How long should bonding take?

we have a spayed lionhead and neutered lionhead mix. We have swapped scent marked toys for weeks then for weeks have been putting the bunnies outside every day in separate adjoining playpens, alternating playpens each day. They show obvious interest in each other but the female has bitten the males foot through the cage ( didnt break skin) and she rattles the wire with her feetwhen they are nose to nose, as if to intimidate him. He is totally nonaggressive. She seems to be trying to let him know that she is dominant. She likes to flop down happily on her side looking pleased and both do binkies, while outside in their playpens, in their separate cages. We dont have a bathtub to try putting them in and dont let them loose in the house because we have cats. They live on separate floors of an indoor hutch but we are hoping they will bond and live happily together. What can we do safely to arrange bunny speed dating?

I'm a little confused. They are indoor rabbits, but you are trying to bond them outdoors. But once bonded they will be living indoors but won't be able to be let "loose" indoors because you have cats? Where will they get exercise once bonded? --I think I'm missing something.

As for how long bonding can take -- that is totally up to the rabbits and what methods do or don't work. Some bonds are almost instant, while others may take months, and some just don't work at all.

I'd suggest checking over the following link and especially watch those videos to get a better feel for what approach to take next.
http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/information/bonding-bunnies/

We take them outdoors from their indoor hutch for play and fresh air. We would like them ideally to live together in the large two story indoor hutch and play together in the large outdoor playpen. Thank you for the link!

Hmmm. Even once they are bonded, taking them outdoors daily for their exercise is not ideal. Ideally, a rabbit should have constant access back to their "safe zone" (their cage/habitat) whenever they are exercising. By taking them outside, it deprives them of their retreat area, and also forces them to exercise at times they may want to lounge. Well, actually, there is no such thing as forcing a rabbit to exercise if he doesn't want to. So what it does is it provides only that limited time for potential exercise but deprives them of exercising when they happen to be in the mood (when they may be in the indoor hutch).

Nothing wrong with taking them outside on occasion for fun, but they ideally should have regular daily exercise in the same area their cage is.

They should be able to come and go out of their cage as desired during exercise time - ideally.

The other option would be for the cage itself to incorporate enough space for them to exercise. That would mean it should be around 30 sq feet to include the exercise area. [from House Rabbit Society: " at least 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least 24 square feet of exercise space, for 1-2 rabbits, in which the rabbit(s) can run and play at least 5 hours per day."]

If you have a very roomy indoor habitat that includes exercise space within it, then the outdoor playtime isn't so critical and you'll know they are getting plenty of exercise opportunity everyday and for whenever they desire.

Aside from the difficulty with having an outdoor exercise area that is separate from their living area, the greater difficulty will be keeping them bonded through the process (assuming they do bond as hoped) . Anytime a bonded pair of rabbits - especially a newly bonded pair - are moved from one location to another (from confined hutch to large outdoor space [or vice-versa] ) there is a potential for them to have disagreements over the new space and damage or break their bond. Just something to bear in mind while going through the bonding process.

There are a number of members here on RO who have both cats and rabbits and they get along just fine. This isn't always the case but was wondering if you've considered the possibility. It would certainly simplify things for you if they could get along.

Thank you for all the suggestions. Will try to rearrange things so the bunnies can exercise close to their indoor cage. Dutchess thumps at the cats. She just loves to go every day outside to her outdoor playpen and today binkied repeatedly, threw her various toys around, went nose to nose with Arnold tgrough the cage bars, and lay on her side a few times today with her belly sticking up looking very content. Arnold is still getting used to us and to his new home. We are thinking about getting an exercise pen we could attach to their indoor cage. ."

Yesterday we let Dutchess and Arnold loose together in the bathroom. They did very well together. Dutchess groomed Arnold. She nipped him just once when he crawled into a litter box with her. Then she went back to grooming him gently. Neither chased or humped the other bunny. So far so good. Will continue letting them be together supervised for brief periods. They seem to like each other. We want them to have positive time together until being together just seems like a typical day, a nonevent.

I have 5 cats and none of them has ever tried to hurt a bunny, they are more scared of them or just ignore them. Is your cat aggressive towards the bunnies at all? If not, I would def let the bunnies out. As for binding, I feel your pain!! I have 2 Ive been trying to bond for months. BUT, I have sucecssfully bonded many others. One time it took me 7 months! They wanted to KILL each other, now they love each other and are cuddly together. Good luck!! Keep trying!!

Today let the two bunnies loose in a bathroom together. Dutchess gently groomed Arnolds face for over 10 minutes. . He seemed to love it and kept putting his face up to her. He didnt groom her yet but she put her face down under his chin and they snuggled. After about 20 minutes she nudged him in the side and i put them into their separate outdoor playpens. He sneakily snuffs her from the back but mostly just holds still or eats when she is nearby.

Another great bonding session today in the bathroom. Dutchess groomed Arnolds face and ears for about 15 minutes. He seemed to love it. No aggressive nipping or chasing. Both bunnies ate some hay and lettuce and explored the bathroom. After about 30 minutes or so, i put them for another hour in their separate adjacent outdoor playpens. They played with toys and Dutchess lay happily on her side with her belly showing close to Arnold while Arnold did a lot of binkies. Then put them into the indoor hutch ( with the stairwell still blocked between their cages). Slowly but surely i think they are bonding. Think maybe the next step may be letting them into the same outdoor playpen together supervised ( both playpens smell like both bunnies because we switch off each day who gets what play cage).