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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
- This topic has 15sd replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 4 months ago by
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Hi everyone, welcome to this joyous topic! It all went faster than we could believe, but Owen and Molly are BONDED! 🕊🐰❤🐰🕊
We’d been struggling with bonding for months, both feeling that we knew too little, and me knowing that I couldn’t manage it physically.
There are few bonders in this country, let alone in our area. The shelter that we called was way too busy, but they gave us the number of a lady who is a behaviourist. She was unsure if she could fit us in because summer is very busy for her. But suddenly we got the message that we could bring them in: last Thursday.
There were no signs of hormones or fighting during the date there, so she decided to put them together day and night with a baby monitor on. They were scared and huddled together. Every day they became more comfortable and sought each other out. Suddenly there was no more excitement, no stress, just each other.
She said that they’re very comfortable with each other, and that it was probably just a matter of a change of surroundings so they could settle as a couple. We cleaned up the house and washed everything down with vinegar, and now they’re back!
Pics!
Kisses for Molly:
Eating together:
Flop!
Snooze…
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Thank you!
I’m very happy but also still a bit in doubt. I’m hoping that this will be the final step in the process. It went very fast, but I also want to put my trust in the expert, that she knows when it’s safe to put them together again.
There were no chasing or aggression behaviours at all while bonding, and only some light mounting. They’ve been in the same pen at home now for 8 hours, so I think it’s safe to go to bed. (With the doors open so we can hear if something goes wrong.)
There was some light mounting from Owen earlier this night, but he stops as soon as Molly walks away. There’s not much excitement or hooting behind it. He doesn’t really pursue her. The bonder didn’t see much mounting either. Owen grooms Molly, surprisingly. It used to be the other way round while they were still separated.
Molly is a lot calmer than before, this is perhaps the biggest change. She starts to purr when I pet her, doesn’t shy away from hands, and is now fast asleep in an open space. She’s twitching in a dream, so relaxed that she’s almost keeling over. 😍
When something scares them they go to their hiding box and sit there together. It’s very cute to see them 🥰 The best thing about a bigger brother is that you can hide behind him better!
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Thank you all so much! ^_^ I can do little else but look at them all day and take millions of pics. It’s amazing!
Here they are enjoying some fresh spinach:
@Bam: One! Wow… Our bonder said it too: there are way too few people to fall back on if you’re a rabbit owner. It’s improving, but the support network is still very sparse. It doesn’t help that even vets will give wrong bonding advice…Yes, bonding is super intense: you’ll always doubt if you’re doing it right. I’m still reading all the websites I can find, even after the bonder told us that they’ll be fine. I’m constantly thinking: is this normal?
Apparently it’s normal to still see some mounting in the first weeks, and rabbits are considered bonded if they don’t chase or fight in each other’s company. There’s a phase in which they’ll have to sort things out before they get all lovey-dovey, and mounting is a part of that phase.
They definitively have those cute moments but Owen mounts Molly a couple of times a day. I’ve decided to keep my hands off: they’ll have to work it out together. The bonder also said that they’re still boisterous teenagers who are still developing their personality, so they may be a little less balanced than older rabbits.
The bonder also told us that she never bonds her own buns by herself, because she’s too emotionally attached. It definitely helps to have a neutral party.
I really hope that your bonder has space to bond her and can find Snöa a beautiful husbun!
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We’re seeing more and more cuddles and less mounting. Molly is becoming more confident too, and nudges Owen aside when he’s hogging one of the food bowls. Owen has a tendency to claim food, but Molly is starting to speak her mind about it.
They’re spending most of their time flopped together, even though it’s a bit too warm for bunny comfort. Luckily we’ll get rain tonight, so we’re getting a quick temperature drop.
Looking at how physical they are made me realise: Breintje wasn’t overly clingy towards me, he was just doing normal bunny things and really saw me as his bunwife…🥺🥰
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