OK another bonding Q but a little bit different - eeek help!

[smallbrownfrog]

although i haven't bonded 2 girls, this sounds very familiar. this bernie acted like Athena when my boys were first let into her room and she was still in her cage. i waited until everybody was ignoring everybody, and bernie (girl) just sat there when either of the boys came up to the bars, then i took them all to a totally new place, the bathroom and, making sure the boys were there first, and both me and the boyf were armed with towels and water pistols, and the cat was there (just to take a bit of the focus of the 2 boys) let them get on with sorting out who was boss.

after a good bit of chasing, Al realsed he wasn't gonna win so started backing down. then Bernie focused on Steve who is bigger than her but generally just gets out the way when something's 'goin down'. once she was sure poor ol Steve had bowed to her almighty authority. (which took a little time, even tho he never tried to be top bunny!) they all settled down. they haven't been apart since, that was a few months ago. during all this the boys had a breif re-assertion of who was what between them, but they soon got back to being best of friends.

berine is still reeeealy terratorial, i'm not sure how another female would be welcomed!!! Bernie's a little devil! :twisted:

maybe you bathroom is a good place, i'd deffinately recomend putting violet, then Zeus, then Athena down on the floor. it makes a real difference who is there first. i held on to bern and let Al sniff her whilst i Stroked her too. this seemed to minimise the evil lunging! :roll:

 

[smallbrownfrog]

but then again, i have heard that bonding 2 pairs is easier that bonding one to a pair.

and rexs ARE lovely........

 

[WonderBunn]

Small brown frog you have some gorgeous bunnies! Not looked at your piccies before!!

Its funny this should come up about the bonding, we recently got a 4th bunn, she is only little but eventually would like to bond her with the other 3 or maybe just 1 of them. But when I had got home yesterday Thora had escaped and got upstairs and was sat next to Squishies pen (long story :lol: ) got Thora back in the right place but decided it maybe good to see how weel they all get on. I made a pen next to the others and put squishie in there. They couldnt get to each other just sniff through the pen. The 3 of them had a sniff at squishie and then went all strange as if they were going to go at it and start fighting, look like the cowboys do before a show down!! Very odd, moved Squishie away and I sat in with the 3 of them and they were fine again, all friends!

In the 3 there is 1 boy (castrated) 1 girl (neutered) 1 girl (not neutered only young) and Squishie is meant to be a girl (who know though as she is only tiny!). Thought it was all rather odd behaviour but sounds a bit like yours did Caz.

 

[Caz]

Just putting updates in this post (as I have kinda taken over Cathy's and I want to keep it all together).

Sunday 19/12
Today I let all three run free in the garden (as opposed to their runs). They seemed to be ignoring each other for a bit then Violet ran up and nipped Zeus, Athena ran to his rescue and all three ended up in a fur pile with fur going everywhere (thank god they have their winter coats).

Managed to grab Violet - checked them all over - Athena has a bite on her nose but other than that no serious injuries so I let Violet run free today but left Zeus and Athena in their run. Zeus and Athena fought less with each other and seemed very interested in Violet when she ran past.

Monday 20/12
I have an idea about what my problem might be - the rescue mentioned Violet was recently neutered - I am waiting to hear how recently!

Zeus first met Athena when she wasn't neutered and he wouldn't leave her alone. After she was netuered it took a couple of months for him to stop mounting her.

If Violet has been recently done she could still be giving off breeding pheremones/hormones which Zeus is picking up on and he is taking it out on Athena because she is available to him (whereas Violet has been seperated from him).

I am hoping that is just the case and Violet just needs to be kept away from them until her hormones settle.

Every evening when Violet goes back upstairs Zeus and Athena snuggle down together as normal and last night Athena was flopped over on her side while Zeus groomed her head so it isn't breaking their bond.

I may try putting Zeus and Athena in the spare room with Violet caged, then putting Violet downstairs with Zeus and Athena caged.

Every bun is different - smallbrownfrog has posted some gorgeous pics of three bunnys all snuggled up together - just wish I could have that!

Caz

P.S. After Brendan's mild protestations about another rabbit - I caught him in the spare room with Violet upside down asleep in his arms while he gave her nose rubs and tickled her belly (she closes her eyes and snoozes when you rub her nose)

 

[luvabun]

P.S. After Brendan's mild protestations about another rabbit - I caught him in the spare room with Violet upside down asleep in his arms while he gave her nose rubs and tickled her belly (she closes her eyes and snoozes when you rub her nose)

Is that Brendan being totally smothered by Zeus in the pic?? Ha - who's the big softie then???
Good luck with the 3-way bonding

 

[Caz]

Yup - he tries to be all manly but he is a sucker when it comes to the rabbits - he bought me my first one!

I am not sure whether I want them to bond properly as I want to help Kathy by adopting one of hers too as a friend for Violet. I just want them to get on so they can go in the garden together. Would it be better to wait until Violet has her own boyf before attempting bonding?

Caz