have i/we achieved a bond or tolerance?

[Devi]

I posted before on my two male bunnies (both neutered) and followed the advice there with the one's hormones needing more time. I have been putting them together for short periods this week (so far it's been 20-30 mins as I can supervise them). There has been no circling, no humping like before. They nudge cheeks, groom (self and each other), and settle in to eat side by side and act as if they're in separate areas for the most part. So what are my next steps? and when do you think they can be unsupervised? they already live side by side with just bars of an Exo pen separating them since day one.

 

[Blue eyes]

Next step is longer periods of time. Where are they being put together? In same room that their pens are located? Sounds like they are doing great so far.

 

[Devi]

Next step is longer periods of time. Where are they being put together? In same room that their pens are located? Sounds like they are doing great so far.

in the same room as the pen, their pen is a 16 sq foot pen that's currently split down the middle by extra Exo pen panels so each gets a 4'x2' area, I also will put them on each other's side of the enclosure for supervised together time. my place is so small all of it has been claimed by the one given he was a house bun til recently. I'm thinking the next step is to let them both out for their playtime at the same time and supervise their playtime interactions.

 

[JBun]

I wouldn't recommend letting them out together for playtime. That could very well end up in a fight and setting the bonding process back(or ruining it completely). Changing spaces, putting them in an area one rabbit has claimed as his territory from previously being in that space(before properly neutralizing and making changes), or expanding the bonding space too much too quickly, could all result in increased territorial behavior and a fight breaking out.

Usually it's best to keep things in a smaller neutral space for bonding, then gradually expanding that space as the rabbits spend more time together and are doing well together. If you have to change the bonding area, they'll usually need an adjustment period and there may be a slight backtrack in their progress. Usually starting the space smaller is best, then only expanding that space when there has been consistent positive progress between them.

This is just generally what works best for most bonds. But there are instances where other methods work better for some pairs. So if you feel things aren't progressing well, or if they're worsening, it may be time to reevaluate and make changes. But for now it sounds like what you're doing is working out, so best to keep going with that, gradually increasing their time together and gradually expanding their space, and not making any sudden changes if possible.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-bunnies.html
https://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/information/bonding-bunnies/
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding_rabbits_together

 

[Devi]

I wouldn't recommend letting them out together for playtime. That could very well end up in a fight and setting the bonding process back(or ruining it completely). Changing spaces, putting them in an area one rabbit has claimed as his territory from previously being in that space(before properly neutralizing and making changes), or expanding the bonding space too much too quickly, could all result in increased territorial behavior and a fight breaking out.

Usually it's best to keep things in a smaller neutral space for bonding, then gradually expanding that space as the rabbits spend more time together and are doing well together. If you have to change the bonding area, they'll usually need an adjustment period and there may be a slight backtrack in their progress. Usually starting the space smaller is best, then only expanding that space when there has been consistent positive progress between them.

This is just generally what works best for most bonds. But there are instances where other methods work better for some pairs. So if you feel things aren't progressing well, or if they're worsening, it may be time to reevaluate and make changes. But for now it sounds like what you're doing is working out, so best to keep going with that, gradually increasing their time together and gradually expanding their space, and not making any sudden changes if possible.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-bunnies.html
https://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/information/bonding-bunnies/
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding_rabbits_together

this is their enclosure (sorry it was taken pre-cleaning for the day) for the last 3 months or so. So they get non-stop exposure to each other even prior to Hobbes's neutering. But my place has no neutral places due to the black and white one (Toner) being a house bunny (and my place is small this enclosure takes up a large part of my floor space) up till we realized the temp overnight bunny (Hobbes) will be permanent and we had to get them acclimated to each other which started with neutering Hobbes and housing them side by side.

 

[Blue eyes]

When you've been putting them together for supervised time, where are they? How large is the area?

 

[Devi]

When you've been putting them together for supervised time, where are they? How large is the area?

their put in another Exo pen I have the area I think 2'x2'.

 

[Blue eyes]

Is the pen set up in that same room that you plan to have them share? If so, your "next step " is to gradually increase the size of that pen area as Jenny explained above. Too much space too soon can cause setbacks.

 

[Devi]

Is the pen set up in that same room that you plan to have them share? If so, your "next step " is to gradually increase the size of that pen area as Jenny explained above. Too much space too soon can cause setbacks.

Thank you.

 

[annawynne3707]

Where they bonded b4 the neutering, or got a new bunny friend, neutered and kept separate