Hi all, looking for some tips and advice, for a first-time bonder, please!
I have 3 boys, all currently living separately, who I'd love to have bonded into a trio. Ideally, I'm hoping to have them all outside in a walk-in aviary +hutch.
I've two brothers - William, and Jack, who live outside in side-by-side hutch/run combos. Their runs are about 20cms apart, so they're close, but can't touch. I rescued them from bad conditions, where they'd lived for 3 years unneutered. While they gained weight to be neutered, William grew territorial and started to chase Jack, and keep him cornered in the hutch, and so they were separated. I've no reason to believe that it escalated to fighting. They're both about a year post-neuter now.
I also have my stray bun, Henry, who is inside in my (blooming cold) spare room. I was told Henry has previously lived with other rabbits. Henry has just passed his 6 week post-neuter.
William is about 2.2kg, Jack is around 1.9-2kg, and Henry is about 2.5kg (but still gaining). William was the dominant bun over Jack, and Henry is very outgoing and demanding of attention. Henry is pretty desperate for company, so I'm hoping he and William won't have power-squabbles, or that I might make a pairing with Henry/Jack, if the two brothers won't go back together.
For neutral territory, I have either my kitchen or hallway, which are both cold and narrow spaces, so easy to erect a penned area. I had been using my puppy panels in Henry's room, I assume I can wash them down with watered vinegar to neutralise them alright?
I wondered about food/water/litter in the bonding area - Jack is not a big hay eater (I supplement him with Fiba First sticks), and Henry has been on double pellets to help his weight gain, and only eats Readigrass over hay. Do you think it'd be too fight-provoking to scatter feed any pellets, or should it be a mixed pile of hay/Readigrass only? I have a large, neutral litter tray ready, or would it cause arguments? I can put puppy pads down, and the floors are tiled. Henry has also never learnt to drink from a water bottle, and only uses a bowl, whereas the other boys only use bottles - I foresee much spilled water in my future!
Henry has also shown that puppy panels are easy to hop over (apparently he's half-wild), so I plan on doubling them in height. Which I guess means sitting in the area with them, to quickly separate if necessary?
This is all I have for now, I'm sure I'll think of more questions! I just want to get everything in place before I begin anything - I don't want to spoil it before they've had a chance! I'd prefer to do the bonding in the spare room, as it's larger, empty, and self-contained, but I think even if I scrub it to within an inch, it'll still be too much 'Henry's space'.
I have 3 boys, all currently living separately, who I'd love to have bonded into a trio. Ideally, I'm hoping to have them all outside in a walk-in aviary +hutch.
I've two brothers - William, and Jack, who live outside in side-by-side hutch/run combos. Their runs are about 20cms apart, so they're close, but can't touch. I rescued them from bad conditions, where they'd lived for 3 years unneutered. While they gained weight to be neutered, William grew territorial and started to chase Jack, and keep him cornered in the hutch, and so they were separated. I've no reason to believe that it escalated to fighting. They're both about a year post-neuter now.
I also have my stray bun, Henry, who is inside in my (blooming cold) spare room. I was told Henry has previously lived with other rabbits. Henry has just passed his 6 week post-neuter.
William is about 2.2kg, Jack is around 1.9-2kg, and Henry is about 2.5kg (but still gaining). William was the dominant bun over Jack, and Henry is very outgoing and demanding of attention. Henry is pretty desperate for company, so I'm hoping he and William won't have power-squabbles, or that I might make a pairing with Henry/Jack, if the two brothers won't go back together.
For neutral territory, I have either my kitchen or hallway, which are both cold and narrow spaces, so easy to erect a penned area. I had been using my puppy panels in Henry's room, I assume I can wash them down with watered vinegar to neutralise them alright?
I wondered about food/water/litter in the bonding area - Jack is not a big hay eater (I supplement him with Fiba First sticks), and Henry has been on double pellets to help his weight gain, and only eats Readigrass over hay. Do you think it'd be too fight-provoking to scatter feed any pellets, or should it be a mixed pile of hay/Readigrass only? I have a large, neutral litter tray ready, or would it cause arguments? I can put puppy pads down, and the floors are tiled. Henry has also never learnt to drink from a water bottle, and only uses a bowl, whereas the other boys only use bottles - I foresee much spilled water in my future!
Henry has also shown that puppy panels are easy to hop over (apparently he's half-wild), so I plan on doubling them in height. Which I guess means sitting in the area with them, to quickly separate if necessary?
This is all I have for now, I'm sure I'll think of more questions! I just want to get everything in place before I begin anything - I don't want to spoil it before they've had a chance! I'd prefer to do the bonding in the spare room, as it's larger, empty, and self-contained, but I think even if I scrub it to within an inch, it'll still be too much 'Henry's space'.
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