Possibly looking to adopt another rabbit

[Vh621]

So I have a two year old female named Midnight that I adopted 10 months ago. For some strange reason I don’t feel like one is enough (even though she’s a handful?) and I really want to adopt another one. But before I make a speed dating appt. or make any definitive decisions, I do have some questions and concerns that I’d liked answered and to know the opinions of some of the more experienced rabbit owners out there(if you guys don’t mind?).

Question 1. I’ve been surfing through some of the posts and I’ve come across something called marathon bonding, and was just curious as to what that was? I tried to research it but couldn’t find anything that explains it in detail.

Question 2. I know when bonding people talk about confining and separating both rabbits at first but my rabbit’s free roam would or should I keep her locked in her pen during the bonding process?

Question 3. This question might be a bit on the selfish side but I love our snuggling sessions?. Anyway if the rabbit bonds with another rabbit would that cause her to not want or seek affection from me anymore. For instance Midnight will jump on my bed and snuggle with me, would that be something not to expect anymore once she bonds with another bunny?

If there’s anything else you guys would like to add that you feel I ahould know, please free to share. I will greatly appreciate it.

Thanks?

[SeeShmemilyPlay]

Well, I can’t answer for the first two but can answer for the last question: in my experience, once a snuggle bunny, always a snuggle bunny! I got Eve as a lil baby and she went from being terrified of everyone and everything to the sweetest lil thing in a couple months. She would jump up and sit with me, let me pet her head, etc etc. When I got Theo, Eve was nooooot happy about it and actually started pulling away. It felt like I’d lost all bonding progress I’d made with her for myself. But once her and Theo were totally bonded and she was comfortable in her own house again, she was actually even sweeter and snugglier than before! So I would say, expect a rough patch (bonding is always a tough thing to get through), but in the end, it might even make your bun even snugglier with you

[sarahthegemini]

Marathon bonding is basically putting the rabbits together and supervising them 24/7 until they are bonded. Gina on here has answered a lot of my questions about marathon bonding and I believe she bonded two of hers in 4 days with this method! I have no experience with bonding (yet! I’m starting today) but I believe marathon bonding definitely has its place. It depends on the personalities of the rabbits involved of course – if they are wanting to kill each other, if they’re too stressed to eat etc then marathon bonding isn’t going to work. At least not right away. If they’re getting on well and eating okay, I see no reason to stop at 10 minute sessions.

[Vh621]

Posted By SeeShmemilyPlay on 1/14/2017 5:59 PM
Well, I can’t answer for the first two but can answer for the last question: in my experience, once a snuggle bunny, always a snuggle bunny! I got Eve as a lil baby and she went from being terrified of everyone and everything to the sweetest lil thing in a couple months. She would jump up and sit with me, let me pet her head, etc etc. When I got Theo, Eve was nooooot happy about it and actually started pulling away. It felt like I’d lost all bonding progress I’d made with her for myself. But once her and Theo were totally bonded and she was comfortable in her own house again, she was actually even sweeter and snugglier than before! So I would say, expect a rough patch (bonding is always a tough thing to get through), but in the end, it might even make your bun even snugglier with you

Wow that’s really interesting! Tbh I was pretty worried about it, while I really want another rabbit I’m not sure I’d want to sacrifice my own bond with her. That really helps a lot so thank you?.

[Vh621]

Posted By sarahthegemini on 1/15/2017 5:40 AM
Marathon bonding is basically putting the rabbits together and supervising them 24/7 until they are bonded. Gina on here has answered a lot of my questions about marathon bonding and I believe she bonded two of hers in 4 days with this method! I have no experience with bonding (yet! I’m starting today) but I believe marathon bonding definitely has its place. It depends on the personalities of the rabbits involved of course – if they are wanting to kill each other, if they’re too stressed to eat etc then marathon bonding isn’t going to work. At least not right away. If they’re getting on well and eating okay, I see no reason to stop at 10 minute sessions.

Thanks for the info, so it’s kind of like putting the bonding on hyper-drive. That does sound like a good way to go assuming the bunnies are getting along. Good luck with your rabbits by the way.

[Gina.Jenny]

Gina and Podge were marathon bonded in four days. I think it worked for them cos they basically were ok together, they just needed to suss out who was going to be top bun. It saves going through the reintroduction every time, worth a few nights sleep to fast track the bonding and get the buns happily moved in together!!

[Vh621]

Posted By Gina.Jenny on 1/15/2017 9:54 AM
Gina and Podge were marathon bonded in four days. I think it worked for them cos they basically were ok together, they just needed to suss out who was going to be top bun. It saves going through the reintroduction every time, worth a few nights sleep to fast track the bonding and get the buns happily moved in together!!

Wow four days thats fast! So you just stick them in a pen and watch them for a few days? You don’t move them or let them out of that space? If that’s the case I’m assuming this is not a good route to go if you work?

[Vienna Blue in France]

My friend’s buns were bonded in 3 days…. she was surprised mine took so long….. hahahaha !!!!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Vh621. Never never ever leave unbonded bunnies together unsupervised…. so if you need to go to work, they’ll need to be separated whilst you are absent

[Vh621]

Posted By Vienna Blue in France on 1/15/2017 4:09 PM
Vh621. Never never ever leave unbonded bunnies together unsupervised…. so if you need to go to work, they’ll need to be separated whilst you are absent

Yea, I figured?, thats why I wondered about marathon bonding cause they said it’s 24/7. But in any case I’m going to keep doing research, keep learning all I can till I feel I’m ready to take on the challenge lol.

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I really appreciate it?

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