Took a break from actively bonding, when to start again

[Starla]

I have had many discouraging attempts to bond my rabbits. One event, which was not terrible, was in part my fault where they seemed to be getting along but turned on each other 30 minutes later. Anyways, after that I got advice to take a break. It’s been many months since. They still live alongside each other but I have not done any other bonding technique (maybe a stroller ride here and there). I wanted to wait till I had more time to be consistent with bonding (schedule clear up) because I believe routine and consistency will play a huge part. Anyways, I have a 9 pound spayed female and a 3 pound neutered male jersey wooly. From past bonding attempts, my male was very interested and not aggressive towards my female. However, my female was aggressive towards him. My male would obviously be aggressive back at times the female showed aggression. I always say Houdini (my male) is in love Severus (female). He seems to fall in love her more daily. Since my male is so tiny and has always possessed so much interest, I am very cautious of my females aggression. ANYWAYS, I have noticed for the past few months when I let either of them run around my room (separately) after they got tired of running around and got their pets from me, they will usually end up going to lay next to the other bun. One bun in their xpen laying down with the other bun on the outside laying next to them. They will smell each other through the pens (I have an extra layer of caging on parts they can get to, to prevent any possible injury from being alongside each other with the caging between them), and they just have not shown any aggression at all. Both rabbits will go lay next to the others xpens. Even my female will lay alongside my males xpen during her time out to run around. Even if my bun in the xpen isn’t laying down at the parts of the xpen that the bun that is outside their cage can lay next too, thebun outside their cage running around will still go and lay next the other buns xpen. Usually, within minutes the bun inside their xpen will come and lay next to them. They are showing non-aggressive interest in one another.

For any confusion, lets say my female (Severus/Sev) is having her time outside of the cage. She ran around for a little, got her pets, and instead of going back into her xpen (I leave Sevs cage open when she is running around, vice versa for Houdini (my male), she will go and lay next to Houdini’s xpen. Even if Houdini is not there (he is sometimes), more than often Houdini will see Sev and then move to the part of his xpen she is at and lay next to her (with the xpen/protective layer separating them. Both do this vice versa

How do I know its time to try again??

I am going to have a more open schedule coming soon. I am a full time preschool teacher and online college student. However, 1 of my 4 4 classes just ended (5 week accelerated class), and I have 2 other classes that are going to be ending in a few weeks (8 week accelerated class). Meaning my work load will be greatly reduced when I am not at work. With this reduction, I will have more time to do hands on bonding. Before, I let them run around while I did hw and obviously made time for their needs/give love to them when they asked for it).

If they seem to be ready, how often should I try bonding and with which methods should I start. I do have an extra xpen and a room where they have not yet been in before to do the bonding. I do also have a bathtub, car, and a stroller. They do great in the stroller together, they always have. I took them on a walk randomly for the first time since I stopped attempting to bond them last week. They still do great if not better. I do not want to rush them. I think that this break has really encouraged them to pursue each other freely and on their readiness (laying next to each other with xpen and extra metal grid for protection). 

I will take any advice and/or products you recommend!

Another concern that I do have, that I will just leave here since I’m on the topic is that my female is much larger and eats her veggies as soon as she gets them and snacks on anything I put in her cage as soon as she gets it (pellets mainly). While my male takes his time to eat. My male is more skittish (he is a rescue I’ll add) and is not as food crazy. My female has showed signs of food aggression in the past but has not recently in the past months. I am just scared that if they do bond and I put them together that my female will eat everything before my male gets a chance too or her food aggression will come back. Once (hopefully) they become pretty much bonded through my bonding sessions, should I start doing sessions that has food (obviously with me right with them). Also since I mentioned food, they both get unlimited hay and water. They get a scoop of pellets everyday (I forget the amount but the rescue said the amount is appropriate, usually my smaller one doesn’t require a whole scoop). My female is not underfed in any way (this is not a concern AT ALL, I used to actually being worried that she was overweight) she just prefers her pellets and veggies over hay so when she gets a fresh scoop of pellets or fresh veggies, she is excited and runs to it. Pellets and veggies are like treats to her that she loves getting daily. She does eat her hay all day as well!!

 My main dream to have them free roam my room with their 3 story bunny adobe as a “home place” always open to them.

Hopefully this is not too confusing! I try to provide as much detail I can!

[Bunny House]

Have you ever done prebonding? Prebonding needs to be done for a month at least to ensure this will be a tight bond, and then you can start bonding dates.

[GlennTheLionhead]

If you have had them living side by side for a couple months and they are laying next to each others pens this is a good sign, it indicates they want to bond with eachother. Since it’s been so long of them living side by side and being able to smell eachother through the pen (of that is indeed the case) this is a form of pre bonding in itself but to be extra cautious I would probably swap items toys and litter trays for a couple weeks before introducing them in a small area for a short amount of time.
Try to prevent humping to start and just force petting them whilst their squished up together, this will prevent them from trying to hump eachother and allow them to just chill out for a few moments while being close, after a couple days slowly increase their freedom but be sure to intervine in humping when it lasts longer than a few seconds or one is mounting the others head. Humping is normal and an essential part of establishing who’s boss, only when they’ve established the pecking order can they move on to the road of becoming friends so don’t be alarmed when this happens just make sure it’s doesn’t lead into excessive circling and fights as this can be really damaging to a bond.

When dates have started it’s important you continues these everyday starting with very short session and increasing the time of a date and/or more dates in a given day.

This is just a brief skim through some bonding tips but I recommend looking at the bunny info section of this site for thorough bonding information

Overall it sound like your bunnies are likely ready to begin bonding after perhaps a little bit of stuff swaping

Good luck!

[DanaNM]

Laying next to each other is a very good sign.

I think that you can start whenever you know your schedule will allow sessions at least 4 days a week.

I would say in the lead up to starting regular sessions, start doing cage/side swaps every day or two (pre-bonding). Since they have been living side by side for so long, they prob won’t be too phased by this. I would say when they can swap sides without marking everywhere or acting weird about it (they continue to lay side by side and are relaxed) then you are ready to start dates. I’ve done as short as a week, other’s recommend a month. I think in your case, you will have a good sense as to when they are ready (esp with how they are acting now).

I would use the pen set up in your spare room as your main space for sessions, and then you can do stroller rides or car rides for some stressing. I like to do a “stress sandwich”, where the session ends and begins with a short stress session, then most of the session is in a large very neutral area.

I’m not familiar with your past attempts, but for me, having a large, very neutral space has always been very important. I like at least 2 x-pens linked up, so maybe you can put your x-pen in a corner so the other two walls can make the space larger.

I think when first starting out, it’s really helpful to set short time goals, and to stick with them. So for the first session, say aim for 5 minutes (so maybe a short stroller ride). Second session 7 minutes, etc. There is a temptation to keep pushing the date longer when it’s going well, but often that leads to a scuffle. Always end on a positive note, even if it’s you petting them both to calm them. I also really like to use petting in the early sessions whenever they approach each other. It helps calm them and build a positive association. If they start chasing or scuffling towards the end of the time you had aimed for, pet pet pet them until they are calm again, and then end it there.

Would love to hear how it goes!

Regarding them eating at different rates, don’t worry! All of my pairs have eaten at their leisure when they were single, but buns have a way of eating faster when they know they need to

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Author]

Messages