First day of bonding!

[Pearlandgravel]

I’ve begun bonding my rabbits today (pearl and gravel) there in a small square cage, neutered area with hay! There completely ignoring each other and acting as if they where already bonded I’m very confused and was expecting a different reaction! My male bunny has been asking for grooms and lying next to her there both eating food together I’m very pleased with how it’s going! I’m a bit confused on how I carry on the bonding like how long do I do this for in a day and they won’t lose progress if I separate them? When they are bonded do they need a complete new area to live in so it’s neutered? Thank you

 

[Omi]

Is this the first occasion that they have seen each other or have they been living side-by-side? I would certainly carry on with everything the same for a while longer. It looks positive in that there is no aggression, although the grey bunny (is this Gravel?) looks quite wary to me. I think I would try to cause some interaction between the two of them, perhaps with some food put deliberately between them.

Also not every bond will proceed along the same lines and you sometimes just have to react to what you are observing from the bunnies. It's usually recommended to start with a small space, but some bonds can be achieved with a larger area. It's mainly up to you whether you separate them for a while, although usually that will mean that the bunnies start almost from scratch again with their assessment of each other. When they are bonded I assume you will put them in their long-term space, which would be safer if it wasn't somewhere that either bunny had lived previously.

I'm aware this sounds as though I haven't really given you a definitive answer to your questions, but that's really because there is no fail-safe method to bond two bunnies Good luck though, it does seem positive at the moment.

 

[Pearlandgravel]

Is this the first occasion that they have seen each other or have they been living side-by-side? I would certainly carry on with everything the same for a while longer. It looks positive in that there is no aggression, although the grey bunny (is this Gravel?) looks quite wary to me. I think I would try to cause some interaction between the two of them, perhaps with some food put deliberately between them.

Also not every bond will proceed along the same lines and you sometimes just have to react to what you are observing from the bunnies. It's usually recommended to start with a small space, but some bonds can be achieved with a larger area. It's mainly up to you whether you separate them for a while, although usually that will mean that the bunnies start almost from scratch again with their assessment of each other. When they are bonded I assume you will put them in their long-term space, which would be safer if it wasn't somewhere that either bunny had lived previously.

I'm aware this sounds as though I haven't really given you a definitive answer to your questions, but that's really because there is no fail-safe method to bond two bunnies Good luck though, it does seem positive at the moment.

Thanks for the reply! They are still together now and have been doing everything together not a single fight! Yes they have been living side by side for around 6weeks. gravel is a very anxious rabbit he got quite scared from being moved from upstairs to down stairs that’s the reason he looked wary! I scattered lettuce and carrot and bits of banana they had no problem sharing. I was planning on putting them in each others cages today for the night then tomorrow bringing them downstairs again but making the area bigger and continuing that until I’m happy for them to live together. I’m new to rabbits and bunnies I just don’t want to make the wrong move! With that plan I’ve made could it cause any unwanted aggression from either of them? I’m hoping from switching them between there cages I can hopefully put them both there when there bonded as it is my only space for them! Thank you

 

[joey&boo]

Sometimes you just get lucky & bunnies just get on together from the get go. I hope you have this My first & third bunny bonds were "love at first sight" - subsequent bonds have been more mixed. It'd be nice to see some grooming. Bonding styles & advice varies so much. I like the 12 hours with no "bad" behaviour before leaving them unattended. If you feel they are secure in their love you can probably pop them in their permanent home, just supervise carefully with any such changes. Well done Gravel & Pearl - you've been nice & polite bunnies keep up the good work.

I'd go easy (not bother) with the banana & carrot, they are considered bunny junk food

 

[Shimmer]

Changing things everyday can just unsettle them and takes the focus away from securing the bond as one or both try to make sense of the everchanging surroundings. I tend to leave things as they are for at least a few days, preferably a week, then increase space if there have been no real scuffles. Scattering food (eg pellets) and adding piles of hay or greens is ok as it makes them explore a bit more without primarily worrying about interacting with each other. At some point there will be some chasing, humping or fur pulling, but they need to be left to sort out where they stand with each other as far as possible. It's a judgement call at that point - ie when is it too much and bordering on a fight and they need time out, or if it's part of normal bonding and you've just got to brave it out. Each time they are separated means they have to take a step backwards in the relationship and get over whatever the issue was before moving on (if they were getting too iffy), or re-establish where they were (eg if you separated them more for your covenience / nerves / because you needed some sleep). There are no fixed 'rules', but you don't want to leave them together if there's a locked-on fight looming.

Wishing you all the luck for a peaceful bond.

 

[Pearlandgravel]

Sometimes you just get lucky & bunnies just get on together from the get go. I hope you have this My first & third bunny bonds were "love at first sight" - subsequent bonds have been more mixed. It'd be nice to see some grooming. Bonding styles & advice varies so much. I like the 12 hours with no "bad" behaviour before leaving them unattended. If you feel they are secure in their love you can probably pop them in their permanent home, just supervise carefully with any such changes. Well done Gravel & Pearl - you've been nice & polite bunnies keep up the good work.

I'd go easy (not bother) with the banana & carrot, they are considered bunny junk food

I’m so shocked at how well it went I was just waiting for a fight I’m thinking of doing a neutered space getting bigger for a week or less and decide whether I’m ready to move them in together! I’ve put them in each others enclosures hoping to like mix/share there scent so when it comes to it they won’t suddenly fight unless I’m wrong and that’s not how it works! I only give banana and carrot when they do something good I was just so proud of them today!! Thank you

 

[bunny momma]

Just sending you lots of bonding vibes for Pearl and Gravel.

 

[Omi]

How is it going?

 

[Pearlandgravel]

How is it going?

Great! I think it’s called the 24hr method that’s what I’ve gone for, there both in an enclosure all the time together and I will slowly make it bigger and bigger! My male bunny did try and hump my female but she wasn’t having it and he’s never done it again! She have been grooming him non stop and they’ve been cuddling all the time, I’ve seen my female ask for grooms but my male doesn’t do it. I haven't seen a single fight there’s been some tiny like “back off” type of stuff but other than that I’m so shocked at how easy I’ve had it! I prepared myself for the worse which had made me a lot more anxious than needed I’m very happy with the progress and thank you!!!

 

[Omi]

Well done Even with relatively easy bonds, it can still go wrong without careful handling. Hopefully you've got two very happy bunnies now.

 

[Pearlandgravel]

Well done Even with relatively easy bonds, it can still go wrong without careful handling. Hopefully you've got two very happy bunnies now.

My male bunny has only just started to groom my female back and I was wondering if it’s normal for him to groom the eye and the inside of the ear? he’s obsessed with her eyes and ears he won’t groom anything else it just looks so uncomfortable to me thank you

 

[bunny momma]

It is looking very promising! Well done. When it is time, increase space very slowly.

 

[joey&boo]

My male bunny has only just started to groom my female back and I was wondering if it’s normal for him to groom the eye and the inside of the ear? he’s obsessed with her eyes and ears he won’t groom anything else it just looks so uncomfortable to me thank you

well done on your first bunny bond. I'm happy to hear Gravel & Pearl were so co-operative.

Yeah that intense eye grooming is something I see in newly bonded bunnies. I was talking about it on my last bond. It gets less fortunately. Its very unnerving when earlier in the bond they've had fractious moments. The recipient will move away if it gets too much - mine have anyway

 

[Bunnyfan25]

Interesting comment re; aggressive eye grooming as one of mine always does this, seems to enjoy the eye grit/sleep - eating it! always has done. As they're brothers I assumed was a motherly thing from when little?

Also I've seen slow grooming then super fast grooming n cudnt work out why - are they trying to get it over with or just extra energy?

Both with bonder now, fx happy bond within 2wks!

 

[Pearlandgravel]

It is looking very promising! Well done. When it is time, increase space very slowly.

I have fully increased there space now and there doing amazing, chasing has stopped and they just seem so inlove, I’m so greatful at how well this has gone for me!!! But one of the bunnies I’m not sure which one has stopped there potty habits and is pooping everywhere but still weeing in the potty! Is this due to the bonding? Will they start using the potty again?