SHOULD I NEUTRALISE MY BONDING PEN EVERY DAY?
By Fiona Murphy, The Bunny Bonding Coach
This question has come up a lot among bunny owners that I am helping with bonding, so I thought it would be beneficial to write a blog post about it.
HOW TO MAKE A NEUTRAL BONDING AREA FOR YOUR BUNNIES -
When you are bonding your rabbits, you need to set up a pen in a neutral space. If you don't have a space where your rabbits haven't already been, you can neutralize any area using a solution of 50% white vinegar and 50% water. Simply put the solution in a plant spray bottle, a kitchen spray bottle, or something similar and spray down the area.
I apologize in advance for the smell! Your house WILL smell like a chip shop for a while! Just open all the windows. Unfortunately, this vinegar solution is the most effective way to neutralize the area! Once you've done this, the area is neutral. If you keep your bunnies out of this space, you do not need to re-neutralize it every day, as it remains neutral.
WHY OVERCLEANING CAN ACTUALLY BE HARMFUL TO THE BONDING PROCESS
It's actually not advisable to over-clean your bonding pen. Once your rabbits start to bond, the pen begins to smell like both of them. If you neutralize it every day, the space will feel like new territory each time they enter, making them more likely to fight over it since they perceive it as unfamiliar ground
CLEANING THE PEN BETWEEN SESSIONS
For cleaning, simply wipe the pen clean with a piece of kitchen towel and a standard kitchen spray anywhere the rabbits have peed. Remove the dirty hay and replace it with clean hay, ensuring to keep some of the hay that already smells like the bunnies. This way, the floor and pen bars still retain the scent of both rabbits. Essentially, you are just wiping down the spots they've peed on, keeping some familiar smells in the bonding pen.
I hope this clears up any confusion about neutralizing the bonding area. Remember, it's important not to overdo it. Keeping some of their scent is actually beneficial for the bonding process. See you next time!
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Feel free to share any questions or experiences in the comments below. I am here to help you and your bunnies have a smooth bonding experience!
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