Q about bonding free range buns

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

We currently have 2 free range neutered buns – and recently inquired about adopting a girl bun from an HRS branch.  I was told that free range buns tend to be the most difficult to bond.  

I asked if we should bring our boys to see how they’d interact with her, and was told that how they react in the foster home is not an indicator of how they’ll get along. 

Any bonding advice for free range buns – on accepting a new member?   

[MoveDiagonally]

Interesting! Did they say why they would be harder to bond?

If you don’t have neutral space (maybe a bathroom?) then I would pick a room and keep them out of it for the time being. Clean it really well and when you start bonding it should be a lot more neutral. For semi-neutral, BB’s bonding info page has some great advice for creating a semi neutral area. After bonding usually it’s suggested that you re-arrange and clean the area that will be their new home which in this case is your entire home. I think you can avoid re-arranging your whole house but I would still clean everything really well. You can de-bunny smell carpet by sprinkling baking soda on it and letting it sit for a bit before vacuuming it up. You can also do this to cloth furniture. And just wipe down most other things with 50/50 vinegar/water. Once all that is done I would re-introduce them slowly to larger and larger areas. This is also good for re-litter training as littler habits are often an issue after bonding. If they seem to have territorial issues in specific spots or rooms that might be a sign that it needs to be cleaned a litter deeper.

I would also talk to them about fostering to adopt. You can wait to finalize until after they are bonded so if bonding proves to be too difficult/is just not working you haven’t committed to being a forever home. I think it’s strange that they don’t want to do a bunny date. While it’s not a 100% indicator if they get along in a meet and greet that they will bond it does help rule out bunnies that will be really hard/impossible to bond. Some bunnies just hate each other right off the bat. So I might want to do one anyway just to make sure there’s not immediate “I want to kill you” dislike…. Haha, this is coming from someone who has 5 bonded rabbits and has never done a single “bunny date”. >.>

Anyway, just my thoughts on it all. Hope some of it was helpful and you can find a good match for you boy buns!

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

Thanks MD. I did advise the lady from HRS that if the bond does not take – that in a condo, I don’t have the room to house her separately. So she said that if it doesn’t work, we could bring her back and try another bun. So I guess that’s sort of like fostering her for a couple months.

I’m not too concerned about Boo, as he’s very timid and submissive (except when it comes to treats)…but when I expressed concern with Baxter, since he can be so aggressive & dominant – she discouraged the use of these terms since buns are prey animals. Maybe I’m misinterpreting Baxter – but his actions seem like bullying to me….but I’m applying human standards.

I hadn’t taken Baxter on a bunny date – when I brought home Boo… but reading the benefits here, thought I should try it. I’ll ask the foster family if they’d be open to it…can’t hurt to ask.

But I will definitely be re-reading your thread on bonding, as well as TanLover’s!

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