*This is a sensitive and difficult subject for me, so please be compassionate with your responses*
As some of you may know, I 'rescued' Jellybean from someone just before Christmas. She was being kept in a tiny chicken coop (not enough space for more than two hops) and she had escaped a fox attack not soon before due to not being shut in at night. Her previous owner didn't even give her a name and thought she was a boy. So when he told me about her, I couldn't say no to taking her.
Only a couple of months later, we lost dear Plumpkin. It was my greatest hope that we might be able to bond Jellybean with Beatrice and Hamilton when the time was right. Especially as Plumpkin was Beatrice's soulmate.
However, despite lots of different attempts, things really aren't working out. We have tried lots of different bonding methods. Conventional and unconventional. We helped her face her general fear of rabbits by bonding her with gentle Hamilton, with Beatrice being kept on the other side of the fence. Hamilton and Jellybean got on amazingly and bonded very quickly considering Jellybean was petrified of him for the first few days. But we knew that it was unfair on Beatrice to keep her on her own, so we would switch them out 50/50 to make sure they were both getting some love from Hamilton. In the end, I moved Hamilton back in with Beatrice permanently, because I didn't want to make her unhappy.
We tried bonding them a couple more times once Jellybean wasn't terrified of both of them anymore, but Beatrice really seems to hate Jellybean with a passion. My OH has been working away from home a lot, so it has all dragged out much more than I wanted it to. I can't bond them on my own really (another set of hands to break up a fight is useful) and having to move the dividing fence in and out of the shed every morning and night to set it back up as a run is exhausting.
What's more, Hamilton is intent on getting to Jellybean and has jumped over the 70cm fence several times. He's a very good jumper. It is stressful for all involved.
Beatrice has a big scab on her back from their last fight. She dug under the run and scrapped with Jellybean. Jellybean fought back and cut Beatrice's leg and back. Tonight has been worse. I noticed that Jellybean hasn't been herself today or had much of an appetite. I only realised when she was sat on the hack rack, so I could see her face from higher up, that she has a big cut on her lower lip. Beatrice must have bitten her through the bars of the run. It has happened before.
I wanted to believe that they could be a great trio, but now I'm starting to lose hope. I'm really sad because I've done everything I can for them and feel like I've failed them all badly. I'm wondering how to proceed here. Jellybean is staying in my life, no question about that. She's helped me to heal since Plumpkin's death. She is a very kind soul and a member of the family now.
I'm wondering if I could put a permanent wooden divider in the shed so that the bun's can't see each other. They would have to have individual doors into their runs. And the run divider would need fine grade mesh on it, so they can't bite each other through the bars anymore. The only problem is, I wonder if they'll be stressed out just being able to hear each other and see each other all of the time. I can't really afford to make Jellybean her own outdoor setup right now, and definitely don't have space for another shed. I don't want to bring her inside again because she's much happier outside.
I could save up for something smaller scale, which is still enough space for her. Any suggestions are welcome. Then there's the question of another rabbit. I would probably look at the RSPCA or Blue Cross to find her a match in the long run. A male would probably be the best option.
If anyone has any suggestions at all, I'd really appreciate them. This has been such a stressful period and it has taken up a lot of my mental energy. Please be kind with your comments, because everything I've tried so far has come from a well-meaning place. I didn't want to give up on bonding them straight away because if it had worked out, it would have been the most practical arrangement. H&B used to be great in a trio with Plumps, so I had high hopes
As some of you may know, I 'rescued' Jellybean from someone just before Christmas. She was being kept in a tiny chicken coop (not enough space for more than two hops) and she had escaped a fox attack not soon before due to not being shut in at night. Her previous owner didn't even give her a name and thought she was a boy. So when he told me about her, I couldn't say no to taking her.
Only a couple of months later, we lost dear Plumpkin. It was my greatest hope that we might be able to bond Jellybean with Beatrice and Hamilton when the time was right. Especially as Plumpkin was Beatrice's soulmate.
However, despite lots of different attempts, things really aren't working out. We have tried lots of different bonding methods. Conventional and unconventional. We helped her face her general fear of rabbits by bonding her with gentle Hamilton, with Beatrice being kept on the other side of the fence. Hamilton and Jellybean got on amazingly and bonded very quickly considering Jellybean was petrified of him for the first few days. But we knew that it was unfair on Beatrice to keep her on her own, so we would switch them out 50/50 to make sure they were both getting some love from Hamilton. In the end, I moved Hamilton back in with Beatrice permanently, because I didn't want to make her unhappy.
We tried bonding them a couple more times once Jellybean wasn't terrified of both of them anymore, but Beatrice really seems to hate Jellybean with a passion. My OH has been working away from home a lot, so it has all dragged out much more than I wanted it to. I can't bond them on my own really (another set of hands to break up a fight is useful) and having to move the dividing fence in and out of the shed every morning and night to set it back up as a run is exhausting.
What's more, Hamilton is intent on getting to Jellybean and has jumped over the 70cm fence several times. He's a very good jumper. It is stressful for all involved.
Beatrice has a big scab on her back from their last fight. She dug under the run and scrapped with Jellybean. Jellybean fought back and cut Beatrice's leg and back. Tonight has been worse. I noticed that Jellybean hasn't been herself today or had much of an appetite. I only realised when she was sat on the hack rack, so I could see her face from higher up, that she has a big cut on her lower lip. Beatrice must have bitten her through the bars of the run. It has happened before.
I wanted to believe that they could be a great trio, but now I'm starting to lose hope. I'm really sad because I've done everything I can for them and feel like I've failed them all badly. I'm wondering how to proceed here. Jellybean is staying in my life, no question about that. She's helped me to heal since Plumpkin's death. She is a very kind soul and a member of the family now.
I'm wondering if I could put a permanent wooden divider in the shed so that the bun's can't see each other. They would have to have individual doors into their runs. And the run divider would need fine grade mesh on it, so they can't bite each other through the bars anymore. The only problem is, I wonder if they'll be stressed out just being able to hear each other and see each other all of the time. I can't really afford to make Jellybean her own outdoor setup right now, and definitely don't have space for another shed. I don't want to bring her inside again because she's much happier outside.
I could save up for something smaller scale, which is still enough space for her. Any suggestions are welcome. Then there's the question of another rabbit. I would probably look at the RSPCA or Blue Cross to find her a match in the long run. A male would probably be the best option.
If anyone has any suggestions at all, I'd really appreciate them. This has been such a stressful period and it has taken up a lot of my mental energy. Please be kind with your comments, because everything I've tried so far has come from a well-meaning place. I didn't want to give up on bonding them straight away because if it had worked out, it would have been the most practical arrangement. H&B used to be great in a trio with Plumps, so I had high hopes