance of that though.

Thanks 3 buns mom!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have two boys that are almost bonded. As soon as I get the time to cement their bond they will move in together. It was a long way to get to this point though, but, it really all depends on the personality of your bunnies. Bindi Loo is the dominant bunny and did a lot of chasing/humping which lead to problems because Stormy would get scared and try to defend himself. You really need patience and persistence if you have a situation like this. It took so long because I kept giving up and thinking they would never bond.

We will all help you through it when you get around to it. I think you have as good a chance bonding Tait with another boy as you would with a girl.

[caviesnbuns]

Since we are talking about bonding boys, are bunnies who are brothers already bonded? My sister and I are adopting two brothers tomorrow. Eventually will they fight or will they most likely get along fine?

[Beka27]

Posted By caviesnbuns on 11/26/2011 09:21 AM
Since we are talking about bonding boys, are bunnies who are brothers already bonded? My sister and I are adopting two brothers tomorrow. Eventually will they fight or will they most likely get along fine?

Siblings are not bonded.  They will outgrow their affection for each other and need to be housed separately.  After they are both neutered (at about 4 months), you can begin the process to bond them.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By 3 buns mom on 11/25/2011 10:06 PM
Aw, such cuties! I have 3 boy buns all bonded. I didn’t do it the proper way because I didn’t know any better at the time. I just got lucky. I had one rabbit that wasn’t caged and two that were in their own separate cages. The uncaged one would visit with the other two by hanging outside their cages, then he eventually would sleep next to them. By the time I let one of them out his cage full time, they were already bonded. And then when the third came out of his cage months later, same thing. Like I said I was lucky. They are all neutered, so that helps. There were times when one would try to dominate the other(s) by mounting them. I discouraged it as much as I could, but who knows what happened when I wasn’t looking. They figured it all out and all get along great. Two of them are inseparable! Where one goes, the other follows. They are never away from the other. It’s the cutest thing.

3buns mom, I don’t know if there is one proper way. The way you went about it reminds me or this HRS article.http://www.rabbit.org/behavior/introductionsinslovokia.html

Another member (from Canada I think) posted one time that she took this approach also. She had a fence dividing a room and the rabbits interacted for about 2 weeks with it in place. Then she removed it and watched to see how it went.  I think I recall it was sucessful and she did multiple bonds this way.

 

[Malp_15]

*UPDATE*

So Mr. Bun (haven’t named him yet) is not doing very well He will eat his veggies, but barely touch his hay and pellets, which is giving him poopy bum on/off. His snuffles is starting to clear up, but he is still on Baytril. We have been syringe feeding him critical care and giving SQ fluids, but he has still lost 11oz in a week and a half. My Office Manager decided yesterday that she was going to pull the plug on him in a couple of days if he didn’t get better. Which I understand, because we only have so much money to do pro-bono stuff and we have taken in A LOT of sick/injured animals this year. So I went in on my day off today to have a talk with the vet treating him and I have decided to assume financial responsibility and take him home tomorrow. We are hoping that being in a home situation and only one person treating him he will come around. When he isn’t having diarrhea, he is passing teeny tiny rock hard poos.

It is a good thing I have today and tomorrow off because I have A LOT of preparing to do! He will be getting Tait’s old cage for now and be living in my spare bedroom, which is on a different floor. I have critical care and an x-pen on order through work, that will come in tomorrow. I will have to get my room re-arranged for the X-pen for Tait. He is free-range, but I don’t want to be in a situation where I have no where to lock him up. And if everything goes well and Mr. Bun recovers then the -pen will be ready for bonding, etc.

So wish me luck :\… I have done this kind of thing with kittens & puppies a million times, but never with a rabbit. And please send Mr. Bun some healing vibes!

[Stickerbunny]

Get well Mr Bun! Hopefully he recovers under your care and will become a permanent companion in your home.

[Hannah]

Well, I guess it was meant to be that he become yours. : ) Hope he gets better soon, poor baby.

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