How to start co-habitation

[LittlePuffyTail]

I think my boys are ready to try living together. They are getting along really well during bonding time. Still no grooming but lots of smooshy face snuggles. The only problem is they each have condos side by side. I really don’t want to demolish the sides of the condos to try to co-habit them in case it doesn’t work right away and they need to go back to seperate houses for awhile because it’s a lot of work and very hard to do in the tight squeeze of my rabbit room. Bindi’s been in Stormy’s condo with him a few times for a few minutes without incident except last night he tried to push Stormy out of his house and Stormy attacked him.

What’s the best way to go about this? Should I try to co-habit them in an x-pen first? I could maybe set it up in the kitchen with all their stuff. I just worry that Stormy will get stressed spending a few days without his condo. He’s a senior after all.

[jerseygirl]

Good news!

I think the pen is the best bet. Stay neutral for now. You might want to set it up somewhere where you can keep a close eye overnight also.

[mocha200]

I had Mocha and Lulu in a pen over night for one or two nights and then cleaned the condo really well and they moved in together. Do you think you could redo their condos and combined them some how? Do you have some pictures we could see?

[Stickerbunny]

Mine were allowed free run time for 8 or so hours together for about a week, then back to their own spaces at bedtime (or when I couldn’t monitor them), then when that went well I moved them into Stickers room together for their first over night visit. If they’re still being a bit pushy about territory, neutral might be a good thing for a few days.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Thanks guys!

I think what I will do is move the kitchen table out of the kitchen and set up an x-pen in there with a lot of their stuff from each other their condos. On Monday I will leave them there for the whole day and night and see how that goes. I have to wait till Monday because that’s the only day that I will be home all day. I want to get them bonded because my Mom’s dog is coming to stay with us for a week later this month and it will just make things much easier.

[Elrohwen]

Congrats!!

I would do the pen first. When I moved Otto and Hannah in together I gave them a pen in a slightly new area (their cages were in the dining room, but the pen was in the living room so it was a little different and I could keep an eye on them better). I kept them in the pen for a week or two before moving them back to the set up I had before (pen+cage in the dining room)

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m scared that Stormy will find it very stressful being out in the open when he’s so used to his condo. I don’t think Bindi will care much.

[Sarita]

He may find it stressful but that could be a good thing as stress can sometimes help cement the bond.

[Elrohwen]

I’m with Sarita on that one. You can always add a small hidey box or something if they do ok for the first couple days. Mine were stressed out by the new location and lack of places to hide, but they took some comfort in each other. The stress also made Hannah less humpy and obnoxious, so it helped Otto to get along with her better.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Unfortunately I’m going to put it off until after Bindi’s vet visit. He’s going on Tuesday. I want to make sure they are both feeling good before I start.

Did you ever worry after bonding? I want my boys bonded, I think they will enjoy having a buddy and it will be easier for me, timewise, but I’m worried because of Bindi’s recurring health problems and Stormy is 3 years older than Bindi. I’m very afraid that they fall in love and aren’t together for long before something happens to the other. It would be absolutely devastating to lose one of my boys but to have to see the other so sad would be unbearable in my mind. I just worry a lot. I know it’s best to not think about these things but I can’t help it.

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