Shakira, welldone on sorting out their base
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With regards to keeping separate I am actually familiar with this. When I just had Lola and we got Max, I didn't know about RU, I didn't know about the bonding process, but I knew to neuter my bunnies. My bunnies were kept separately but for play time, they never chased, never fought, snuggled up and groomed. We separated on an evening because quite simply at the time the nighttime base back then wasn't big enough for two bunnies imo. After finding RU I found out about bonding properly and because of Lola and Max's regular outings together it was a breeze, no fights, no nothing, and never in their bonded life were there any issues; the most loved up bunny couple I'd ever and have ever encountered. So for me Lola and Max were bonded in this method.
Mimah and Brian the standard bonding procedure.
Lenny and Betty the standard bonding procedure.
Mimah and Roger was a long bond, we tried standard it didn't work, we had two large enclosures pen and cage next to each other whilst bonding. We used a method by which they had to get used to each other because the standard lead to nipping and a little fur pulling as well as head humping from Jemimah. We made it so their playout time was together and their bed time was apart, this way they had to tolerate each other and get used to each other, the space didn't make a difference, a smaller enclosed space for them made things more difficult during bonding, an open room worked. They soon learnt that 'play out' time was always going to be with the other and now they're inseparable almost 1 year and a half on, no humping from either party.
I think you have to be open minded, just because something isn't done to standard procedure doesn't mean it's wrong, it I'd have gone standard with Mimes and Roger I'm not sure they would be 'happy' and just bonding for the sake of it, I know they're not doing that using the method I used.
Lenny and Betty live with my MiL, they are temperamental buns who have the occassional tiff, Lenny is toothless and always the angry of the two, I tried to make it a long bond but location, time allowance with university for me and Mil needing a quick bond made things difficult, they generally are happy with each other.
My standard procedure bond for Mimah and Brian was a dream, it went brilliantly and they adored each other. What works for some bunnies won't work for all.
:wave: