bonding and forgetting

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This topic has 8sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 3 months ago by DanaNM.

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- 01/09/2018 at 8:29 PM
  mowingmylawn
  Participant
  52 posts
  hello everyone! i posted on another forum a while back w questions about my rabbits! they are two boys and they started fighting so i seperated them. and im not sure if they forgot about eachother? how would i know that? i just got them neutered today! so when should i start bonding?
- 01/09/2018 at 8:40 PM
  Muchelle
  Participant
  1141 posts
  You need to keep them completely separated for 1-2 months, until all hormones are out of their systems, then you can start the bonding process ^^
- 01/09/2018 at 8:42 PM
  mowingmylawn
  Participant
  52 posts
  okay thank you! are there any signs that shows that rabbits have forgotten about eachother? i currently have one cage covered with a blanked could i maybe uncover it so they can see eachother?
- 01/09/2018 at 9:10 PM
  Muchelle
  Participant
  1141 posts
  I have a solo bun so I’m not an expert, but I think you should give them separate spaces to be and roam, so that there won’t be hormonal behaviour if they smell each other. While waiting for more experienced members to respond, do have a look at the topics in this section for more info
- 01/09/2018 at 9:19 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  8935 posts
  Hi there, how long have they been separated?
  
  In any case, I would keep them separate for another 6 weeks while their hormones drain, then do pre-bonding for a month (cage swaps ever day or every other day, but not actual bonding sessions). During pre-bonding they should be able to see each other but not contact each other. At this stage you will prob be able to get a sense as to whether they are still holding grudges about the fight, based on how they behave towards each other through the barrier.
  
  It prob seems like a long time to wait, but after a fight, the more pre-bonding you do, the better. You want them to learn that the other bunny is not a threat and can be trusted, so pre-bonding really helps with that.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/09/2018 at 9:32 PM
  mowingmylawn
  Participant
  52 posts
  they have been seperated for about two weeks now. im only able to keep them in my room and i switch them out with the playpen. sadly im pretty sure they can smell eachother but im not 100%. they act completely normal with no hovering where they can be closest to the cage. they are always chill and have flopped a few times, stretched out, their eating habits are the same and its just how a normal bunny would do. im very careful on being sure they dont see eachother.
- 01/09/2018 at 11:02 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  8935 posts
  Ah, OK! Well I’m not sure how bad the fight was, but it’s usually recommended to take a 2-3 month break when a fight occurs that is bad enough to break skin or injures a rabbit.
  
  So, if they were scuffling a little and you stopped it before it got too bad (maybe just some fur pulled?), I would just keep them separate for 6 weeks more until they settle after their neuter, then follow the pre-bonding steps I mentioned already. But, IF one of them was hurt in the fight (even just broken skin that scabbed from a bite), then I would give it another 8-12 weeks before starting pre-bonding.
  
  As hard as it can be to be patient, these early steps can be really important for success later.
  
  It sounds like you are doing the best you can in the situation you have!
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
- 01/09/2018 at 11:20 PM
  mowingmylawn
  Participant
  52 posts
  nothing was very bad, they were chasing and immediately got up to check what was happening, i found fur so definitely some pulling. i watched them carefully and tried to calm them down so i was forced to seperate them and here we are. i believe the bonding will be easy as the fight wasnt bad and i seperated them just in time. there was same amounts of fur from both of them so i assume one isnt dominate over the other
- 01/09/2018 at 11:45 PM
  DanaNM
  Moderator
  8935 posts
  Ah, OK, that’s good you were home to stop it before someone got hurt!
  
  Then yeah, I think after the 6 weeks + 1 month pre-bonding you should be good to start sessions.
  
  . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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