This is especially important when working in small spaces or long periods of time. Whether its planning to have two separate enclosures permanently in different areas of the home or having an agreement with a family member or shelter to give the new rabbit a place to stay if the bonding doesnt work out. Rabbits who are friendly and have a special bond with a human will continue to show affection. They do offer consultations and online sessions to help people with at home bonding. When should you give up bonding your rabbits? Its better to spend more time than necessary on a stage of bonding, than to rush the rabbits and have to start over from the beginning. exclusively for Rabbits a Bunny Boarding facility that your rabbits wont want to come home from. The reality is, in most cases you will be using a combination of techniques based on how your rabbits react to each other. One grooming per bunny per stay is included. Its normal for them to be afraid of people until they get to know you. Lots of vets and pet shops advise that rabbits should be . Check out our insightful instructions and videos on bonding bunnies! Our popular Bonding Bootcamp services offers an effective alternative for those struggling to get the bond to work at home. Accommodation for your newly bonded rabbits. Unfortunately sometimes even with the best intentions and constant supervision, injuries can occur during the bonding process. 2 If you are outside Washington state and want a bunny, please consider adopting! When they come back the other rabbit might think they are a stranger and attack. Your bunny will be housed in a double x-pen (4 by 6), fed high quality pellets, fresh greens, and unlimited hay. With this technique you are basically putting the rabbits together and telling them that one way or another they have to get along because theyre not going to get a break. This allows for the rabbit to heal and for his/her hormones to balance. Move to a new location. The process should always take place in a neutral territory and all rabbits involved should already be spayed or neutered. Learn about their specialized care. The two brands that I use when buying food for my rabbit areOxbowandSmall Pet Select. Your rabbits will board with us for 7 - 14 days, and whilst in our care we will conduct the bonding activity for you. What happens when I take my bonded rabbit's home? There is no confirming who truly bit who, but let's just say that both pairs don't love one another. info@saveabunny.org 415-388-2790 Contact Us, What to do if you find a bunny or need to rehome a rabbit. If this happens try different bonding spaces until you find one that works for your buns. This will allow the rabbits to have a playmate sometimes, but it wont make you feel afraid for their safety when youre not there to watch them. Place a small amount of this yummy treat on the forehead of one or both of the rabbits. You can choose whichever technique you want to get started, but if the bonding is not working, try moving to a different technique and see how it goes. The times when you want to be careful are if the rabbits are ever separated and then put back together. Use vinegar to help get rid of any scents your rabbit might recognize. Set up the two pens or enclosures right next to each other so that the two rabbits can see each other and sniff each other if they want to. It is tempting to move too quickly. With enough time, the bonding will usually stick, but its important to be prepared with a plan in case it does not. This takes the stress and worry out of the process and allows you to be sure that your rabbits are happy with each other. While the circumstances will vary on the specific scenario you are in, my rule is if I see no improvement for 2-3 days in one spot, then I need to change things up a little. Above all be patient with your rabbits. There are also some positive behaviors that you want to look out for to let you know the bonding is going well. It becomes more difficult and even dangerous to try to bond rabbits once they have bad blood between them. An older rabbit would be much happier with a companion closer in age rather than a young one that is full of energy and vice versa. If you are bringing newly bonded rabbits home to a totally new space then the you will find it easier to maintain the growing friendship than if you are returning one of the group to their original territory. The owner intervening at the wrong time or in the wrong way. These were with larger groups of more than 4, and the reason I no longer bond groups larger than 4. Google Translate is an online service for which the user pays nothing to obtain a purported language translation. If your rabbit lives in an ex-pen then youll want to clean the flooring as well. The size and type of space you give your rabbit will vary depending on the method you use to bond your rabbit. Bunny bonding and medication administration are available as add-ons in a case-by-case basis. Second Cutting Timothy Hay from Small Pet Select, Read more about why I recommend this product. The whole process is completely online. The severity of the altercation will decide how long of a break the rabbits will need from each other before trying again. our own rescues and rehoming advise local rescues who we support 07850530022 I help bunny parents globally to get their bunnies loved up so they can have a more peaceful life & enjoy their bunnies. Then get to work cleaning everything. However, as the time together gets longer, no toys or treats could lead to an irritated rabbit, and they may end up directing their pent up frustration at the other rabbit. info@saveabunny.org 415-388-2790 Contact Us, What to do if you find a bunny or need to rehome a rabbit, Aptos: Del Mar Pet Hospital, (831) 688-2016, $35, call for info on mass vaccine clinics, Berkeley: Berkeley Dog & Cat Hospital, (510) 848-5041, $128.50, booked one month out, Del Rey Oaks: Avian and Exotic Clinic of Monterey, (831) 647-1147, $60 exam + $35 vac, Elk Grove: Kittel Family Veterinary Practice, email kfvp@kittelfamilyvet.com for wait list, $40 exam/vac, Livermore: Ohana Animal Hospital, (925) 394-4990, current patients only, Martinez: Oasis Veterinary Hospital, (925) 954-8087, current patients only, Novato/Marin: Dr. Debra Scheenstra, (415) 893-1554, current patients only, San Francisco: Bay Area Bird & Exotics, (415) 566-4359, $80 exam + $36 vac, San Francisco: VCA All Pets Hospital, (415) 861-5725, $95 exam + $65 vac, San Jose: Camden Pet Hospital , (408) 265-2200, $76 exam + $42 vac, San Jose: Oakridge Veterinary Clinic, (408) 419-9238, Santa Cruz: VCA Animal Hospital of Santa Cruz, (831) 427-3345, $65 exam + $67 vac, Santa Rosa: Heritage Veterinary Hospital, (707) 576-0764, $35, current patients only, Scotts Valley: Exotic Pet Clinic of Santa Cruz, (831) 440-8590, $79 exam + $47.50 vac, booked about a month out, Berkeley: PETS Referral Center, does not do vacs of any kind, Hayward: Chabot Veterinary Clinic, (510) 538-2330, on backorder, Los Altos/Los Gatos: Adobe Animal Hospital, Napa: California Pet Hospital, no longer sees rabbits, Oakland: VCA Bay Area Animal Hospital, (510) 654-8375, on backorder, San Jose: VCA Orchard Plaza Animal Hospital, (408) 227-9110, dont know when will get more, Sunnyvale: Sunnyvale Vet Clinic, (408) 736-8296, waiting list, getting more soon. Bunnyproofing help for under bed and couch? Instead you need to slowly introduce the two rabbits in a neutral territory that neither will feel ownership of. Once I felt they got on well enough together during the day, I would then let them share a whole hutch overnight to see how they get along. Easier even when you only have a limited amount of time for bonding. Its also a good idea to spread some treats around for the rabbits to sniff out. As a neutral place, and with our experienced Special Bunny experts, we are able to work with your bunny and their new companion with a higher level of success than you may have at home. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. I was hoping to find something near me (finger lakes/Rochester region of NY), but the main thing that pops up for me is babybluebeebunnies in the UK. Then you will receive tips and tricks about rabbit care straight to your inbox so that you know youll be taking excellent care of your new rabbit. Rabbits forced to get their noses in a small feeding bowl side by side, when they have only just met, may begin to squabble so this needs to be watched in the initial stages of the relationship. Not only are they being fed the wrong food but they are kept in small, cramped and dirty cages never having the chance to run free or to feel the love of a companion rabbit, a situation for which the pet industry and breeders bear most of the blame. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. If you think you might want to have a bonded pair and do not already have a bunny, adopt an already-bonded pair! Usually the rabbits will be able to resolve the issue on their own in now time. Then move directly into a larger space to bond them gently until they are used to each other and seem unlikely to attack each other. Groom & Fur Trim, including Rear End Check. A Moon Bunny Representative will get back to . The bonding process takes approx. Rare but again, it does happen!! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I wanted to try to pair the 3 remaining rabbits after the death of one, to each other and a new bun. Rabbits are naturally skittish creatures. Be sure and take an extra carrier should they still decide to fight even when moving. The only time I would say to give up and stop trying to bond them is if the rabbits have actually hurt each other in a fight. Right after you sign up, youll receive a FREE pdf rabbit care guidebook. After you have some trust that they wont immediately attack each other, you can allow them to approach each other nose-to-nose on the floor, then start giving them both head scritches and massages together. A rabbit going to the vets on their own will come back smelling totally different and may behave differently and to introduce them back may be very problematic and is just not worth the risk. However, it is still an early stage bond, as it can take several weeks for the rabbits to gel together into full companionship and so our team will offer you lots of advice on how to support your rabbits' bond further as settle in back home. Any stay that takes place over a government recognized holiday, or from Thanksgiving through New Years will require a 50% non-refundable deposit made 30 days in advance of the boarding date. Theyll both need to be let out for exercise separately to avoid any fights while they get used to each other. Much easier if you bring a girl home to a boy than if you bring a rabbit home to a girl. Putting the rabbits in a carrier and taking them out for a drive can usually help to settle the small hiccups that occur in the bonding process, but if things take a turn for the worse. Its relatively stressful for rabbits, especially to start with. Wait at least four weeks after all rabbits involved have been spayed or neutered before introducing them in the same space (they can still be housed next to each other in separate enclosures). They would spend every day in a large play area inside our house, and I would be in it with them all day. Please be aware of the danger and gently push the offending rabbit off. This technique puts the two rabbits together full time from the start. It can be done in shorter intervals of time if you work during the day. There are many different techniques for bonding that we will go over in this article. Your bunnies can become truly loved up at my residential 'Bunny Bonding Bootcamp' or I can help you achieve this yourself virtually, in your own home with either a. Bunny Bonding Phone / Zoom Consultation or through my Bunny Bonding with Confidence Course and Monthly Support Membership! Click on the Bunny Bonding Guide to flip through our interactive resource or download the PDF here. link to How to Care for Giant Rabbit Breeds, link to 11 Reasons Your Rabbit is Scared of You, Learn more about what kind of chasing behaviors are normal during bonding, Learn more about stress bonding and how to use this technique, 10 Tips for when bonding rabbits is NOT working. This will give your rabbit calm feelings while they are sitting next to each other. Our trained team conduct daily bonding exercises that support the introduction of the rabbits over a period of days, minimising the risk and stress associated with rapid techniques. I put together a guide that goes over all the basics of rabbit care so you have it all in one place. In fact, by your bunnies travelling together, you will find that their stress levels are reduced. Some buns may not want/need a friend now, but might get lonely when their humans are no longer home as often. Unfortunately, we can't always get our rabbits to bond no matter how hard we try, and we do need to accept that some personalities are just simply not compatible. Just remember that whatever method you choose, you want to avoid the possibility of territorial aggression by making it as neutral as possible. You also dont have to spend the time slowly increasing the rabbits space to make sure their bond doesnt break. This is simply not true. Twice in 5 years I have had injuries that have needed to be stitched. However, with some of these behaviors, such as chasing, you do want to keep a close eye on the rabbits to make sure it doesnt escalate into something more aggressive. I will make you aware of any injury, however superficial it might be, so you can keep an eye on things once they come home. A small box, pet carrier, or laundry basket are good options. I am happy to answer any questions you may have in the meantime. As we know mounting/chasing is regularly seen in a new bond to show dominance. Aggression during the bonding process is natural. Then only after a 5-10 minute massage should you bring your rabbits back to their separate homes and end the session. You want to be on the lookout for actively aggressive rabbit body language. If you are introducing a male with a female rabbit, you will also prevent unwanted babies. If bonding looks possible, we recommend boarding your bunnies at SaveABunny, which is neutral space, for a minimum of 3 days at $60 per day. How to find bunny bonding service near me Open Google Maps on your computer or APP, just type an address or name of a place . Bonding happens best in neutral territory a space that neither rabbit has claimed as its own. Ideally I'd like to say I've never had any injuries, but that would be dishonest and misleading and I prefer to be honest and open with you. If they cant seem to figure things out between them, then you should go back a step for a few more days before moving on. Its harder to keep track of the rabbits in a larger area. Rabbits are also hierarchical by nature. These both have high quality rabbit products and are companies that care about the health of our small animals. I am more than happy to keep you updated via WhatsApp and send videos/pictures by email on your rabbit's progress throughout the bonding process. As a dedicated bunny rescue, Rabbit Advocates is able to offer support to approved adoption applicants to help coach them through the process, usually from an Adoption Counselor. Cheap bail bond payment plans up to $5,000. Petfinder is a great source to find a bunny near you! I have never known a friendly rabbit to lose interest in human company, once they like you they always will. You dont have the time to continue with the bonding. When looking for a potential partner for your rabbit most people agree that its usually easier to bond a male and a female rabbit together, rather than rabbits of the same gender. Usually you will want to bring them to a room in the house that your rabbit hasnt been to before, such as a kitchen, a bathroom, or a section of a hallway. I am a lifelong rabbit lover and have been specializing with rabbits at my local animal shelter. All of the information out there can seem confusing and contradictory. Initial consultation is $125 on-site for 1 hour, then $65 per hour after, up to 5 hours, if needed. Find a vet before you need one! This is a time of day when rabbits are naturally less active. This also helps the rabbits to become use to the other rabbits scent. They may have occasional chases, or theyll nip each other when they get annoyed. You may also be able to set up a foster to adopt agreement, where you foster rabbits and adopt one if they seem like a good match for your bunny. If you need any help or advice or youre worried about anything during their period of transition then please feel free to contact me. The bonding process that you choose will depend on the personalities of the rabbits involved and the amount of time you have. We love to help bunnies fall in love. A neutral space is a place that neither rabbit will consider to be their own territory. This will get them used to the idea of having to share their space and living with anothers scent around them. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The first child will still love their parents, but theyll have another separate relationship with the younger sibling and the family dynamics will change a little. However long it takes, its important that you stay patient and avoid rushing the process. At all times throughout the bonding process I have your rabbit's best interests at heart and at no point do I allow them to fight, I will step straight in to prevent this, and if I think it really won't work I will let you know as soon as possible. Male rabbits are also still viable for a number of weeks after the surgery. Some female rabbits, especially, will feel ownership of areas of the home they havent ever been to; they just know its close to their territory. Since grooming is such an important part of a bonded rabbits relationship, you can try to find ways to encourage or trick your rabbits into grooming each other. Just like humans, rabbits need to choose their own friends. A large play area inside our house, and I would be in it with them all day pays... Happens best in neutral territory that neither rabbit will consider to be careful if... 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