Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING pre-owned bunny bonding

Viewing 5 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • lil_ginger_42
      Participant
      27 posts Send Private Message

        Hey all, I just adopted two new male rabbits about 2 years old. They were neglected by their previous owners  I know how to bond with younger rabbits but I wanted to know if there was maybe something to bonding with older rabbits who have already had owners before? They are pretty apathetic about most things, not too scared. I’ve been trying to give them some space to settle in. I talk to them and occasionally pet them. I just dont know if it will be harder to bond a rabbit that has already been mistreated… Any thoughts?


      • Bam
        Moderator
        16836 posts Send Private Message

          Hi! I moved your Q to the bonding-section, since this is the best place for bonding questions.

          First of all, are the boys neutered? If not, don’t try to bond them until they are neutered and a month has passed. Adult intact males may be very, very hard to bond, and if they start off with fighting, bonding may not be possible even after they’ve been neutered.

          We have many members who have successfully bonded adult buns, so it can absolutely be done, but it has lots to do with the bunnies’ personalities of course. That your bunnies are apathetic now will probably change once they understand they’re in a safe place now and nothing bad will happen to them. This may take some time though. Thank you for taking them in! I hope you’ll get lots of answers from experienced bonders here!


        • lil_ginger_42
          Participant
          27 posts Send Private Message

            Oh no lol! I’m sorry I should have been more specific! I meant for the bunnies to bond with a human! Sorry I didn’t realise that the question didn’t fully ask what I meant for it to


          • Gina.Jenny
            Participant
            2244 posts Send Private Message

              I’m currently bonding with our second and third rescue buns. Our first was an adult, who had come from a very bad place, and she took some time to trust her new human family. The current two are younger and are settling in much faster. The best way I’ve found, is to hold in yr hand a small portion of something they do or may find tasty, and sit very sit somewhere they can slowly come to you, in their own time. Try different things, til you find a favourite. I make a special whistle that says I have food, not too loud til they get used to what it means!

              Once one of them gets used to coming for food, try very slowly moving yr other hand, so you can very gently rub behind the ears, or down the top of the nose. Over time, they will realise you are safe, and the bond will develop as their trust in you does. Let them set the pace!


            • Bam
              Moderator
              16836 posts Send Private Message

                Lilginger, it’s quite possible for an older bun to bond with a new human! I found my bunny Bam in the woods where his previous owner had discarded him, perhaps because he had fur mites or maybe for some other reason, I will never know, of course. He was an adult and it did take a long time to gain his trust, but then he became positively addicted to cuddling


              • lil_ginger_42
                Participant
                27 posts Send Private Message

                  Thank you all! I figured it was possible but just thought I’d get some advice for it

              Viewing 5 reply threads
              • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

              Forum BONDING pre-owned bunny bonding