Rehoming Ella

Im having serious doubts, about my decison to keep Ella my rabbit.
She was treated like rubbish and fed human food in her last home, and was going to be let out for the big eagle owl to eat. They didnt handle Ella, and used to hit her when she bit.
I took Ella on as a foster, and put her under a local rescue. I then decided to take her on as my own, and to see if I could work through her agression.
As it happens, she bonded nicely with Fletcher, so moved them both into the outdoor shed.
Although I spend time outside in the shed with them - and have spent 1 to 1 time with Ella, shes still quite agressive and and skittish and dosent seem very happy.
I personally feel like this is because I dont spend enough time with her, with her being outdoors, and its so upsetting her for when I have to go and fish her out of the shed to spend time with her.
Louisa (Mopsymops) is considering taking her on - as an indoor bunny and oggs girlfriend
Before anyone flames me down - i havent taken this decison lightly AT ALL, and its not that I cant cope with 5 rabbits, i just feel Ella would be better off as an indoor rabbit where plenty of time can be spent turning her into a nice bunny, and I feel Louisa and Oggs could give her that.
Do you think it would be a problem,seperating Ella from Fletcher, and bonding Fletcher straight to my trio to stop him pining?

I couldnt do it:? Miffy had been bonded to Claude to nearly 5 years when he died ive never seen a rabbit depressed untill then it was so sad A rabbits bond with its friend is very strong i dont think its fair to spilt he may also not bond aswell with your others

Personally I could never contemplate seperating a bonded pair.
Is Ella happy when with Fletcher ? Some Rabbits will never be 'people orientated' and prefer to be left to socialise with their Bunfriend. If she is content with Fletcher and they are a happily bonded pair then why not keep her and just accept that you are an 'outsider' and enjoy watching her and attending to her and Fletcher's needs

Its a bit how Truffle is she doesnt really like people but shes happy with Dandy

What makes you think that she is unhappy? How does she behave when you're not in the shed spending time with her? If she's unhappy with human company I'd be inclined to just let them be and don't attempt to force your company on them. I spend virtually no time at all with my outdoor bunnies, they have each other for company and are very happy with that - I can imagine that they'd be none to impressed if I tried to spend time with them.

Apart from the bereavement that they will sense at breaking a bond, I'd be inclined to think that she may get worse, not better, if she's brought indoors and forced into the human contact that she hates. I think some bunnies are best accepted as not terribly human friendly and just let them be, as far as possible.

I dont think id part them... splitting a pair of bonded bunnies is wrong imo :?

Shes probably very happy, not all bunnies like to be petted :? My lottie lunges at me when i go out to feed her, but id never part her from george.

I hope you do the right thing xXx

My Lily(bridge bunny) was like this, she lived outside with Charlie, although Charlie is friendly, Lily wasent she used to lunge at me sometimes and wasnt friendly with people(except if you has apples:roll but i accepted this and loved her all the same, as long as Ella has got company and she can be handled for vets appointments, bum checks etc, i think she will be fine,Its a shame to break the bond

Santa said:

What makes you think that she is unhappy? How does she behave when you're not in the shed spending time with her? If she's unhappy with human company I'd be inclined to just let them be and don't attempt to force your company on them. I spend virtually no time at all with my outdoor bunnies, they have each other for company and are very happy with that - I can imagine that they'd be none to impressed if I tried to spend time with them.

Apart from the bereavement that they will sense at breaking a bond, I'd be inclined to think that she may get worse, not better, if she's brought indoors and forced into the human contact that she hates. I think some bunnies are best accepted as not terribly human friendly and just let them be, as far as possible.

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I totally agree - very good post xXx

I have a foster called Roger, and he is petrified around me (although he is significantly better than he was) and whilst he is scared around me when I am moving, he is so very happy with his girlfriends.

If she is happy with Fletcher, then maybe that is enough? It strikes me you feel like you have failed her, but try to compare how she is now to how she was when she arrived. I don't think you have failed her, I personally think you have turned her life around, from being a neglected bun, to a loved bun, with a friend, in a safe place, looked after magificantly.

Also, it may be that if she is that scared of people then maybe being an outdoor bun would be better for her because there is less pressure and stress of being around people?

Also, what if Fletcher doesn't bond with your trio? Then what happens?

I would not slate you for whatever decision you made but think about what is best for her and Fletcher, not what you think might be best based on your feelings (that sounds harsh but I can't think of a better way to phrase it).

I kind of understand as i think the same with my two guinea pigs, they are skittish and i havn't the time to tame them. I am just waiting for the right owner to come along. But i wouldn't let them be seperated as i think this is your biggest problem........

Jack's-Jane said:

Personally I could never contemplate seperating a bonded pair.
Is Ella happy when with Fletcher ? Some Rabbits will never be 'people orientated' and prefer to be left to socialise with their Bunfriend. If she is content with Fletcher and they are a happily bonded pair then why not keep her and just accept that you are an 'outsider' and enjoy watching her and attending to her and Fletcher's needs

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i agree. Pebbles is a sweet girl but shes scared of me. god only knows what she went through but nearly 18months after adopting her she only will come up to me for a treat.

However, domino and pebbles together . they are adorable, inseperable!

she doesnt need me, shes happy with domino.

this sounds v similar!

Fletcher is a very human orientated bunny and loves fusses and smooshes and Ella gets upset when i pick him up and trys to attack my feet, though her being an angry bunny dosent just stop here, and it means I cant spend time with Fletcher either because she gets so narked off with me being in the shed.
Shell very very occasionally come up for smooches, and she does seem to enjoy human contact when shes not to busy trying to eat you :lol:
Edit: I wouldnt rehome Fletcher with her - as hes a rescue bunny and would have to go back to rescue, but theres no way id part with him anyway

Phoebesmummy9 said:

Fletcher is a very human orientated bunny and loves fusses and smooshes and Ella gets upset when i pick him up and trys to attack my feet, though her being an angry bunny dosent just stop here, and it means I cant spend time with Fletcher either because she gets so narked off with me being in the shed.
Shell very very occasionally come up for smooches, and she does seem to enjoy human contact when shes not to busy trying to eat you :lol:

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I still think breaking a bond would be very wrong for both Ella and Fletcher.
Just my personal opinion

Jack's-Jane said:

I still think breaking a bond would be very wrong for both Ella and Fletcher.
Just my personal opinion

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Do you think its worth perservering with it and try and spend more time with them as a pair, in the garden to see if Fletcher coming up to me, will encourage ella?

I would never, EVER break a bond between two bunnies, I think that it would not only be unfair but really cruel and I really can't believe that you are even considering it, if you must rehome Ella then Fletcher should go with her.

I have known bunnies grieve so much that they have died when parted from their bond!

Please do not seperate them.

id not split a pair either...

Alvin has lived as an indoor bunny for almost 2 years and he still hates humans... some bunnies just wont accept us so its best to just enjoy the bunny love they have for each other

Snowy said:

I would never, EVER break a bond between two bunnies, I think that it would not only be unfair but really cruel and I really can't believe that you are even considering it, if you must rehome Ella then Fletcher should go with her.

I have known bunnies grieve so much that they have died when parted from their bond!

Please do not seperate them.

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As I say snowy, it isnt being taken lightly - and im only considering it because I felt that was best for Ella - not me,my bank account or anyone else. Its not that I dont love Ella, because as grumpy as she is, I do love her and I wouldnt just rehome for no reason.

Phoebesmummy9 said:

Do you think its worth perservering with it and try and spend more time with them as a pair, in the garden to see if Fletcher coming up to me, will encourage ella?

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You could do that. But you may just have to accept that you are not part of the group. Reading between the lines I think you feel that Ella is stopping you having cuddles and time with Fletcher. But that maybe how it has to be. If Fletcher and Ella are happy bonded Bunnies then they dont need you for company, you maybe need them though. Or at least Fletcher........

I completly agree with the rest .
Maybe in the warmer weather you will be able to get out and spend a lot more time with them both on the grass. Could you even try bringing them in for an hour each night. If she is quite happy i would leave her be happy with Fletcher, and to be honest i dont blame her for being like this for the way she was treated, she just needs a lot of love and patience to learn to trust xx

I'm totally new to bonded rabbits but I had Rudy for about 10 weeks before he was bonded to Tinks and he had got to the stage where he wanted and asked for loads of my attention. He was a very cuddle bunny. Tinks really didn't like human company, she especially dislikes being stroked.

Since the bond Rudy often runs away from me trying to pet him (like he thinks it will offend Tinks!). Tinks is very friendly (food orientated) but will never like being fussed. I'm really missing my close bond with Rudy but what they now have got is really special.

It is different with these two as I have a real rapport with Tinks (as long as I don't try to stoke her :roll. I've just had to accept that Rudy doesn't need me now he's got Tinks, but I get great pleasure from seeing them together.