More bonding questions - Paw Talk

Luckybunny · #1 11-16-2007, 06:44 PM

We have been bonding our bunnies for about a month now...in between renovations and being so busy...they have been getting together every two days or so. All the books say there will be mounting going on to decipher who will be boss. Well none of that has been going on. Lucky will tolerate the young one Molly for about 40 minutes or so and then his body language tells us he has had enough so we end the session. Last night, Molly was as usual and always subordinate...head down just waiting for some kind of grooming to go on for most of the session...then she was trying to root under him like "hey I've been waiting and waiting for you to notice me"...then she got up...started digging on his back...then mounted him and started the motion. I let her get on twice and then ended the session. Lucky thumped...not sure if he was mad at me for interupting this or if he was angry with her for doing that. What can we expect in our next session. Has anyone had this happen where roles changed...she is hitting the three month age...did her hormones suddenly kick in?

Cazsamps · #2 11-16-2007, 06:53 PM

I have no idea on your situation! It was really easy to bond my bunnies they were only apart for 1 night!! They get on perfectly and love eachother so much. I had no fights on the first meet and after the 2nd meet they were together permanently!! They do have a bit of mounting from time to time but both of them do it to eachother. They are going to be neutered next month as they will both be nearly 6 months so i am hoping that solves that issue!!

Luckybunny · #3 11-16-2007, 07:24 PM

We tried another session today. They got in a scrap 3 times in about 15 minutes. Should we keep at it even though they are fighting. Their fights aren't major but I wonder if it would set them back more to keep at it longer. They did share a few content moments snuggling. I just don't want them to get hurt.

torigrrrl · #4 11-17-2007, 10:13 AM

Some bunnies take only seconds to fall in love,others never do,but for the most it takes awhilemonth or longer. Get a bottle of water so if they really start fighting you can spray them right between the eyes, they will stop. Don't give up, sounds like your off to a great start.

**Dragonrain** · #5 11-17-2007, 10:45 AM

Where are their cages set up? If you haven't done this already, I would put the two cages next to each other so they get use to each others smell and get use to the other one always being around.

Have you ever tried the car ride trick? Sometimes being in a stressful situation together can help them bond, they put aside their diffrences to comfort each other. You put them together in the same carrier, and either take them for a short car ride, or put the carrier on top of the drier while it's running. Not for too long though.

Here are some links that might help:

Bonding

Bonding When the Going Gets Rough

It does sound like your at least making progress. Remember that the more they can see/smell each other the better. If you wait to long between bonding sessions, then the next time you put them together can be like starting all over again. If you can't get them out together everyday, at least keep the cages next to each other.

If they start fighting too much and it worries you, you could consider stopping the bonding sessions for awhile (still keep the cages near each other, just don't let them out together) and wait till after Molly is spayed and a little older to introduce them again. It might make a diffrence, it might not.

Good luck!

Jess · #6 11-17-2007, 11:48 AM

I dont know if this will help but when I was bonding my gpigs, I had them eat a salad together every morning and let them play together out side so there where no territory issues. Sometimes I let my bunny Smudge play with them to as a "peacekeeper" lol. And I always bathes them together to help them bond. I havent tried this on rabbits yet but it worked well for my piggies and Id say its worth a try!

Luckybunny · #7 11-17-2007, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the encouragment. Lucky and Molly have been living next to each other in separate cages. They are let out separately to play. So far, each other's scent in the play area does not seem to be a concearn...they are not leaving droppings. The only thing that is different in their bonding sessions is the carpet we are using so Lucky can feel stable...he cannot walk on flooring. Perhaps that is why he is quicker to respond to what he dislikes from Molly. In the last couple of days Molly seems to be a bit physcho in her cage. She tries to escape now. She can undo the clips holding her door shut. We have that solved now. We have not tried the car ride trip yet. I don't think it would phase Molly at all. Even the trip down to the basement for Lucky is probably stressfull enough for him. We have to trap him in a "cube" of cage panels to take him anywhere...there is no way of catching and carrying him...maybe we should put them both in there to take them to the basement.

Luckybunny · #8 11-17-2007, 11:23 PM

Dragonrain, you brought up the subject of spaying. When we do get her fixed...and they have (by miracle) bonded by then...would they need to be separated again after surgery. And what age are spays generally done? I thought I read 6 months.

torigrrrl · #9 11-18-2007, 06:30 AM

Six months is the norm........You might also want to try swithching their cages........so they would have to smell each other...I've seen this work myself.....

Luckybunny · #10 11-18-2007, 05:20 PM

The last 2 bonding sessions have gone great!! They spent 1 hour and then 1 1/2 hours together with no squabbles. Lucky is going to Molly for snuggles. They shared a litter box and hay. At this point do we try them together in their shared play area or still keep it up in the neutral zone. Thanks for your advice everyone.

Ruckus_in_KY · #11 11-18-2007, 05:45 PM

great for you! I have two rabbits once that i tryed to bond for 10 months. every day i worked with them, and the last time one was injured so bad it had to have stitches! so i ended up giving the other one to a freind.

Luckybunny · #12 11-20-2007, 08:21 PM

Amanda...did your bunnies fight a lot during bonding times or was this just a out of the blue attack?

Luckybunny · #13 11-26-2007, 09:07 PM

Update...bonding has been going really well. They play together fine at least until Molly starts mounting....but still not that serious of an issue. Well we tried bonding in the play area outside their cages and Lucky panics because his door is shut...because we are not sure of the territory issue. As it turns out...he doesn't seem to care if she has been in his cage and vice versa. The other day I decided I would let them play together and open his door every time he came near it...except Molly was too close this one time and I shut it quickly...he ran to her cage in a panic...she came in and he freaked out. They were fighting...going in circles...fur was flying!!! They have been ignoring each other in their cages. I guess it is back to the bathroom for bonding. It is getting pretty boring sitting in there for 2 hours at a time.