Moving across country with unbonded rabbits

[Alev]

Hello! My family is helping me move across the country by car, and I will be moving my two male buns with me. Aside from making sure that they are safe for the whole drive, I was really hoping I could potentially have them stress bonding the whole way, and in the best case scenario they'd be fully bonded by the time we get to our new location. They've both been neutered for a while now, and the last time I had them together was in our bathtub and there was no fighting at all. One of them was already grooming the other, while the the groomee was a bit stand-offish about it. The two of them live separated and have their own things. With all of that said, I have some questions for any of you more experienced, any advice is super appreciated!

-Does anyone have any tips for what I should do or provide for the buns during the actual car ride? How do I keep them fed or hydrated, if they are too stressed out?
-Is it actually feasible to have them fully bonded after a 13 hour car ride? Any steps I should take when we're in our new area?
-I've heard that bringing their personal items (boxforts/toys) is super helpful to get them used to a new area, but will that interfere with their bonding? One of them has a rabbit hutch, so could he get territorial over it when it's suddenly being shared between the two?
-To add to the stress, I'll have to go to work after the first couple of days. So if they are not being friendly with one another, will separating them again, ruin any progress we're making?

I'm looking to get as much advice as I possibly can before the end of this month, when the move begins! Thank you for your time!

 

[JBun]

I wouldn't recommend it. Bonding can already be a stressful experience for rabbits. You don't want to be increasing the stress of a long distance car ride by adding bonding on top of it. The stress of an extended car ride can already put rabbits at risk of developing GI stasis, so it's best to minimize the stress they will feel as much as possible. I would recommend just focusing on keeping them eating and hydrated for the journey, which is already a difficult task.

I traveled with my rabbits from Utah to Florida a few years ago, and just keeping them eating and drinking for the whole trip was hard enough. My rabbits were normally fed romaine/green leaf lettuce, so I mostly used that to keep them fed and hydrated the whole trip as they would only nibble on pellets or hay a little. For your rabbits, 13 hours isn't too long of a journey. If they don't eat very well during the trip, I would think they would be fine as long as they settle in right away to the new place, and aren't too stressed.

The only way I would consider bonding during the car ride instead, is if they now show absolutely no stress being around one another and are basically showing they already really like each other. And also only if someone else is driving so you can be right there with them to supervise and break them up if needed.

Otherwise, you'll be in a new home once you arrive at your new location, and so everything will be neutral to both rabbits. I would suggest waiting to bond then. And not rush into bonding when you don't have everything prepared. The last thing you want is to rush into this and have a fight break out that risks serious injury and possibly hurts any chances they have of bonding later.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-bunnies.html
http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/information/bonding-bunnies/
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding_rabbits_together

 

[Alev]

I wouldn't recommend it. Bonding can already be a stressful experience for rabbits. You don't want to be increasing the stress of a long distance car ride by adding bonding on top of it. The stress of an extended car ride can already put rabbits at risk of developing GI stasis, so it's best to minimize the stress they will feel as much as possible. I would recommend just focusing on keeping them eating and hydrated for the journey, which is already a difficult task.

I traveled with my rabbits from Utah to Florida a few years ago, and just keeping them eating and drinking for the whole trip was hard enough. My rabbits were normally fed romaine/green leaf lettuce, so I mostly used that to keep them fed and hydrated the whole trip as they would only nibble on pellets or hay a little. For your rabbits, 13 hours isn't too long of a journey. If they don't eat very well during the trip, I would think they would be fine as long as they settle in right away to the new place, and aren't too stressed.

The only way I would consider bonding during the car ride instead, is if they now show absolutely no stress being around one another and are basically showing they already really like each other. And also only if someone else is driving so you can be right there with them to supervise and break them up if needed.

Otherwise, you'll be in a new home once you arrive at your new location, and so everything will be neutral to both rabbits. I would suggest waiting to bond then. And not rush into bonding when you don't have everything prepared. The last thing you want is to rush into this and have a fight break out that risks serious injury and possibly hurts any chances they have of bonding later.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bonding-bunnies.html
http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/information/bonding-bunnies/
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Bonding_rabbits_together

Thank you! I think keeping them fed and hydrated is what I'm most worried about, so I'll make that the main focus for them and worry about bonding later