There were several factors.
- Both Bailey and Rucy have health issues that with age AND stress put them at risk for things getting worse. Bonding is very stressful for these two.
- Rucy's spunky independent attitude was squelched by Bailey's bossy attitude, and I just didn't feel like Rucy was as happy anymore. She definitely is happier not to have Bailey boss her around.
- Bailey has ecuniculi, and I'm tired of seeing this disease spread from rabbit to rabbit. (Rucy has tested positive, but the titre levels are so low that it may ONLY be due to exposure) I hope so.
But IF they were not each dealing with the health issues, I may have tried just one more time to see if Bailey could learn to be less bossy.
Before I knew Bailey for sure had e.cuniculi (not that she had just been exposed) I did try to bond them once before (not shown in journals) - and they both hated each other so much that all they wanted to do was kill each other. Kill each other during car rides, kill each other in a carrier as we walked around the block. The earth could be falling apart and they would have never noticed, but then slowly over six months, they learned to tolerate each other. I stil had to make sure they each had their own box and hidey house within the same space.
Then when their male buddy, Forrest, died, (of complications due to e.cuniculi) they were much more easy going with each other. Then I adopted Jack and brought him into the mix, and they got along with Jack, but then Bailey started chasing Rucy around again, and Jack then in turn would chase Bailey for chasing Rucy - it was a mean bunny train. So I started focusing on the two of them again, and though they tolerated each other, this is when I decided Rucy wasn't happy. She would be passive and submit, but she just wasn't happy. All and all the total of bonding ended up being over eight months - 6 months the first time, and 2 months the second time.
So minus their health issues, I could have forced them together, and Rucy would have most likely submitted, but she wouldn't have been happy, and I determined as well, that even for myself, this was enough time and stress that I put into bonding. It would be much easier though to have them together, not deal with poop wars, and allow them more freedom (right now they have separate times out) but that is still easier than trying to bond them night after night for eight months and only see tolerance of each other.
In the future I would only consider bonding them again IF Jack passed away, and Rucy for sure had e.cuniculi, and they got along like they did when there wasn't a male in the mix.
The goofy thing is they like to lie near each other, eat near each other via their separation fencing. Bailey and Rucy used to fight with each other through the fencing, and many "stink eyes" were given, but as Bailey's health declined, she now seems to enjoy the company, and is able to sniff them, feel their warmth as she lies next to Rucy or Jack, but life is miserable if they meet even my chance without the fencing.
I think with bonding, if it ends up being too stressful for the human, then that will reflect down into the bonding sessions. I know after months of working at it, my energy of "CAN"T YOU JUST GET ALONG!" started seeping into the bonding sessions. And some bunnies just are better off not being forced together. ;( I know that gravehearted also has a pair and a single and may also be of help.