Bonding question...help!

I have took in a bunny that used to be in a pair, but the male died a few months ago and the owner doesn't want her anymore. I have taken her in and am trying to bond her to my male for the first time. They have just had their 5th meeting. I think it is going well ?(no fighting} My question is ... she mounts him alot but also scratches his back while doing so. He lays very flat on the ground and doesnt move. I have read hundreds of advice sites but does this mean the bonding will fail? on all the other meets they have also lay side by side, I also have another male/female bonded pair but they were already together when they came from the RSPCA.

Thanks for any help:

Hello and welcome to the forum [emoji3]

I have a pair of bunnies who have been bonded together for over a year. They are absolutely devoted to each other and the male bun does exactly the same as you describe above to his wife bun while she just lies very flat (this is one of the reasons I trim nails so regularly!). To be honest I've no idea what it means but it doesn't seem to have any effect on their bond so I wouldn't think your bunnies bond is doomed to fail because of this.

Good luck with the bonding, it does sound like it's going well so far. [emoji106]



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chocolate70 said:

I have took in a bunny that used to be in a pair, but the male died a few months ago and the owner doesn't want her anymore. I have taken her in and am trying to bond her to my male for the first time. They have just had their 5th meeting. I think it is going well ?(no fighting} My question is ... she mounts him alot but also scratches his back while doing so. He lays very flat on the ground and doesnt move. I have read hundreds of advice sites but does this mean the bonding will fail? on all the other meets they have also lay side by side, I also have another male/female bonded pair but they were already together when they came from the RSPCA.

Thanks for any help:

Click to expand...

Hi there and welcome to the Forum :wave:

I personally don't do 'date' bonding - I just put them together full time and watch like a hawk You'll have to put them together at some stage to find out if it's going to work.

However, nothing you've said suggests to me that the bonding will fail. Not at all! The fact that he doesn't fight back is a big plus. I have my theories as to why a female rabbit exhibits the behaviour you describe

So I know you've read loads of stuff, but just in case there might be something you've missed, here's my little library of gems:


http://rabbit.org/the-most-important-word-in-bonding-is-patience/

http://rabbit.org/introducing-rabbits-in-a-group-situation/

http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/information/bonding-bunnies/ (good for pair bonding)

http://www.fatfluffs.com/info/bonding/

http://www.actionforrabbits.co.uk/bonding.html


Book in RWAF shop:

https://shop.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/product/bonding-rabbits-by-fiona-campbell/



Mischief and Tinker’s Mum
http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?462466-How-I-bonded-my-trios-videos!

(some contradictory advice, but that's the way of all things, isn't it!)

Thank you so much for your replies. I feel better now knowing im not doing anything that will hurt my bunnies, so looking forward to day 5 of bonding. Im letting them spen as much time as possible together today.

chocolate70 said:

Thank you so much for your replies. I feel better now knowing im not doing anything that will hurt my bunnies, so looking forward to day 5 of bonding. Im letting them spen as much time as possible together today.

Click to expand...

I look forward to hearing now you get on

content://media/external/file/2540