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Bonding - a muse

Apache

Mama Doe
Hi,

I am beginning to wonder - and would like other people's views on this, if with bonding, where it isn't an instant success, if the rabbits just grow tolerate each other?

Alfred and Emily have been together since Tuesday, and still seem to spend most of their time apart.

I've asked Alfred if he is happy with Emily and if he wants her to stay, and at the moment he is unsure.

I hope he does take to her and wants her to stay, as she is a lovely rabbit, a very happy go lucky, friendly and gentle sort. But I also want him to be happy too.

Maybe I'm using some of my horse expereinces too, Misty & Apache tolerate each other, when you ask them what they think, she describes him as an idiot, and he says Misty is bossy and interfering. But over time they have become used to each other - but will probably never be the closest of friends.

What are your views on bonding and rabbits becoming friends?

Jx

PS - ermm maybe I should mention that I do animal communication.. Although I don't so it professionally..
 
I think rabbits are a bit more complicated than humans as they have a lot of issues to get out of the way before they can decide on a friendship. There are also things that can make it harder for the to make friends.

Rabbits have to be more cautious because offending another bun accidently can mean an attack. They have heirachies so first they must puzzle out whose going to be boss - alot of ignoring is both rabbits waiting to see what the other rabbit is going to do.

Some rabbits haven't had much or even any connect with other rabbits as adults so they haven't had any practice at socialising. Or their only practice has been with humans who have different rules to rabbits.

Then you have lops who are missing half their communication tools.

If rabbits were just tolerating company I don't think you'd see them spending so much time together. When rabbits are bonded it's rare to see them in different areas on their enclosure even.

Tam
 
It took time with Gypsy and Storm. Gypsy was on her own for around 6 months after loosing Bilbo.Then I rescued storm and brought him home. At first she was very against him being in her space. I had him in an indoor cage in her territory so they got used to the sight and smell of each other. Then when they could be left together she just wanted to chase Storm. Then they ignored each other for a few days. Evenchally ( after around a week) they would sit together some times, but not very often. After another week or two they sat together more often untill they fell in love and now they are always grooming each other and cuddling up :D :D
I think it just takes time for bunnies to suss each other out and built up trust with each other. If they are not fighting and ripping each others fur out this is generally a very good sign :D
 
Tamsin said:
If rabbits were just tolerating company I don't think you'd see them spending so much time together. When rabbits are bonded it's rare to see them in different areas on their enclosure even.

Really? Miles and Miffy spend their days apart and their evenings together (much like a working human couple! :lol: ). They'll spend hours out of sight of each other during the day, sleeping in their own personal favourite places. But then in the evenings they won't leave each other's side, grooming and playing and sleeping next to each other, so they're definitely bonded.

I'm not calling you a liar obviously! :) I'm just wondering why my two are so... different?!

AMETHYST
 
Thanks Tamsin,

I had been wondering about this, just because I'm female it doesn't automatically follow that I will get on with every male, and it must be the same with rabbits too.

That's also very interesting what you say too about socialising, both of mine are rescues, so I'm not sure about Alfred - I think he'd lived alone, but I know Emily came in with another rabbit (a female dwarf) - they had both spent 12 months stuck in a tiny hutch as un-neutered females, and the dwarf was covered with bites.

Alfred is a lop, and Emily isn't.. So not sure if that complicates things further.

If long term you had 2 rabbits that just tolerated each other, is it kinder to seperate them, and look for another rabbit for each of them? Then they can have a bonded friend?

Jx
 
Sorry posts crossed!

Sparklefairy - many thanks for that, there is no nastyness between my 2, just one (usually Alfred) is upstairs, while Emily prefers to be downstairs - and it isn't that she is worried by the ramp, she quite happily goes up and down it.

Amethyst - thanks - that is a very interesting insight too.

Jx
 
Well, Bobby and Ruby are very close and always snuggle up together and play together, they look out for each other too when big bad mummy goes into the run :roll:
However, they do scrap at mealtimes. There's never any nastiness, so i think it's just playing - chasing each other etc. They are fairly independent of each other during the day, both having their chill-out zones.
I think it's worth persevering - each rabbit pairing is different. Bobby has had 3 wives, and has been different with each one, but has always been bonded and happy with them.
 
Amethyst said:
Tamsin said:
If rabbits were just tolerating company I don't think you'd see them spending so much time together. When rabbits are bonded it's rare to see them in different areas on their enclosure even.

Really? Miles and Miffy spend their days apart and their evenings together (much like a working human couple! :lol: ). They'll spend hours out of sight of each other during the day, sleeping in their own personal favourite places. But then in the evenings they won't leave each other's side, grooming and playing and sleeping next to each other, so they're definitely bonded.

I'm not calling you a liar obviously! :) I'm just wondering why my two are so... different?!

AMETHYST

I guess all bunnies are different, just like people. Some times you can love someone with all your heart but to spend every moment glued together would drive you crazy :lol: My buns can be like this. I know they love each other and they do cuddle most of the time but some times they will sit at opposite ends of my bedroom or Gypsy will jump on my bed to get away from storm if he's being a silly young lad and she wants some peace, she will jump back down and snuggled up to him once he's clamed down :lol:
 
Hi Gem,

I'm not a member of that no - I think I had a look at it in the early days and it seemed very quiet - I will have another look later.

I did once run a forum on a/c, but closed it as too many people started to use it for free readings.

You might find my website of interest, and this one is a friends site - who is a professional a/c - www.nirvanasprings.co.uk.

Have you done any workshops on a/c?

Jx
 
No, I have no talent at all :(

I will try again at some point when I have some money :roll:
 
Amethyst said:
I'm not calling you a liar obviously! :) I'm just wondering why my two are so... different?!

AMETHYST

:lol: Bunny have different personalities - just when you think you have them sussed one will come along and totally change the rules.

My two have an upstairs and down stairs and their generally in the same section but they do have their favourite spots for sleeping. Sometimes they looked glued together other times Alfie will prefer the paving at the back and Gypsy the litter tray.

I had one bun that would always get inbetween me and his girl, not sure if he was protecting her or trying to get the noserubs/treats first. Alfie tends to run in the opposite direction where as his girl comes to find out what's on offer :lol:

They do sort of scrap at mealtimes but like Helen I wouldn't say they were being nasty. They are happy to chase their treatball together. The just nick the best bits off each other and grunt alot ;)

I think it's facinating watching rabbits interact - I think that's one of the best parts of having bunnies. I could sit and watch them go about their business all day :D

Tam
 
Tamsin said:
I think it's facinating watching rabbits interact - I think that's one of the best parts of having bunnies. I could sit and watch them go about their business all day :D

Me too Tam. I think that's one of the reasons why I'm so good at spotting early signs of a problem (if I do say so myself :lol: ) because I spend soooo long just watching them that I notice fairly quickly if one of them is not behaving normally.

My two gorgeous nethies are always snuggling together when they are in their shed and run, they are more or less inseparable - but let them out into the garden and Santa will just find a nice cozy spot in the sun to snooze, and Dudley will completely ignore her and go rummaging around in as many different places as possible.

Whereas when my lops are out in the garden, they stick together and egg each other on into being naughtier and naughtier. This morning I caught them on top of the run, leaning on the fence eating the neighbour's plants over the edge :lol: :no:

I can't 'animal communicate' but I reckon I could tell you fairly accurately what they're all thinking. Probably "why are you asking me silly questions. Now where's my dinner". :lol:
 
AlisonA said:
I can't 'animal communicate' but I reckon I could tell you fairly accurately what they're all thinking. Probably "why are you asking me silly questions. Now where's my dinner". :lol:

Probably you are communicating, I think most people do it without thinking, I can tell from 50 paces is something is wrong with either of my horses, most pet owners when they know their animals instinctively know when something is wrong.

Gem - keep trying, it didn't happen instantly for me at first, and I definately didn't get a big "switch on", it was more a gradual process... I also expected to me instantly clairaudient (hearing them), whereas clairsentience (feelign the emotions and seeing images) is my primary way of receiving... Please feel free to PM if you want to chat more..

Jx
 
I find all this animal communication stuff really interesting. Particularly when you say that most of what you "hear" is feelings rather than actual words. I believe strongly in energy - energy fields, auras etc. and I've recently started casting circles (which incidentally my rabbits picked up on as they reacted really strongly to what I was doing!). Harry calls it my "ooga-booga" stuff!! But he respects it and believes I have a point, probably because I view it so scientifically.

Anyhow, I guess what you could be picking up on is changes in their energy fields/auras? At least partly?

AMETHYST
 
Hiya

Partly, I think when we can see something is wrong with our animal we are picking up in changes in the aura, but I know it is more than that, I get shown pictures of what for example might be bothering the animal, although I often get their emotions too, and feel their pain.

Jx
 
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