Pay for bonding 24/7 vs doing it yourself?

Bunnyfan25 said:
How would you deal with this situation differently to help rather than hinder the bond?
Click to expand...
I was afraid you might ask that :D As I said, it's difficult to advise if you don't see the interaction first hand. And I hope that I didn't come across as being critical as I really wasn't.

I have been following your posts and was aware that a similar fight event had occured previously and they seemed to overcome it. I know also that they are going to a bonder after your holiday. How does the bonder plan to get them together? Have you discussed with the bonder what you are doing with them currently?

If I had to choose what I would do differently, then I might have left them completely separate until they went to the bonder, or else I might have had them so they could see and smell, but not touch each other. Only because I would be afraid that a fight might prevent them from ever bonding.

I do understand what you are trying to do. I would just say to be careful to avoid another fight.
 
OK sure sounds good. Part of me wants to wait until September but feel I havd 8wks whereby i can improve the situation.

Obviously don't want to stress them out so wanted to test water today but will wait a few days to go again. doesn't help that its raining constant atm so unable to go in lens opposite each other instead they've been in hutches above each other for the past 3 days. they have been out briefly for an hour or two n they did sit near each other either side so that's good but bad weather is limiting things

Yes I have told her about the fight and progress today haven't heard back yet asto her recommended next steps.
 
My two (elderly buck and middle aged doe) fought when I introduced them about a year ago. They have lived next to each other since then and could see, small and hear each other.

I introduced them in a neutral space the other day and they bonded really well and are now back in a non divided shed living happily together.

If I was you I would be tempted to leave the bonding to the bonder and let your two settle down separately until then.
 
I could do that I guess, I'm concerned though that I'll pay £350 and they'll come back not fully bonded or worse not bonded at all...expensive experiment 🤔

I'm going to put them back out jn opposite ones later this week so they'll be happy with that. I just figured if i do some of the rebounding they have a better chance of bonding well in September...
 
So tried again tonight, started well as white vinegared the seats so was new territory.👍 This time shadow wasn't having any of it! 🙄😬 Washed snowy reluctantly, ignored snowys requests til snowy nipped, its a hierarchy fight all over again! 😒He was like a little boy tbh reaching up, turning around, climbing me and biting me🤔, he did teeth chattering too so think he was stressed, after 30mins called it after some final grooming. They ate hay n treats together but it was sad to see snowy trying so hard to be top bun, maybe the fight was shadow reasserting his position n his reluctance means he wants to be top bun? They did have 2hrs in pens running off steam before this (dryer day) and both seemed to be copying each other, eating near each other same time running then going to sniff each other through wire all looked promising...😐 I'll give it 2 more days try again. I've never had a reluctant bunny that won't sit still though, how would you handle it?
 
I would leave them in their separate areas until they go for bonding, then assess the space that will work when they are together. All that's happening now is that they are getting wound up and taking it out on each other - which will soon reach the point of no return.

Depending on what happens at the bonder, they may either need a smaller floor space with only the basics in it and very slowly expand it (eg with puppy panels), or go straight into their permanent / final space which isn't going to change for them in the immediate future.

In the meantime, they need more space than they've been getting so that they can relax more. Being confined to a hutch for days at a time, or spending hours on a chair being forced to be civil to each other is taking its toll. Let them have some time and space to unwind and just be themselves without the additional stress. If they are OK being able to see and be next to each other with a mesh divider, that's fine.
 
Great news tried again tonight with vanilla essence on their heads, no nipping and both washed each other, ate a treat then wanted fuss from us so gave them individual time fussing us then back in pens. Progress methinks wanted to do longer but thought no quit while ahead finish positive 👍 😀
 
20mins this morning still used vanilla essence but tonight will try without,think it made them more amenable lol. Today they wanted to stay together longer actually relaxed sitting next to each other after both groomed each other,again no nips! Phew! Will continue with no unsupervised til I drop off at bonder,learnt my lesson there lol. They now seem to want to be friends again...
 
So progressing well,moved from two chairs to 1mx 0.5m pen tonight and whilst we had nipping circling and bar biting they did both binky around each other (lovely to see) and a tiny bit of grooming,neither could decide who was alpha,did the stalemate head to head pose then after a while the nipping got worse. not sure if can post video but wud help you to see the before stage. Referreing became fulltime job couldnt record. Eventually had to stop As they were ignoring each other or worse avoiding each other. Did5-10mins I'm chair to get them grooming again which they did.

Despite tonight's success, having doubts about potential success of the bonder - £350 is a lot of money and may not even work but I am unable to commit the time especially the overnight phase andafter tonight think I'd be a heap of stress and tiredness- end up taking it out on them as I'm not the most patient person. But if it doesn't work I'd have wasted a lot of money...do I wait until next summer when they are older, keep separate for now? try myself despite my concerns and time limitations or try with bonder in September n risk the money being wasted if they don't bond? So hard to decide...if u keep doing 1-2hrs per day then not only will I go crazy but they'll take years to bond...
 
I've been following this thread with interest - it's been cool to see the chair method working to some extent.

I think if it were me though, I'd just leave it to the bonder because if I were going to pay to have them bonded anyway, then it sounds like a great way to avoid the hassle of it completely lol.

The 2 weeks at the bonder is where they're actually going to bond. I don't think it really helps to let them spend a bit of time together each day and risk them getting into a fight. I've had pets fight before and hate each other from that moment on. Can't say I blame them either - if a human got into a physical fight and injured me, I doubt I'd ever like or trust them!

There's also the fact that if they fought it could lead to a bad injury, even with quick intervention, because rabbits have very delicate skin. It tears easily. What if they need stitches and it's the weekend and there's no vet available? Or you have to pay a lot to have an emergency vet come in. It could end up being a lot more than the £350 for the bonder.

And if they got injured, it'd probably delay the bonding, since at this point I guess it's only a few weeks until they go in September. So yeah, overall I'd just leave them in pens next to each other until next month when they're able to go be bonded :)
 
Thanks William appreciate the comments. I did ask the bonder and she thought having time together prior was a bonus but maybe not the pen. Would love to hand them over clean everything thoroughly and have an easy transition into forever homes but I doubt I'll be that lucky.

Yes agree re; fighting n delaying things but now when I watch them I'm chairs it's clear shadow is washing cos he feels he has to n nowhere to get away whereas in pen he refused for the most part. When grooming each other I know snowy digs it a lot more than shadow although they have both flopped n binkyied with each other so there must be some mutual friendship building...

Im also prepared to do 24hrs with them on their return to their homes to ensure they settle together for when go to work...that's gonna b a very stressful day for me lol

Did you manage to look at any of the videos? So limiting this site for size and file type but tried to showthe highlights good and bad...
 
OK so spoke with the border n she says video is positive as no serious aggression and due also recommends now stopping the chair bonding til she sees them. Obviously she can't make promises bur she says based on video she thinks they will bond alright...its hard handing over to some1 else but she has far more experience (over 5yrs) and more patience than me 😆
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Sammy&Patch
Opinions on long term foster for older bunny to get out of bunny cycle and how many bonding attempts is too much for a bunny with heart problems?
Replies
6
Views
2K
Sammy&Patch
Sammy&Patch
Pets mum
Been putting this bonding off-but going for it !
Replies
7
Views
2K
Zoobec
Zoobec
Sammy&Patch
Bonding my new bunny with my old, advise please :-)
Replies
10
Views
3K
Sammy&Patch
Sammy&Patch
Back
Top