casu consulto
Mama Doe
Sorry if this is long...! I want to try and explain so I can get other opinions on this.
I have a female pair that are mother and daughter. And two single males, at the moment - but the idea there is to be possibly trying to bond those two in the coming year. I'm not nervous about bonding, and understand how a male x male pair is perhaps the least easy to attempt.
My female pair, the mother/daughter are actually the issue here, or might become one. To put it politely, mummy-Hazel can be a rather moody little, erm, madam. She always has been. If they're all out in runs in the garden, and my fluffy headed Amber decides she hates the girls that day, Hazel will turn on Bella, her daughter, in a case of referred aggression. She has NEVER harmed her, she just chases her wanting to assert her dominance, but Bella gets very nervous and skittish and runs rather than keeping still. This lasts until Amber stops trying to challenge Hazel against the side of the run closest to them, and then they all settle down again.
Last night, Hazel was chasing Bella around their hutch and mounting her. They'd been fed not long before - but this is new behaviour for them. When Hazel is chasing Bella, Bella looks extremely nervous and frightened, but it does not seem to last long. As a bonded pair, they rest together in the same litter tray. Hazel is not a cuddly or affectionate bunny. This extends to her behaviour to Bella, too. They don't sit grooming one another, and Bella is the one who initiates any sort of snuggling - Hazel just lies flopped and doesn't look like she minds either way. They've been together for two years now, and Bella has never been without her mum.
My family keep suggesting I split them and bond each with one of my currently unpaired boys. :? I can see their point. It's very neat, and even, to have three male/female pairs. I DO worry that Hazel's behaviour to Bella could get worse. But I don't like the idea of splitting them without 'real' reason, just because I think something MIGHT happen in the future. If their bond was to break, and I could no rebond them, then I'd be unable to adopt partners to cater for each. Six rabbits are quite enough for me.
It WOULD be wrong to separate the female pair, wouldn't it? :? I've never have this number of rabbits, and so I've never been in a position where changing the way they live would be a possibility. My sister keeps pointing out it's not like they'd never see one another again, but I'm not sure how much seeing one another through mesh really counts for a bunny.
I have a female pair that are mother and daughter. And two single males, at the moment - but the idea there is to be possibly trying to bond those two in the coming year. I'm not nervous about bonding, and understand how a male x male pair is perhaps the least easy to attempt.
My female pair, the mother/daughter are actually the issue here, or might become one. To put it politely, mummy-Hazel can be a rather moody little, erm, madam. She always has been. If they're all out in runs in the garden, and my fluffy headed Amber decides she hates the girls that day, Hazel will turn on Bella, her daughter, in a case of referred aggression. She has NEVER harmed her, she just chases her wanting to assert her dominance, but Bella gets very nervous and skittish and runs rather than keeping still. This lasts until Amber stops trying to challenge Hazel against the side of the run closest to them, and then they all settle down again.
Last night, Hazel was chasing Bella around their hutch and mounting her. They'd been fed not long before - but this is new behaviour for them. When Hazel is chasing Bella, Bella looks extremely nervous and frightened, but it does not seem to last long. As a bonded pair, they rest together in the same litter tray. Hazel is not a cuddly or affectionate bunny. This extends to her behaviour to Bella, too. They don't sit grooming one another, and Bella is the one who initiates any sort of snuggling - Hazel just lies flopped and doesn't look like she minds either way. They've been together for two years now, and Bella has never been without her mum.
My family keep suggesting I split them and bond each with one of my currently unpaired boys. :? I can see their point. It's very neat, and even, to have three male/female pairs. I DO worry that Hazel's behaviour to Bella could get worse. But I don't like the idea of splitting them without 'real' reason, just because I think something MIGHT happen in the future. If their bond was to break, and I could no rebond them, then I'd be unable to adopt partners to cater for each. Six rabbits are quite enough for me.
It WOULD be wrong to separate the female pair, wouldn't it? :? I've never have this number of rabbits, and so I've never been in a position where changing the way they live would be a possibility. My sister keeps pointing out it's not like they'd never see one another again, but I'm not sure how much seeing one another through mesh really counts for a bunny.
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