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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING What now?

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    • lexi
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        It’s my first time bonding. My two, altered, male bunnies are getting along great. Burt is an English Angora and Kip is a little lop (not sure if he is mini or holland) 

        We did some sessions in the tub first, where Kip was really mounty, but no fights. Then we went to a laundry basket and they did well until they figured out they could hop out. Finally I went with a box yesterday that was just big enough for them. They hated it, but settled in and snuggled. Today I put them back in the tub with some hay and they hung out for two hours, no fights, a little chasing, and very little mounting. Both of them groomed each other and took turns flopping. Do I keep going with a few more two hour sessions?  Do I add pellets, litter box, Hidey holes? I’m a little lost, despite it going well. 


      • LittlePuffyTail
        Moderator
        18092 posts Send Private Message

          Sounds like they are doing very well. I suggest you expand the bonding territory. Still neutral, of course but perhaps you could try letting them out in the bathroom or set up an X-pen.

          If you haven’t read them already, there are some great Bonding Tips in the Bunny Info section here on BB.


        • Love4Bunny
          Participant
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            I agree with LittlePuffyTail. I would wait to put hidey houses, etc inside until you know for sure they are bonded (there will be peace in the environments you place them in). However, a little scuffle here and there is normal.


          • lexi
            Participant
            19 posts Send Private Message

              So these guys have spent some more time in neutral territory, then went to semi-neutral, which was my bed. Then they went to Burt’s exercise area. They did great this whole time. Then one day I left Burt’s door to his condo open and Kip hopped in. Burt followed him and just followed him around the condo. Was super chill about being in his space with Kip. No scuffles. He mounted kip twice, but I think it actually balanced out their relationship, Burt is open and kinda a doormat and Kip is bossy. I was expecting to need to make a new condo and i’m really glad it looks like i won’t have to. I am doing a full day in Burt’s house today, I’ll let you know how it goes.

              My only concern is that they aren’t big snugglees. Burt will groom Kip but Kip usually doesn’t groom back. Should i be worried?


            • lexi
              Participant
              19 posts Send Private Message

                I am rescinding my previous concern as I just witnessed them grooming each other. I am declaring these two officially bonded.

                Honestly, These were the easiest bunnies to bond. After Kip was neutered, his mounting was just figuring out who was the boss. i never put them in the same room, so they couldn’t really see each other in between but it worked fine.

                First were two bathtub session after getting neutered that were just Kip mounting and Burt getting irritated. I ended up waiting a little longer to bond for Kip’s hormones to die down. I used a stuffed bunny to see if his mounting urges were still there. Once he didn’t mount the stuffed bunny anymore I knew it was time to reintroduce.

                Did one session with a box that was just big enough for both of them and nothing else. I put a blanket over it so it was dark (made sure there was ventalation) I made a little bunny earthquake every once in a while. this was about 30 minutes

                I did about 5 bathtub sessions ranging from 1-2 hours, never had a scuffle. Had a little chasing (but not circling) and some minor humping. There was banana smashed on heads once so they would groom. I added hay and they were cool with that.

                Then we did one round in Burt’s exercise area. He was definitely the submissive bunny, so being his own territory helped.

                I left the door to Burt’s house open today and Kip moved himself in. Burt did mount him for the first time, which he hasn’t done in other sessions but I think it actually put Kip in his place a little, calmed him down. I watched them from the same room then left them and went into the other room for an hour (within earshot for sure, they play the water bottle mamba to me every night)

                They have been fine all day , 8 hours without any scuffles. They are sharing food, hay, water and space. They are snuggling in short burst and grooming each other. I’ll sleep with my door open but I think we are good.

                I was really scared to bond my bunnies. I had never done it before but it was extremely easy. Honestly I probably could have put them together weeks ago, my class schedule didn’t permit it and i was worried I would go to fast. I didn’t know the bunnies signals. This is probably a story that isn’t the norm, but they were great.


              • Love4Bunny
                Participant
                878 posts Send Private Message

                  That’s good to hear Kip and Burt are bonded. It’s also wise that you went slow. Hopefully, people will have their bunnies for a long time, so there is no need for anyone to rush the bonding process. You did the right thing. My experience is that the shy bunny started to come out of her shell, demanding grooming, but they were bonded well enough to the point that the bossier one groomed back. Humping can also happen occasionally, post-bond.


                • vanessa
                  Participant
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                    I’m so glad it was easy or you. My forst 2 pairs were rediculousely easy. Third pair took 4 months before they could live together, and another 3 months before the nipping and chasing stopped. My bossy one did a lot of nipping and demanding, which annoyed the chill bunny. It took a while for the chill buny to open up and groom the bossy one. Now they are total snuggle bunnies.


                  • LittlePuffyTail
                    Moderator
                    18092 posts Send Private Message

                      That’s great! Thanks for sharing

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                  Forum BONDING What now?