SOAD
Wise Old Thumper
Ok I know in a sense this is another bonding post and I have been doing lots of research on the subject, I think I just need some reassurance that everything is going to ok in the end?
Last night was a disaster of the highest order, both Beatrix and Marly ended up hurt.
1st Problem, I get in from work and Beatrix had been watching Maisie through her cage. Maisie had stuck her face out through the bars and Beatrix had her face in. Beatrix was grooming Maisie face, it was all very gentle and nice, then all of a sudden Maise was on her hind legs scratching Beas face with her front paws, Beatrix then retaliate by doing the same. This scratching through bars lasted about 2 seconds not long, but felt longer as I was trying to get my hands in between them. I would just like to add there is a cage between them this wasn't even proper face to face meeting, as Maisie has still got her stitches in so I wouldn't of let them meet properly, but Beatrix injured her paw on Maisie's cage.
2nd problem, I let Bob out of his puppy pen for his few hours exercise, it was his turn first before Maisie. Beatrix again was very excited when the puppy cage was being opened so I let her hang around. It started well a bit of sniffing and nose rubbing, then quicker then I could blink he had held down her head and was humping her face. I split them up and took Bob into the living room for his exercise.
I then cleaned cages and moved Maisie into puppy pen so Bob could go into her cage and they could get use to each others smells, as the plan is to bond Bob and Maisie in the long run (PS Bob and Maisie's cage are next to each other, so they can rub noses).
3rd Problem, Marly and Beatrix seem to be get on each others nerves, now this is very strange as they were love at first sight bunnies. Beatrix seems to be too interested in what the new bunnies are doing to be bothered about Marly. Marly was looking unhappy and I'm not certain, but I am sure I saw Beatrix nip Marly.
4th Problem, When it was Maisie's turn in the living room I decided to try Marly with her (as he was fed up). Marly is a very gentle chap, they had been next to each other on Sunday and it had been quite a good meeting. Again it started off well then with out warning Maisie bit a chunk out of Marly, fur and skin.
Now I will explain a bit about Maisie's background she went into the RSPCA, because she had bitten her sister quite badly and the people who had her didn't want her anymore, but they kept her sister. I thought that now she had been spayed she would be less bitey. I haven't introduced Bob and Maise properly and I won't for a bit. The reason I hadn't done it before is because I thought Bob would be a bit heavy for her after her op, but I now think that if he held down her head and tried to have sex with her face she would end up biting his balls off and I could cancel Friday's castration.
5th Problem, Beatrix and Marly are getting jealous normally when I get in from the work they come into the living room with me, they spend all night in front of the fire until bed time, but they can't at the minute as I am having to exercise two different bunnies.
Last night after Maisie and Bob had gone back to bed, Bea and Marly sat with me in the living room (luckily they had made friends and were sitting with their cheeks joined together) Marly was missing some skin and Beatrix holding her paw in the air, they looked fed up, I felt fed up. Please someone tell me this is going to get easier?
I am sorry this is so long but I needed to ask people who know about this sort of thing. I am swapping Bob and Maisie around in the cages so they get use to each others smell. I have a large carrier waiting to take two at a time in the car ( I read that in living with a house rabbit book). No meeting is lasting more then a minute at the moment. Bob and Maisie haven't met properly yet as I am waiting for his castration on Friday then I need is wound to heal. Any advice will be so gratefully accepted?
I am aware I am out for the long haul with this, I just don't want to make any mistakes and make it longer.
Last night was a disaster of the highest order, both Beatrix and Marly ended up hurt.
1st Problem, I get in from work and Beatrix had been watching Maisie through her cage. Maisie had stuck her face out through the bars and Beatrix had her face in. Beatrix was grooming Maisie face, it was all very gentle and nice, then all of a sudden Maise was on her hind legs scratching Beas face with her front paws, Beatrix then retaliate by doing the same. This scratching through bars lasted about 2 seconds not long, but felt longer as I was trying to get my hands in between them. I would just like to add there is a cage between them this wasn't even proper face to face meeting, as Maisie has still got her stitches in so I wouldn't of let them meet properly, but Beatrix injured her paw on Maisie's cage.
2nd problem, I let Bob out of his puppy pen for his few hours exercise, it was his turn first before Maisie. Beatrix again was very excited when the puppy cage was being opened so I let her hang around. It started well a bit of sniffing and nose rubbing, then quicker then I could blink he had held down her head and was humping her face. I split them up and took Bob into the living room for his exercise.
I then cleaned cages and moved Maisie into puppy pen so Bob could go into her cage and they could get use to each others smells, as the plan is to bond Bob and Maisie in the long run (PS Bob and Maisie's cage are next to each other, so they can rub noses).
3rd Problem, Marly and Beatrix seem to be get on each others nerves, now this is very strange as they were love at first sight bunnies. Beatrix seems to be too interested in what the new bunnies are doing to be bothered about Marly. Marly was looking unhappy and I'm not certain, but I am sure I saw Beatrix nip Marly.
4th Problem, When it was Maisie's turn in the living room I decided to try Marly with her (as he was fed up). Marly is a very gentle chap, they had been next to each other on Sunday and it had been quite a good meeting. Again it started off well then with out warning Maisie bit a chunk out of Marly, fur and skin.
Now I will explain a bit about Maisie's background she went into the RSPCA, because she had bitten her sister quite badly and the people who had her didn't want her anymore, but they kept her sister. I thought that now she had been spayed she would be less bitey. I haven't introduced Bob and Maise properly and I won't for a bit. The reason I hadn't done it before is because I thought Bob would be a bit heavy for her after her op, but I now think that if he held down her head and tried to have sex with her face she would end up biting his balls off and I could cancel Friday's castration.
5th Problem, Beatrix and Marly are getting jealous normally when I get in from the work they come into the living room with me, they spend all night in front of the fire until bed time, but they can't at the minute as I am having to exercise two different bunnies.
Last night after Maisie and Bob had gone back to bed, Bea and Marly sat with me in the living room (luckily they had made friends and were sitting with their cheeks joined together) Marly was missing some skin and Beatrix holding her paw in the air, they looked fed up, I felt fed up. Please someone tell me this is going to get easier?
I am sorry this is so long but I needed to ask people who know about this sort of thing. I am swapping Bob and Maisie around in the cages so they get use to each others smell. I have a large carrier waiting to take two at a time in the car ( I read that in living with a house rabbit book). No meeting is lasting more then a minute at the moment. Bob and Maisie haven't met properly yet as I am waiting for his castration on Friday then I need is wound to heal. Any advice will be so gratefully accepted?
I am aware I am out for the long haul with this, I just don't want to make any mistakes and make it longer.