Hi Everyone,
I hope you're all well. I like to lurk here a lot and read people's threads but until now have never posted. However, I really think I need a little bit of advice as I've read SO much information over the last couple of days that I am almost too confused now and getting rather upset with how the binding process is going for us here. This is lengthy but I want to be as accurate as possible
I have had house rabbits before, 2 sets of pairs (separate times) that I managed to successfully bond on my own. One pair were love at first sight, the other had one scuffle and then got on with it. Great!
A number of years later, now, these rabbits are no longer with me and so I decided after I moved into a big enough house that I would like to get them again as they are such great animals. At the time, my boyfriend only agreed to 1 and so I purchased Chunky 8 months ago when she was 3 months old. I had her spayed and she has been a lovely little bunny. At first she was quite timid but she is getting much more bolshy as she knows us and her home so I would not describe her at all as timid now.
A few weeks ago I convinced mY boyfriend that getting chunky a friend was the right thing to do, and after showing him research he agreed.
So, we chose Rusty a week ago. He is a male, 10 weeks old and not yet neutered. He had 2 sisters he was living with that we're bought as a pair. They were always together when we visited Rusty and he was always sitting separate from them inside the run, like he wasn't part of their gang.
He's very sociable, lets us pick him up ( which Chunky isn't keen on), and loves to explore..... He seems very friendly actually, although I know full well that isn't a predictor for bunny bonding, I guess I just got a shock!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, it isn't going particularly well so I thought if I summarise what I have done so far, perhaps some of you out there will see my issue? I'm sure I must be doing something wrong, but it is starting to upset me and I'm really scared that once of them is going to get hurt....I've only been binding them for 4 days now so I know it can take longer, but my concern is we don't seem to be making any progress.
Upon bringing Rusty home: I housed the rabbits in the living room in cages directly next to each other. They can see each other and are approximately 1 inch apart. They loom at each other and also stretch out and sleep, seeming fairly relaxed knowing the other is there. Each night I switch their cages so they are sleeping in the others litter box. This also hasn't caused distress.
I have let them out separately too hang out in the living room so they are exercising enough, never together. Is this ok?
Day 1
I took them up to the bathroom. Neither have been in here.
I took a litter box with hay and they ate in there together, lay down side by side for a bit and seemed OK. They did not groom each other or really acknowledge each other but they did lie down.
They then had an explore around the bathroom together, again all good.
Then, they got back into the litter box, and Chunky got on top of Rusty and started to hump him. I did expect this as she's been with us longer. Rusty let it happen. I took them back downstairs to their cages after she stopped.
Later that day, I took them back to the bathroom for a separate session where they very quickly had a scuffle with each trying to bite the others rear end and doing some circling.
I took them downstairs and put them away and stopped for the day.
* I have read articles that say if they fight to immediately put them away, and I've read others where it says keep going..... I don't know whether I did the right thing really.
Day 2
We have a hallway downstairs that's carpeted and again neither have been there and so I chose to change to this space as its still neutral and has less things for them to hide behind - well, nothing. I brought the litter tray with them.
They ate a little bit and then began to explore. Very quickly I noticed a change. Chunky, who had seemed like she was going to try and take the dominant route, was being heavily resisted by Rusty. She would out her head down, he wouldn't do anything but then he would lunge at her with his tail up. She would scuttle off, and then 60 seconds later he would put his tail back up and head for her. He was making a kind of honking noise, and he was often biting at her bum. Chunky would retaliate and they would circle and scuffle - I made a lot of noise and stopped them. I separated them and returned them to their cage.
Exactly the same thing happen later that day, almost them having a stand off for dominance but Rusty CLEARLY entering with an aggressive stance and noises.
Day 3
Yesterday, we did some research and someone said not to take a littler box with them as perhaps they're trying to claim it ( half of the scuffles yesterday started in the box).
I piled just some food and hay in the room and put them both in their.
They ate and each lay down in the space together - not near each other but within eye shot. I thought this was good. Rusty also groomed himself.
However low and behold, 20 minutes later Rusty attacked Chunky harder - as in noise wasn't stopping his attempts and she was really fighting back. Again he started it, he seems to go looking for it with her - head down, tail up, honking and then an immediate bite somewhere on her back or bum. For the following 40 minutes he tried twice more but did stop when I banged the radiator. He was also pooing all over the neutral territory which makes me think he is trying to take the upperhand.
Day 4
Today, I actually messed up and this is my fault. In the main living room I decided to box off and area for them to bond as I had work to do so knew I could sit in there and supervise, whereas the hallway I have to sit cramped on the stairs. They have both been in the living room and explored but separately so in hind sight I believe the both think it to be theirs?
Anyway, they ate, then Rusty started a fight within 4 minutes and it's the worst they've done, they were actually rolling around the floor, they were kind of making high noises, and there was fur everywhere. Any noise I made did not stop them and so I got a towel over and separated them.
I know that was silly off me, but I thought if I made an enclosed pen it would be better but it clearly wasn't
It seems that's Rusty wants to be in charge in a very aggressive way, but it seems that chunky will not give in - but she is not fighting until she has to and does seem quite intrigued by him.
What would you advise I do? Was it going ok until I made this mistake? If they fight should they be given a time out as some articles state or would you stay with them?
Is the problem that Rusty isn't neutered? I knew this could be a problem a little later on, but at 10 weeks old is a strong possibility?
Sorry for the length and the questions but I would really like to do this week so they can have a good friendship and I fear I'm doing something wrong and I'm missing what......
I hope you're all well. I like to lurk here a lot and read people's threads but until now have never posted. However, I really think I need a little bit of advice as I've read SO much information over the last couple of days that I am almost too confused now and getting rather upset with how the binding process is going for us here. This is lengthy but I want to be as accurate as possible
I have had house rabbits before, 2 sets of pairs (separate times) that I managed to successfully bond on my own. One pair were love at first sight, the other had one scuffle and then got on with it. Great!
A number of years later, now, these rabbits are no longer with me and so I decided after I moved into a big enough house that I would like to get them again as they are such great animals. At the time, my boyfriend only agreed to 1 and so I purchased Chunky 8 months ago when she was 3 months old. I had her spayed and she has been a lovely little bunny. At first she was quite timid but she is getting much more bolshy as she knows us and her home so I would not describe her at all as timid now.
A few weeks ago I convinced mY boyfriend that getting chunky a friend was the right thing to do, and after showing him research he agreed.
So, we chose Rusty a week ago. He is a male, 10 weeks old and not yet neutered. He had 2 sisters he was living with that we're bought as a pair. They were always together when we visited Rusty and he was always sitting separate from them inside the run, like he wasn't part of their gang.
He's very sociable, lets us pick him up ( which Chunky isn't keen on), and loves to explore..... He seems very friendly actually, although I know full well that isn't a predictor for bunny bonding, I guess I just got a shock!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, it isn't going particularly well so I thought if I summarise what I have done so far, perhaps some of you out there will see my issue? I'm sure I must be doing something wrong, but it is starting to upset me and I'm really scared that once of them is going to get hurt....I've only been binding them for 4 days now so I know it can take longer, but my concern is we don't seem to be making any progress.
Upon bringing Rusty home: I housed the rabbits in the living room in cages directly next to each other. They can see each other and are approximately 1 inch apart. They loom at each other and also stretch out and sleep, seeming fairly relaxed knowing the other is there. Each night I switch their cages so they are sleeping in the others litter box. This also hasn't caused distress.
I have let them out separately too hang out in the living room so they are exercising enough, never together. Is this ok?
Day 1
I took them up to the bathroom. Neither have been in here.
I took a litter box with hay and they ate in there together, lay down side by side for a bit and seemed OK. They did not groom each other or really acknowledge each other but they did lie down.
They then had an explore around the bathroom together, again all good.
Then, they got back into the litter box, and Chunky got on top of Rusty and started to hump him. I did expect this as she's been with us longer. Rusty let it happen. I took them back downstairs to their cages after she stopped.
Later that day, I took them back to the bathroom for a separate session where they very quickly had a scuffle with each trying to bite the others rear end and doing some circling.
I took them downstairs and put them away and stopped for the day.
* I have read articles that say if they fight to immediately put them away, and I've read others where it says keep going..... I don't know whether I did the right thing really.
Day 2
We have a hallway downstairs that's carpeted and again neither have been there and so I chose to change to this space as its still neutral and has less things for them to hide behind - well, nothing. I brought the litter tray with them.
They ate a little bit and then began to explore. Very quickly I noticed a change. Chunky, who had seemed like she was going to try and take the dominant route, was being heavily resisted by Rusty. She would out her head down, he wouldn't do anything but then he would lunge at her with his tail up. She would scuttle off, and then 60 seconds later he would put his tail back up and head for her. He was making a kind of honking noise, and he was often biting at her bum. Chunky would retaliate and they would circle and scuffle - I made a lot of noise and stopped them. I separated them and returned them to their cage.
Exactly the same thing happen later that day, almost them having a stand off for dominance but Rusty CLEARLY entering with an aggressive stance and noises.
Day 3
Yesterday, we did some research and someone said not to take a littler box with them as perhaps they're trying to claim it ( half of the scuffles yesterday started in the box).
I piled just some food and hay in the room and put them both in their.
They ate and each lay down in the space together - not near each other but within eye shot. I thought this was good. Rusty also groomed himself.
However low and behold, 20 minutes later Rusty attacked Chunky harder - as in noise wasn't stopping his attempts and she was really fighting back. Again he started it, he seems to go looking for it with her - head down, tail up, honking and then an immediate bite somewhere on her back or bum. For the following 40 minutes he tried twice more but did stop when I banged the radiator. He was also pooing all over the neutral territory which makes me think he is trying to take the upperhand.
Day 4
Today, I actually messed up and this is my fault. In the main living room I decided to box off and area for them to bond as I had work to do so knew I could sit in there and supervise, whereas the hallway I have to sit cramped on the stairs. They have both been in the living room and explored but separately so in hind sight I believe the both think it to be theirs?
Anyway, they ate, then Rusty started a fight within 4 minutes and it's the worst they've done, they were actually rolling around the floor, they were kind of making high noises, and there was fur everywhere. Any noise I made did not stop them and so I got a towel over and separated them.
I know that was silly off me, but I thought if I made an enclosed pen it would be better but it clearly wasn't
It seems that's Rusty wants to be in charge in a very aggressive way, but it seems that chunky will not give in - but she is not fighting until she has to and does seem quite intrigued by him.
What would you advise I do? Was it going ok until I made this mistake? If they fight should they be given a time out as some articles state or would you stay with them?
Is the problem that Rusty isn't neutered? I knew this could be a problem a little later on, but at 10 weeks old is a strong possibility?
Sorry for the length and the questions but I would really like to do this week so they can have a good friendship and I fear I'm doing something wrong and I'm missing what......
