Skipping Pre-Bonding?

[empiristic]

Hello, I had posted earlier that my unbonded rabbits have been staring at each other from morning to when I get home.  Since I’ve gotten my nanny cam, I’ve actually caught them trying to groom each other multiple times through the bars and I’ve been wondering if it’s a good idea to skip pre bonding to and start initiate bonding right away?  There are some posts here where bonds have started since the new rabbit has gotten home and others where prebonding has gone on for 2 months.  

I want to go with my gut feeling but at the same time I am scared of rushing into the bonding process and risking someone getting hurt.

[sarahthegemini]

Pre bonding is a very important step. Don’t skip it The ‘downside’ to pre bonding is just that it takes a while longer but if you skip it, it could end very badly. Pre bond for a month and rest easy knowing you’ll probably have a very easy bond!

[Sirius&Luna]

There’s not really any positives to trying to bond them straight away, and quite a lot of potential negatives. Bonding is something that is really not worth rushing.

[empiristic]

Posted By sarahthegemini on 3/02/2018 4:23 AM

 Pre bond for a month and rest easy knowing you’ll probably have a very easy bond!

This is where I have the question, am I able to prebond for a week or so and gauge their reactions based on the prebonding or is the month the typical standard?  In three weeks I have my spring break which would be the perfect time to start bonding and then begin marathon bonding them together, but I just feel bad because their current set up is just way  small for them I believe.  

[Harley&Thumper]

I only needed a week of prebonding for my pair but I got both of them at the same time so they couldn’t claim any territory. To be honest, I think you could try bonding in the neutral territory and perform cage swapping while they get used to each other in the neutral territory.

[empiristic]

Posted By Harley&Thumper on 3/02/2018 6:58 AM

To be honest, I think you could try bonding in the neutral territory and perform cage swapping while they get used to each other in the neutral territory.

Is it ok to do both at the same time?  I know they’re relatively used to each other but the only reason why I want to start bonding now is because its kinda sad to keep watching them try to groom each other through the wire barrier I set up.

[Sirius&Luna]

Well a month is given as guideline, but three weeks could be enough if you gauge their reactions. It does depend on the rabbits, but prebonding is the best way to ensure that you have a successful bond.

A couple of days ago someone posted about how they adopted a rabbit, it immediately got on with her existing rabbit, and within a week or so they were living together permanently. However, two weeks after that they got into a massive fight. These things are far more common with rushed bonding.

[Deleted User]

My boys are exactly like this, and they’ve been prebonding for months. To be fair, you don’t really know how they will react when they are actually face to face. My boys are all about the grooms and eye gazing when there’s the cage bars between them, but every session we have done has been Asriel non stop humping Bombur. So I also agree with the others on prebonding for at least a month.

[Harley&Thumper]

Sirius brings up a good point about personalities changing once the bunnies get comfortable with their new homes. I think you could try a play date in a neutral area and if they ignore each other or start grooming then you can start the bonding process. If they start fighting then I would do prebonding for a few weeks and then try another play date. I would constantly swap cages during the bonding process though.

[empiristic]

Posted By Harley&Thumper on 3/02/2018 8:12 AM

 think you could try a play date in a neutral area and if they ignore each other or start grooming then you can start the bonding process. If they start fighting then I would do prebonding for a few weeks and then try another play date. I would constantly swap cages during the bonding process though.

I think this is the best compromise with what I want to do and what the forum is telling me.  Currently, they’re out in separate xpens for play time so I’m going to do a bathroom date when they’re a little bit more tired out.

[sarahthegemini]

Please keep in mind, if they do fight at first physical introduction you’ll need to keep them completely separate – out of sight and smell for at least a month so they can forget. Is it really worth it? I understand you are eager but sometimes taking things slow is the best course.

[empiristic]

Hi, just giving an update and that I’ve started swapping their cages.  I’m confused though as to the signs that I am suppose to be looking for.  There were some poop markings however on the second switch there doesn’t seem to be any now.  I’m switching them every two days with no signs of aggression from either one of them.  

[sarahthegemini]

You don’t really need to see any signs. I didn’t have any issues when I was swapping my two. No marking or anything.

Edit: Thought I’d expand a little! Often you will see signs such as marking or visible aggression. If you do, it’s best to pre bond until these signs cease, so if you’re still having issues after a month you’d pre bond for a little longer. Then there are times when you don’t see signs at all. I had no marking, no poop wars, no aggression with my two but neither are/were particularly territorial. In these cases, I’d still recommend pre bonding for a month. Just to be safe As mentioned previously, there’s not really any positives with rushing even tho having seperated bunnies can be a pain  The only trouble I had was that Peanut was stressed whenever we swapped. He got stressed with anything new and it would take a while for him to settle so we’d switch them every 4ish days rather than every day.

[empiristic]

Posted By sarahthegemini on 3/06/2018 4:41 AM

Edit: Thought I’d expand a little! Often you will see signs such as marking or visible aggression. If you do, it’s best to pre bond until these signs cease, so if you’re still having issues after a month you’d pre bond for a little longer. Then there are times when you don’t see signs at all. I had no marking, no poop wars, no aggression with my two but neither are/were particularly territorial. In these cases, I’d still recommend pre bonding for a month. Just to be safe As mentioned previously, there’s not really any positives with rushing even tho having seperated bunnies can be a pain  The only trouble I had was that Peanut was stressed whenever we swapped. He got stressed with anything new and it would take a while for him to settle so we’d switch them every 4ish days rather than every day.

Thank you so much for the expansion!  I was very curious as to what I was suppose to be looking for but this answers all of it.  The swapping is going well, neither one of them seem to be aggressive or stressed from the switching.  The territory poops have stopped though.  

The main reason why I had wanted to start the bonding faster was because they started to just flop in each other company, it’s so cute but I haven’t caught them cuddling between the bars just yet.  There was only one scare where I thought she was nipping at him but it just turned out she was trying to groom him but couldn’t reach because of the gap. 

There is only one thing I still have a question on, my Neanderthal Dwarf seems to dance and honk to get my Holland Lop’s attention but she sometimes can’t see him because she has a cataract in her right eye, is this going to cause a problem during the bonding sessions?  He hasn’t gotten aggressive with her but it’s kind of sad when he stops dancing and just stares at her to see her reaction and she doesn’t give one.  

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