Bonding!

[*Red*]

So I've been reading up on bonding for the last few days now, but any little tips people can give to me as a first time bonder??

I'm scared!

I think Mickey will be to me between Christmas & New Year. I just hope to god my two girlies like him! and he likes them!

[ShazzaBunny]

I speed bond put both buns in a cat carrier (ideally with an open top its easier) let them hump it out, than transfer them to a small pen to get on with it. If its not looking too promising, they go back in the carrier and out in the car for a drive .

Not everyones ideal, but it works for me

Good luck when the time comes.

[*Red*]

See, I've wondered whether to take my two up in the car when I go to collect Mickey, and then transfer them all into a large box for the drive home and go from there... but that kinda terrifies me to be honest!

Ohhh I'm so not going to be good at this!!!

[ShazzaBunny]

See, I've wondered whether to take my two up in the car when I go to collect Mickey, and then transfer them all into a large box for the drive home and go from there... but that kinda terrifies me to be honest!

Ohhh I'm so not going to be good at this!!!

Go for it, i have bonded trio's in this way, and a friend of mine Fiona brought her 3 to me to bond, she put them all in a carrier, drove over, and job was done, she didnt need my help at all but we had a lovely lunch and chat anyway

[*Red*]

Oh god, maybe I will then..

Once I got them home, just keep them in a small pen to monitor their progress together for a couple of days - all going well?

[ShazzaBunny]

If your not confident, bring a friend with you, so you can concetrate on driving, not the bunnies, a friend is less likely to panic and intervene (owners, myself included, tend to worry too much about simple scuffles).

I dont keep mine in the bonding pen, once im satisfied the worst is over, i just put them back in the shed, i tend to put them in a slightly used pen though, so the scent confuses them. This said, i have 4 pens to choose from, so i can do this.
With Fiona's buns, i advised she blocked her attached run for a few days so they could not "escape" each other, but were in the shed together.

If a bond is not taking too well after the first few hours then continue with the bonding pen. Try not to intervene too much, tempting as it is, i try to ignore mine when bonding.

[tiger_lily]

I put Oscar and Jessie into a small pen together and let them get on with it. The first time we put them together it was just constant humping and chasing, and the OH ended up separating them for the night, but letting them see each other through the pen.

The next morning we put them bach together. There was a lot of humping in the first half hour (including poor Jessie trying to jump out the pen ) but it all settled down quickly and they were grooming each other within a few hours. Then it was just a case of slowly increasing the pen, until one night they both escaped from the half-room they were penned into to the whole house (which hadn't been neutralised yet ) but it wasn't a problem luckily

Good luck with however you decide, just don't panic because I'm sure they pick up on it!

[janice]

See, I've wondered whether to take my two up in the car when I go to collect Mickey, and then transfer them all into a large box for the drive home and go from there... but that kinda terrifies me to be honest!

Ohhh I'm so not going to be good at this!!!

I would only put them in a box together if you have someone with you who is a passenger and is able to attend to the bunnies. If you are the driver of the car and you are alone, I would suggest not doing this as any delay in separating could result in a nasty injury.

[janice]

If you would like to PM me your address I can send you a local rescues guide which gives lots of information about bonding rabbits.