Bonding buns

[Boozena]

I have a male and female (both neutered) that I'd like to bond. Both currently live alone and I'd like them to keep each other company and snuggle up together in the winter.
I've done lots of reading and started putting them next to each other in a run- separated. The female is the feisty one and sometimes pulls a little fur through the bars- asserting?- but this has lessened as they've got used to each other. It's getting to the point where I need to bite the bullet and put them together.
I gather there is a good chance of a bit of fur pulling/aggression as one asserts dominance. This worries me a bit, how do I know if/when it's going too far?
I've had a bad experience of bonding rabbits before (they would never go back together). 4 rabbits in 4 hutches ffs. Any experiences?

Hi Boozena,

I rescue rabbits and have had my fair share of bonded adventures. I find the website www.binkybunny.com really useful, some people runs thread alongside their bonding experience which is useful as it provides tips but can help you realise that you're not doing too badly yourself and most buns take time to bond and set backs are normal.

My advice after doing a large number of bonds is to just let it happen as naturally as possible. The more it is forced, the more stressed the buns (and you) become and the longer it will take.

I would leave then side by side until you see them start to choose to settle next to each other alongside the fence. Feeding them treats side by side (in the run) is a good way to bring them together and for them to have a cheeky sniff of each other too.

I tried all the stress bonding techniques of taking the buns for a drive, carrying them in a box, bath bonding, etc. But it is just not worth it. I had two that I tried everything with, they would bond then kick off and it resulted in injuries for all involved and a lot of stress so I just left them to live separately but with a fence between them and eventually, on their own terms, they begun spending time together. Once it got to the point were one would search for the other if they were out of sight I then let them have a little play together (supervised) then separated again overnight. Same again next day with feeding time together too but separated for nighttime until eventually they were spending most days together without trouble.

Good luck! I hope it all goes well as it is definitely worth it in the end when you see them snuggle and clean each other, they soon become inseparable and you wonder how they were ever apart.

Thank you so much for your response! I much prefer your advice to the stuff I've been given so far. I was recommended the stress bonding- bath- with my two indoor buns and it was simply awful. Do not want to go there again!
The two I'm struggling with are well used to travelling etc and don't bat an eyelid at anything, so in this case I don't think stress would work anyway.
I really like the idea of doing it over time. I can't believe I didn't think of it. So many people talk about popping them in together and leaving them to sort it out, which just doesn't sit well with me.
I need a bit of a hutch shake up so will see if I can rig up a system where they can play out next to each other. Hopefully one day we will be abe to remove the divide!
Thanks again :-)

The words 'bath bond' still give me shudders! Takes me right back to a 4 hour stint sitting on the toilet watching 2 of my buns stubborn as hell sitting in a bath with banana smeared on their heads (to encourage grooming) looking at me like I was I'd lost the plot.

I would never leave two buns to 'work things out' either like some suggest, definitely agree with you there. It's hard to believe it of your own buns but they can cause a hell of a lot of damage if they choose.

Mine are indoor buns too and I ended up just buying a cheap fence used for an outdoor rabbit run, one that you can take apart, and put it up in between the rooms the buns were in. If it's a rabbit run fence it'll usually have smaller holes so they can't bite through it and it's easily movable for when you have visitors or whatever and don't want to look like a crazy rabbit lady

It definitely worked best for me and is just so much nicer letting them see each other/spend time near each other when they choose rather than when I wanted them to.

Good luck again, I'm sure it will all go brilliantly! The things we do for our furry friends

Think Patch's advice is spot on. Just give them time.

Patch - I'd love to have seen your banana bath buns. They may well have bonded over a cosy discussion about how mad you were

I have recently had the same situation, 2 females that just HATED each other. Didn't want to try the stress bonding technique or the 'put them together they'll sort it out' technique either. They are outdoor rabbits and every evening we got them inside and sat with them near each other but not touching as this would result in a fight. We played (& I am not making this up) relaxing music in the background and they genuinely did seem to enjoy it and seemed more chilled with it on. During the day they were put in runs next to each other with wire small enough that they could sniff each other but not bite each other and after 2 months, yes 2 months, they looked relaxed anough with each other that I cautiously put them together in the hutch. I hovered nervously nearby for hours but it was cool and now they do all the lovely rabbity things like grooming each other and snuggling up together and I am so glad we put the time in, all being well they could be together for years to come. I know it doesn't always work but all I'm saying is that even if it looks pretty grim, things can turn out ok. Good luck!!