It starts by forcing the rabbits into a small space so they can work things out and learn to share. Your bunny will speed date until we find a good match (the bunnies must choose). Included in the price (250 for two rabbits, 350 for three rabbits and 450 for four), is pre-bonding advice and going home instructions with COMPLETE, FOLLOW UP SUPPORT to help them settle in at home as a new couple! Positive behaviors are the ones you want to look for. Be sure and take an extra carrier should they still decide to fight even when moving. Click on the Bunny Bonding Guide to flip through our interactive resource or download the PDF here. 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. 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! If you are new to bonding rabbits, the whole idea of it can feel overwhelming. A question Im often asked is will my rabbit change once he/she has a bonded partner. Reviews on Rabbit Vet in Sewaren, NJ 07077 - Island Bird Cat & Dog Vet Group, Staten Island Veterinary Group, Plainfield Animal Hospital, East Brunswick Animal Hospital, Dr Joseph R Chiosi DVM, Victory Veterinary Practice, NYC Little Animal Pet Sitter/Boarding, Brown Allison DVM, The Spay & Neuter Center of New Jersey, Sayrebrook Veterinary Hospital Dont get another rabbit just because you think you should. If you need help getting your rabbit to bond with a new partner, we can help. 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. Aggression during the bonding process is natural. This should be allowed to happen provided it doesnt escalate into fighting or chasing that may be a precursor to injury. You may even find that your rabbit is more friendly and outgoing once bonded with a companion. Rabbits who are friendly and have a special bond with a human will continue to show affection. During the bonding process, most likely one or both of the rabbits will begin to request grooming from each other. As one person I cannot change the way two million rabbits are kept. Bonding happens best in neutral territory a space that neither rabbit has claimed as its own. In general your rabbits will continue to be happy and their friendship will grow, but, in some cases by bringing bunnies home to an existing space some unfriendly behaviour can start. I cant stress enough that once bonded, the rabbits must never be split unless there is a real need to do so, such as illness where one needs special nursing care that cant be done with company present, or if there is a risk of injury or disease. All of the information out there can seem confusing and contradictory. It is tempting to move too quickly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I have used a bunny bonding service in the past when adopting a new rabbit. So far, any injuries that have occurred have been superficial and not needed veterinary attention when bonding groups of 4 or less. Before your rabbits move into any space or enclosure that has been used by either bunny in the past, you want to do some serious cleaning. Bonding Service. Your bonded rabbits must always travel together, so even a quick trip to the vets where only one rabbit is to be seen, means that you must take all of the group (my bonded group of four all visit the vet together in one carriera nightmare to carry and Im not quite sure what my vet thinks when I turn up with all of them when only one needs to be seen!). He is very gorgeous to me, Press J to jump to the feed. You can use a tabletop, being careful to block off the edges to prevent your rabbits from falling. Both rabbits should be altered and allowed enough time for their hormone levels to dissipate (3-4 weeks). See reviews, photos, directions, phone numbers and more for the best Brake Shoe Bonding & Exchanging in Sewaren, NJ. 20 per rabbit, or 15 per rabbit if you have 3 or more. Our boarding is home-style, so drop-off and pick-up times are typically between 9 am and 1 pm. Lots of vets and pet shops advise that rabbits should be . Where possible remove any obvious signs of marking or ownership e.g. You dont need to worry about a bond breaking when you increase the space. To prevent the rabbits injuring each other, or injuring you when they go for each other, youll want to wear appropriate clothing and have some equipment available. Bonding takes time. Rabbit Advocates has bonded pairs, including sibling and parent-child pairs, available for adoption. In 5 years of bonding possibly over a 500 rabbits I've only had to keep 12 lots of bonding bunnies longer than a week and after two weeks they were ready to go home. They act as nose guards while also giving your rabbits a chance to interact with each other. I have never known a friendly rabbit to lose interest in human company, once they like you they always will. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The State of NJ site may contain optional links, information, services and/or content from other websites operated by third parties that are provided as a convenience, such as Google Translate. We rely on boarding and bonding fees to help pay our extensive veterinary services. We are always happy to bond your spayed or neutered single bun to one of our adoptable bunnies. Some of these behaviors might seem concerning or aggressive, but are actually fine, while others need to be prevented because they are likely to lead to injury. For most people, our Bonding Support Consultations will give you everything you need to progress bonding activity in your own home. I'm not 100% sure who did it, but one of my original pair jumped their fence and went after the other pair upstairs (I believe biting both and drawing blood) two months ago. Some clinics may also require your bunny to receive a microchip (if they dont already have one). 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. Most bunnies enjoy having a bunny friend, as long as they like the other bun. 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. They are emotionally and physically healthier because their friend offers companionship and can groom places that are difficult or impossible to reach. To summarise; it is really important to realise that when you bring newly bonded bunnies home, that this is just the beginning of the new relationship and that as their owner, you will need to put in the effort to help the bond to grow successfully. Just remember that whatever method you choose, you want to avoid the possibility of territorial aggression by making it as neutral as possible. A neutral space is a place that neither rabbit will consider to be their own territory. One rabbit will be happy because they are getting a yummy treat, and the other will be happy because they feel like they are being groomed. The answer to this is yes your rabbit will change, as each rabbit is different I cant foresee how they will change but they will be a lot happier! Bunny bonding and medication administration are available as add-ons in a case-by-case basis. So basically the moral of my story: trying out a bunny bonding service is great, but be aware they may not ever be able to get bonded. Once bonded, the rabbits will need to be housed together in a space large enough to accommodate them both comfortably. Youll also want to have two of everything because sometimes rabbits dont like sharing litter boxes and food bowls to begin with. Follow the Bunny Lady and her bunny partner Elusive and they seek to educate rabbit caretakers and make sure everyone is able to have a happy and healthy bunny in their home. Finding a perfect companion for your rabbit is often thought to be a tricky experience. Many animal shelters will be able to facilitate this kind of bunny speed dating, especially those that specialize in small animals. Our nearby rescue also offers bonding services so I told the owner to just try and bond them with a rabbit that seems to fit well in the group. 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. These are the signs that your rabbits are really starting to get along and feel comfortable with each other. At that point I will plan to take a week and stay with the rabbits full time while they get used to living together. You can either get a completely new area rug to use for the rabbit enclosure, or you can spray the flooring with the vinegar solution. If you are looking to adopt a friend for your bunny companion, SaveABunny is here to help! It doesnt work with rabbits who are very aggressive or anxious. You do not need to have adopted your rabbits from us, as these services are available to all rabbit owners. If one of your bunnies needs an overnight stay at the vets, a bunny savvy vet will understand the need for the bonded bunnies to stay together and if he/she doesnt, then you need to find another vet. If neither rabbit backs down, they may end up fighting until they work out their disagreement. The process should always take place in a neutral territory and all rabbits involved should already be spayed or neutered. Rabbits are very territorial animals. If this happens try different bonding spaces until you find one that works for your buns. But if it doesnt work, we understand that keeping rabbits lonely is not what anyone wants. We will then advise you as you transition the new pair to your home. A small box, pet carrier, or laundry basket are good options. Bunny bonding and medication administration are available as add-ons in a case-by-case basis. We have a number of bonding support services designed to help you make a success of bonding your rabbits. The bonding process takes approx. I like to break apart pieces of hay cubes and sprinkle them around the enclosure, that way the rabbits get a healthy treat rather than a lot of sugary pieces. Second Cutting Timothy Hay from Small Pet Select, Read more about why I recommend this product. This is especially important once you are putting your rabbits together for long periods at a time. Soooo whatever happened to this? This is simply not true. Exercise pens work wonderful for bonding are financially more reasonable than adequate housing and have many uses even after the bonding is completed. When moving from one step to the next, especially when increasing space, its common for rabbits to have minor setbacks as they settle into the new space. Instead you need to slowly introduce the two rabbits in a neutral territory that neither will feel ownership of. The first is to ask for the help of a friend or family member and see if theyll allow you to stay in their home with your rabbits for a few weeks while you bond them. Head mounting should be discouraged immediately. Learn more about how you can get quality hay (even ORGANIC hay!) celebunnies have excellent customer reviews from our happy customers on our boarding and our bonding service. A good way to do this is using vinegar. However, there are other reasons that you may want to give up or at least take a break for a few months before trying again. I wanted to try to pair the 3 remaining rabbits after the death of one, to each other and a new bun. 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. It usually takes between two weeks and two months to bond a pair of rabbits. A list of veterinarian offices with the vaccine can be found at the bottom of this page. Wear long sleeves, sturdy shoes, and thick gloves. info@saveabunny.org 415-388-2790 Contact Us, What to do if you find a bunny or need to rehome a rabbit. However, bonding rabbits is not always as straightforward as many people think. Rabbit Advocates hopes to resume "Bunny Speed Dating" events as soon as circumstances allow. And, we're good at it. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Because state law requires an exam prior to vaccination weve listed each price where known, but prices may change. FROM $40/day/rabbit For Medical Boarding, PM for quotation. Bunny bonding is available as add-ons in a case-by-case basis as well as administration of medications. Nail trim and grooming is an extra $15. If I can't get my hand in my protective glove quick enough if anything kicks off, then I just get straight in there! However, it can be difficult to get this technique to work with rabbits who are highly aggressive or anxious around each other. The severity of the altercation will decide how long of a break the rabbits will need from each other before trying again. If your rabbit lives in an ex-pen then youll want to clean the flooring as well. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. If a larger area doesnt work, try going smaller or vice versa. 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. www.facebook.com/derricksdenrabbitboarding/, Head mounting should be discouraged immediately. If youre not prepared, bonding can easily end up in heartbreak rather than the happy bunny family you want. When getting a space ready for the two rabbits to bond in, you also want to make sure the equipment and supplies you use are neutral. In some instances, following an introduction of a few days, rabbits can become immediate friends, but this is not always the case and when returning to their home environment it needs to be managed carefully to ensure that the bond continues to develop and not go backwards, or break up totally. 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. ADOPTING A FRIEND FOR YOUR RABBIT - BUNNY BONDING SERVICES Rabbits are social animals that benefit from living in pairs or groups. Learn about their specialized care. May I please ask a few questions? These tips can help get your rabbit through a rough patch in their relationship, or set them up to have a better chance at getting along. Of course, some rabbits will naturally hit it off better than others. So don't worry, I will be there every step of the way until you and I are both happy they are fully bonded and settled at home. Most people will recommend keeping them separated and swapping their living spaces like this for a week before starting the bonding. The initial 48 hours is crucial and can be very intense. Regular old white vinegar is a great scent neutralizer that can be mixed with an equal amount of water to create an all purpose cleaner that also gets rid of odors. Its easier to control aggressive or anxious rabbits. However we find the circumstances of these dates often hide the "real" reaction which may happen when the "perfect pair" return home, and that in 9 out of 10 bonding experiences the bonding "fight", which often appears to be more violent than it is in reality, will still happen. Three or more rabbits: Difficulty varies, depending on sexes, personalities, and whether or not two of the rabbits are already bonded. I would only use this technique sparingly if you are working with elderly rabbits or those that have any serious health conditions. 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. When should you give up bonding your rabbits? Ive designed adorable bunny apparel! Then only after a 5-10 minute massage should you bring your rabbits back to their separate homes and end the session. They tend to be more territorial so you may want to give them more time together to solidify their bond before the move-in. If your housing is a hutch or Wendy house with a run attached, then close off the run for at least a few days. You can bond rabbits quicker than gentle bonding or starting small. That doesnt mean your relationship will be exactly the same, however. This allows for the rabbit to heal and for his/her hormones to balance. Seattle and Pacific Northwest residents can check out our adoptable bunnies here. If you want help trying to bond two rabbitsNOTadopted from SaveABunny or you need help fixing a bond between bunniesNOTadopted from SaveABunny, we offer expert consulting and re-bonding when time and space permits. However, if the rabbits are not showing signs of aggression or severe anxiety, its okay to start sooner. Unfortunately sometimes even with the best intentions and constant supervision, injuries can occur during the bonding 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. Our dedicated bonding facilities at The Hoppy Hub in Kirkintilloch are designed to focus the rabbits' attention on each other without distraction from their own territory and belongings. Bonding is generally easier when rabbits have been sterilized. Bonding is a stressful process. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Have they had any serious fights during which blood has been drawn? What do you need to consider before deciding when to bring home a second rabbit? They tend to be more territorial, so its more difficult to convince a female to live with another rabbit. Online loans for bail bonds. Now years later I finally have a trio of buns that live together happily. Right after you sign up, youll receive a FREE pdf rabbit care guidebook. This will allow the rabbits to develop a friendship without the instinct to defend their space. Bonding can take a considerable amount of your time and effort in order to be successful. Easier even when you only have a limited amount of time for bonding. If you want to successfully bond two rabbits, youll need to make some preparations and do some planning. Place the housing for the new rabbit next to or, if possible, inside of the other bunnys housing area. 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. You need to be ready to spend a full week with the rabbits. We do not offer bonding services unless one or both of the bunnies are adopted from us, because we dont have the time or resources. Taking the rabbits for a car ride, running the vacuum near them, or placing them atop a washing machine are some common scenarios that people use. I wanted to try to pair the 3 remaining rabbits after the death of one, to each other and a new bun. Please be aware that we are not professional groomers, but we will give a very good basic service in accordance with the owner's wishes. However, before you can call your rabbits bonded, youll want to give them some sessions that cover their more active times of day as well. Some buns may not want/need a friend now, but might get lonely when their humans are no longer home as often. Or, you may bring food of your own choice.
