Success??

[Immi932]

Hi all! 

So i was wondering if I could get a little advice from someone a little more experienced with rabbit bonding than I am. This is my first bond between my three year old BEW Willow and 2 year old Piq. Both are female and both have been spayed. I’ve gone through hutch swapping and hutches facing each other and many many bunny dates and I’m now pondering whether they are ready to stay together unsupervised and move in to their new bunny condo together.

There has been no humping or chasing on their last few dates and piq has snuggled in to willow both in the loaf position side by side and with piq on her side next to willow who is still loaf-ing. Piq seems totally relaxed and friendly and will groom Willow on and off through out the date. However Willow doesn’t seem quite as relaxed, she grooms back rarely (despite the banana trick) and seems a little tense. She never flops during dates and is either loaf-ing or is holding her head to the ground- which kind of looks like a submissive gesture ( although she often sleeps with her chin on the ground when she is very relaxed) and she still seems a little tense. Also Piq will take treats and eat her greens with willow but Willow won’t take treats and while she will eat  a little of her greens she’s not eating as much around piq as she usually does when she’s alone.

I’m just really unsure as to whether or not to take the plunge and move them in to their condo? I’ve attached pics (their normal area is much bigger obviously) and any advice would been really appreciated! I just dont wanna go too fast and come home one day to a flurry of fluff and two unhappy buns! 

Thank you 

[vanessa]

Pics didn’t come thru. Sounds like mine. Lancelot doesnt’ relax completely around Guin. How long do you currently leave them unsupervised?
Although I’m on my 3rd bunny pair bonding, I think my first 2 went so well because of sheer luck. My “prowess” as a bunny mama had nothing to do with it. I barely knew what I was doing. I have learnt a lot through this current bonding, and I’m still not ready to let them live together. I would want to see both of mine completely relaxed all of the time, before giving them their bedroom back. They are currently in the spare bathrub, and I’ve had them together unsupervised, living in the same tiny bonding area for 3 days now. I go to work, go to sleep, etc, and leave them together. But I won’t give them a larger area untill he is able to relax, until she stops nipping, and until he starts to like her. The banana on the head trick has got him started grooming her, but he is still slightly nervous, like yours. Perhaps other folks might have something similar – or different to say. You need to feel comfortable with them unsupervised in a small space, before you can give them a large space. Large spaces are asking for trouble with a par that is not quite bonded.

[Ness]

Not sue if you’ve already taken the plunge and moved them in to their condo but if you haven’t then I wouldn’t rush this final step. The last thing you want is a fight in their forever home that they can remember. If you are happy with their behavior in a small bonding area (when I say happy I mean no fights – I didn’t wait until mine were super close, they would occasionally groom but they weren’t fully in love but as long as they weren’t fighting I was satisfied). Then increase the bonding cage, still in a neutral area and if they are ok with that maybe move the bonding area and if that is still ok leave them for a long time – overnight etc. If they survive 24 hours and few different areas then thoroughly clean their forever home. I used vinegar and water to remove as much of their smells as possible, I’ve also read Lavender is good for masking scents. Once clean put them in their home and supervise for a couple of hours and if all is good then you should be ok. I have found my 2 have progressively become closer the longer they have been together. When they are out exercising in the yard they stay together and almost gang up on me when its bedtime lol. Very cute.

[Author]

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