Quintet Bonding

[BunnyWabbit]

Day 6 & 7: Both 3 hours.

Things are moving a long well. Everyone seems to be getting along for the most part. The only two that are really still fighting are Monty and Helo. My problem children -_- . Every once in a while Inara gets pulled in but I've been noticing it's only when one of the problem two lash out at her because she's nearby.

I debating with myself on how to move forward from here. I'm thinking I'm going to try a much longer session. At least 6-8 hours and see if things get better the longer they're together or if they keep doing the nice for a while, fight, nice for a while, fight dance. If things improve the longer they are together than I think I'll move them to the next step. If things keep going like they are I'm going to try a long car ride with all of them and see if that improves things at all.

Pics from the last session:

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Thank you Chrisdoc and Troller!

Troller - I definitely agree that bonding methods seem to very from place to place and person to person. Bonding is something that I feel like I'm always learning more and more about. Even looking back over the past week I can see ways I would do things differently if I were to do this again. But hopefully, this is the last bit of bonding I will have to do for a while.

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Today is day 9 and things have been more of the same. I've been doing longer sessions and while there is more cuddling and less fights overall they still seem to be in the fight, nice, fight, nice cycle. The worst fighting that's happening is when two fight and then lash out at the bystander bunnies. That's when a group fight will break out. This has happened maybe once in the last 3 days.

I really think the next step is to take the plunge into a round the clock session until bonded. Taking them away from each other at the end of a session is just "resetting" most of the progress they make during the session. I reached this point with my trio too. I'm going to start tomorrow because last night I didn't get much sleep and I'd like to get at least one full night before not having much of any for the next few days. I'm excited and nervous!

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Pics from today:

 

[BunnyWabbit]

I was going to start their cementing yesterday but my husband decided he wanted to finish building a new base for their semi-permanent pen which will end up being a part of their permanent home. It was very important to him to get that done for whatever reason. So I started cementing tonight (this morning)... At midnight. Yup... That's me!

Too early to really tell how things are going they're mostly just exploring their new home/running around playing right now. Doing some ambiguous chasing that may or may not be play but is not really fighting. It's 4' X 8' and once they're bonded they'll have this and and a 4.6' X 3.5' two story Condo. Next month we're re-doing the flooring in the bunny room so they can have free roam of it.

Pics:

We're using the shorter 24" tall pens because I can't reach into the taller ones if there's an issue.

 

[Chrisdoc]

Looks great to me, love those tunnels, I have one the same and the hay digging trays are so funny with them all lined up. I love the pic of one nicking the other´s hay haha.

I can understand the lower pen height in case there´s trouble, as long as they can´t jump over, you should be OK.

I tend to think that in groups of three or more, there´ll always be some niggles but as long as they are only that, I consider it not to be a major problem.

Love seeing these five together and will follow them closely.

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Thanks Chrisdoc!

8 hours together so far and things have been going alright. The first 5 hours were on again, off again, for scuffles. But by 5:30 they started binkying around and playing together! So adorable. After that they snuggled together a bit. They "woke up" at 7:00 and played again. I fed them a bit ago and after eating together they are hanging out again. Everyone seems pretty comfy and there haven't been any fights for the last 3 hours.

Helo's spiky hair (he was sprayed with squirt bottle earlier)


Breakfast together:


Snuggles:

 

[Chrisdoc]

More great photos, love the spikey hair lol.

I love seeing them all munching down together. What a great bunch :nod

 

[Troller]

Well done. Seems like your having far less trouble with five then I had with two. A true testament to your bunny bonding skills!

 

[Azerane]

So many bunnies! I love the picture of them all eating from the same food bowl, it goes to show that they are getting along

 

[kirbyultra]

Your buns are simply amazing!

Sent from my mobile phone

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Thanks everyone!

Things are going really great this morning. Almost 58 straight hours together (Day 13) and they're only having a few tiffs here and there. Nothing that I've had to intervene with too much. I think we're approaching the finish line on this whole adventure. I always forget how exhausting bonding is until I'm doing it again. I'm glad this is the last time I'll have to do it for a looooong while!

Here's a pic of them eating their greens together last night. I didn't have anything large enough for all their veggies (5 big bunnies eat a lot) so I used one of our small litter pans that we use for storage (never been used for litter):


I look forward to getting more than naps again someday! Lol.

 

[Chrisdoc]

That is some bowl of salad lol. I just love seeing them all munching down together, there´s something quite lovely in seeing some many buns hanging out together.

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Feeding time is fun to watch.

Well... I'm probably going to watch them for another day or so out of my own paranoia but I'm going to call them "officially" bonded! Watching them play together is just about the cutest thing ever.

 

[Chrisdoc]

I love watching my three play together so five must be even better :yes:

 

[Ilovemyrabbit]

Wow! Five rabbits! It must be fun to watch them when they are out together. Beautiful bunnies!

 

[squidpop]

I enjoyed reading this thread. I am going to try bonding 4 together, 3 females that are not spayed with 1 male who is neutered. Where all yours neutered and spayed?

 

[BunnyWabbit]

Thank you everyone!

Squidpop - I'm glad you enjoyed my thread. All of mine are spayed/neutered. Personally, I do not believe that bonding intact rabbits is very practical or safe. *** hormones amplify territorial behaviors and can make bonding very difficult to impossible. The only intact bonds that I've seen be successful involved rabbits that had been together from a very young age. Even then, it's the exception not the rule in my experience.

 

[squidpop]

Thank you everyone!

Squidpop - I'm glad you enjoyed my thread. All of mine are spayed/neutered. Personally, I do not believe that bonding intact rabbits is very practical or safe. *** hormones amplify territorial behaviors and can make bonding very difficult to impossible. The only intact bonds that I've seen be successful involved rabbits that had been together from a very young age. Even then, it's the exception not the rule in my experience.

Thanks for the tip on the spaying- I know how bad a rabbit fight can get - one of mine bit another through the bars of a divider of an out door pen and had to get stitches- emergency vet bill for a bad rabbit bite was much higher than spaying would have been. So I'll really look into spaying- (problem is I think where I live it will be $600 for 3 females to get spayed).

 

[Bri]

Congrats on your quintet ! I love the pics!