Katy
Young Bun
Hi all!!!!
I have a spayed female bun, Dini, who is 4 years old, shes been on her own for over four years now (mini lop x netherland dwarf). Long story short i have come into two male 8 week old male mini rex bunnies, and considered trying to bond them with Dini.
Initial introduction found Dini nipping at the boys. They instantly submissed and retreated. I then panicked, worrying Dini was going to hurt the little boys and separated her and put her back in her hutch. I then tried again a couple of hours later. I did this a bit differently, as i had Dini on my knee, with me stroking her and letting the boys come and sit near her. This went alot better as she didn't seem bothered with them at all. The next day I just allowed contact through mesh so they could get the scent. The next day I put them in a neutral run together and, although there was nipping, it wasn't as bad as the initial introduction. I decided to let them stay together as the boys didn't seem too shook up by the nipping, infact they keep trying to get close to her as much as she allows.
She seems to tolerate them more as the days go on, but she still nips. I am still carrying on the introduction together but the past couple of days there hasn't been alot of progress. She is still nipping them when they get too close, yet she seems more comfortable with them in the run with her (she will lie down, groom herself, eat food). I read up on a 'car bonding method', as the stressful situation brings them closer in theory. I didn't use a car, but hoovered up next to their run which gave the same effect (I felt so mean after ). This worked, they all huddled together and after the ordeal there was no nipping for a good 30 minutes! Then she just started to nip them again. The boys are desperate for her attention, and the nipping hasn't deterred them to try and get close to her. It's just her being a bit temperamental! When I am out the rabbits are in conjoining runs so they can see each other through mesh without any contact.
Should i stop the nipping? I always check them after a nip to see if she has hurt them but there's never any skin breaks or marks. They don't seem too aggressive, could it be a dominance thing? The past couple of days have been the same, with no real progress (still nipping when the boys get too close). They currently have bedding swapped through hutches every day for the scent. Dini doesn't seem to have any real issue with the boys, more like they 'irritate' her when they get too close.
Has anybody had any similar situations? What would you all suggest I should do?
P.S -
- The boys will be neutered as soon as their testicles descend, but until they are fully healed they will not be staying in the same hutch or have full contact without supervision until then
- All bonding areas are in neutral space
- I'm not interested in people telling me i shouldn't have got two baby boys. I rescued them from a friend as they couldn't house them anymore. I just want advice on the best chance i can have at bonding my three bunnies
Thank you all in advance!!!!
Katy!
I have a spayed female bun, Dini, who is 4 years old, shes been on her own for over four years now (mini lop x netherland dwarf). Long story short i have come into two male 8 week old male mini rex bunnies, and considered trying to bond them with Dini.
Initial introduction found Dini nipping at the boys. They instantly submissed and retreated. I then panicked, worrying Dini was going to hurt the little boys and separated her and put her back in her hutch. I then tried again a couple of hours later. I did this a bit differently, as i had Dini on my knee, with me stroking her and letting the boys come and sit near her. This went alot better as she didn't seem bothered with them at all. The next day I just allowed contact through mesh so they could get the scent. The next day I put them in a neutral run together and, although there was nipping, it wasn't as bad as the initial introduction. I decided to let them stay together as the boys didn't seem too shook up by the nipping, infact they keep trying to get close to her as much as she allows.
She seems to tolerate them more as the days go on, but she still nips. I am still carrying on the introduction together but the past couple of days there hasn't been alot of progress. She is still nipping them when they get too close, yet she seems more comfortable with them in the run with her (she will lie down, groom herself, eat food). I read up on a 'car bonding method', as the stressful situation brings them closer in theory. I didn't use a car, but hoovered up next to their run which gave the same effect (I felt so mean after ). This worked, they all huddled together and after the ordeal there was no nipping for a good 30 minutes! Then she just started to nip them again. The boys are desperate for her attention, and the nipping hasn't deterred them to try and get close to her. It's just her being a bit temperamental! When I am out the rabbits are in conjoining runs so they can see each other through mesh without any contact.
Should i stop the nipping? I always check them after a nip to see if she has hurt them but there's never any skin breaks or marks. They don't seem too aggressive, could it be a dominance thing? The past couple of days have been the same, with no real progress (still nipping when the boys get too close). They currently have bedding swapped through hutches every day for the scent. Dini doesn't seem to have any real issue with the boys, more like they 'irritate' her when they get too close.
Has anybody had any similar situations? What would you all suggest I should do?
P.S -
- The boys will be neutered as soon as their testicles descend, but until they are fully healed they will not be staying in the same hutch or have full contact without supervision until then
- All bonding areas are in neutral space
- I'm not interested in people telling me i shouldn't have got two baby boys. I rescued them from a friend as they couldn't house them anymore. I just want advice on the best chance i can have at bonding my three bunnies
Thank you all in advance!!!!
Katy!