Leaps and bounds today!!
Samson was grooming Lady through the bars, so immediately after she ran into the kitchen and I baby gated it off, then went in with Lady. Samson ran up to Lady,(at which point I nearly freaked out) and then started giving her groomies and eye kisses!!! <3 As soon as she was done she ran off, and Lady started to follow her and I let her, they did this nose to nose thing and then kinda split off (no nipping though, which is good!) but it makes Samson nervous when Lady runs toward her (no wonder at 9lbs!) so I split them up immediately and then had some 1 on 1 bonding with me and them and some treats I'm just so proud of them1

With me it worked better for bonding by having the smaller area as it makes them interact instead of pretending they are in their own little "other bunny free" world. So you may want to try smaller areas at some point too after they get more used to being around each other.

Had a painful hour session today hah. Went fairly well for the girls, a lot of grooming from Samson, a couple small grooms from Lady, a couple confused circles where they each tried to be the lowest and burrow under each others bums (all the while I'm freaking out haha). They're getting there, I think. No mean biting, just a couple times where they surprised each other. I let them move about a bit more, but they stayed nose to nose most of the time. The whole time I'm practically biting my nails, its a bit nerve wracking for them to be so close! Gonna try to continue with the hour sessions.

Well, we're on hold for a while I think. We had to do some sneaky cage moving because our washing machine broke and we didn't know if the landlord was gonna stop by. (we're not allowed cats or dogs, but the lease don't mention bunnies...)
Anyway, I ended up scrubbing and cleaning all day, and then having Lady loose in the house and Samson kept to our bedroom (where she stays most of the time anyway). We ended up leaving Lady loose in the living room all night, and Samson in the bedroom. When I got up, I expected a poop disaster like always, since Lady hasn't been litter box trained since I got her, and every single poop and pee was in the box. Apparently even spayed, not having Samson around means 100% litter habits. Same with Samson. Ugh. So we kept it like this for like a week, then tried to put them both back next to each other, and POOP and pee disaster. It was awful. So then we wanted to be able to put Lady in for the night since we made Samson a pen setup in our room for the night, and as soon as she was in her pen she pooped everywhere, I think because it was normally Sams corner. So now shes back to Living room and Sam gets bedroom +hall, pen at night.

Officially, bonding is on hold. They groom through the bars daily for a minute, kinda just to check in and then go back to their areas. We're moving in about 4 months, so I'm hoping the long drive down will stress them a little bit, and then the new house will be easier to bond them in.

I'm bummed for their sake, but they aren't like, fighting really, just jumpy around each other, so if all they need is time then I can do that

I'm sorry you had to put everything on hold, but it's great that they haven't been fighting! And I agree, the new house should help with the bonding. Are you gonna take new bonding videos in the future? Please??

Lol yes I will! I've been slacking, my camera battery seems like its always dead lately.

Well, I followed the bunnies cues and did a lot of bonding today. I found both girls grooming through the pen, so I poured some pellets in the kitchen and they both went in there. We've had 3 hour long sessions of grooming, eating, cleaning themselves, a couple very minor checks, and finally in third session got some good flops from Samson. Lady doesn't groom her really, I don't know whats that about, but leaps and bounds today

Yay! I am so excited for you! I'm glad to hear it is going well!

So I think today is the day! Lady hasn't groomed Sam much, but lots of grooming by Sam, flops from both as well as one flop together, no nipping/checking at all, and we're going on about 4 hours straight of them being in the kitchen together supervised (and tg I have the laptop to keep me entertained!).

YAY!

Gah these 2 are so frustrating. After 2 good days in the kitchen, I tried them in the living room, and they fought >.< It's hard to tell who instigating, I'm just stuck at what to do now.

Hmm, How long was your longest session in the kitchen?

And I'm guessing living room isn't neutral? Maybe stress them a little bit while they are in there...If you need to vacuum, you could kill two birds with one stone (not that I condone the killing of birds...)

Sorry, I can't help too much, Halo and Bud were almost an instant bond.

Like, 5 hours or more? They don't care about the vacuum, or much of anything hah. I've got a 3 and 4 year old so spontaneous noise doesn't disturb them. We're still working in the kitchen. It seems like a couple things are happening, Sam demands grooms and Lady doesn't give them, and every once in a while one will try to groom the others hindquarters and they are both jumpy about that. They've done a couple little spats but no bunny circles in a couple sessions so we're getting there....

I seeee the liggghhtt

Its been hours. Like, 8-9 hours, of grooming from Sam, eating, flopping, pooping, general hanging out-ness in the kitchen with the bunnies without a single scuffle.

This is going to sound weird, but it seems like Sam is bonded to Lady, but Lady isn't bonded to Sam. She's kinda indifferent, doesn't groom her, just asks for groomies all the time, or a few times wanted out of the kitchen. Shes comfortable with her, and not aggressive in the kitchen, she'll even full on dead bunny pass out next to Sam. I dont know. Maybe she is bonded? I just wish she would groom Sam!! Is Honey toxic? could I put a teeeny tiny dot of honey on Sams head to encourage some grooms? Sam like, BEGS for some love and I feel so bad

I've tried banana, Lady just grabs it off and is done haha. I've seen her groom her like, once or twice, through the bars. I just feel like if she did, they would be officially done hah.

Alright! So after about 11 hours in the kitchen, I separated the bunnies. Lady kept standing at the fence, so I decided to let her out and see how Samson acted if Lady was near her turf. With Sam locked in her pen in my bedroom, Lady ran around and did super large binkies, and basically ignored Sam with the occasional check in nose to nose through the bars. No scuffles.

So after about 30 minutes of this, I blocked off under the bed and practically sat on Lady (no worries, I groom her this way, with her on the floor between my knees, she doesn't mind) and opened pen so Sam could come out. I watched super close, with spare hands ready, but Sam just walked up, asked for a groom, then started grooming Lady. Then Sam sniffed around and checked out all the places Lady had been, and Lady checked out Sams house.

Sam has stopped territorial pooping, but Lady hasn't >.< that was the main reason I separated them last night, because I don't think Lady is in looove yet. They hung out in the bedroom for a couple of hours, both in Sams pen (which she was ok with, no grunting or stressed posture) and then Lady led them down the hall and they checked out Ladys area. Sam went to the rug and flopped, Lady flopped about 4 feet away. I watched and read for about 30 minutes then separated them for the night.I put Sam in her pen by the bed, but she kept sitting by the door and giving me a look (ok not really but I *totally* felt the sadness haha) so I let her out for the night and she ran down the hall and laid by the gate that separates them. I'm not sure how long or anything either of them were down there

And now we're back in the kitchen. For another long day of bonding...

Apparently I'm a bunny too

So on a whim, I was like, you know what, maybe if Lady sees me grooming Sam, she'll be like, ohhh duh!

So I got down on the ground and Sam came over (shes been super happy lately) and I gave her a couple pets so she put her head all the way down for groomies, and then I "groomed" her with my nose and gave her kisses. Immediately Lady came over and watched us for a second, then scooched in and groomed Lady for a few minutes!!!! <3 <3 <3

Bahaha OH NO.

Apparently Lady grooming Sam back finally...means Sam wants to be the dominant one. Lady was dead bunny flopped against the wall, Sam went and groomed her, then went behind and humped her!! Poor Lady jumped awake and shot off. No scuffles though. I've never seen Sam hump anything!!!

Oh my goodness! LOL

Do bunnies spend 100% of time together if they are bonded?

I would say if they are spending 100% of the time together with no problems, they are bonded. They will continue to cement their relationship but no fighting, sharing food, litter box, etc...to me that's bonded!

Well I think they are bonded! Tonight will be their first night over night, but they've had full reign of the house for 3 days now and there hasn't been any fights. They aren't attached at the hip, but they spend probably half the day together running around and sleeping. They share litter boxes ( even at the same time haha) hay, salads and pellets, only separated for a few hours at night and even then Sam usually sleeps by the gate. Crossing my fingers!!!

Congratulations! This is very exciting for you! I hope all continues going well! Sending (((bonding vibes)))!!!!

We had an overnight success!! Sam is still trying to hump lady, which is annoying, but lady just moves away.

How is the bonding going now??

We're very bonded here! The humping has pretty much stopped, and they are close Lady still isn't litterboxed trained while in her pen, she poops everywhere >.< I'm hoping that'll fade with time/ and or when we move.

Yay! That's great. So glad that is done.