PaigeCochrane
New Kit
Hello Everyone!
I am new to the forum, but after doing my own research (and some questionable advice from various pet shops) I figured why not ask those who will probably know the most - you all!! Also, apologies if this is a bit of a long post, but I want to give as much info as I can to potentially find an answer to our situation as we really do not know what to do!
My partner and I rescued a 2 year old lionheadXdutch rabbit called Nugget, back in November 2016. He is already neutered and an absolute angel - litter trained, cuddly, explorative, sweet-natured, very intelligent. About a month ago, we decided to get another rabbit, to provide him with companionship of his own kind as he would get very upset if we were not with him all the time(sometimes, 40 minutes of cuddles and strokes plus hours of free roam was just not enough, bless his cotton socks!!). We returned to the pet shop where we rescued him from, as they have rabbits available for rehoming.
We found a gorgeous otter mini lop, Bluebell, who is an ex-breeder and is 5 years old. She came from a woman who used to breed lops and could not keep them anymore - the other females, all 2 years or younger, got paired with males at the pet shop prior to us being able to visit potential matches for Nugget. She was the last one left and of course, we fell for her! She is not spayed as the pet shop said it was too dangerous an operation for a female rabbit, especially at her age.
*The following bonding process was advice from the pet shop owner*
The initial bonding was putting her in his cage and seeing how they got on for 25-30 minutes. The usual occurred, which we had read up on - humping, thumping etc. They started to settle down and we figured this could be the start of a beautiful relationship! We took them both home in the same carrier and were instructed to leave them alone in his cage for one week, so they could bond properly.
Fast forward to two weeks later (today). The humping etc continued and they started to flop out together by the third day, all looked well! But Nugget found a new habit, thumping through the night. We have tried covering the cage/spraying water/startling him/ignoring him and it has just gotten worse - he keeps us up from 10/11pm all the way to 3/4am with constant thumping. We have also watched the rabbits behaviour begin to turn aggressive - blood was shed from a chasing/circling match they had and they're both going bald from hair pulling and over grooming, which I expected in parts.
We have tried to let them out together but Nugget is getting more and more aggressive over humping Bluebell and is starting to nip her when she gets any attention from us - as neutral as we are trying to be in not favouring one over the other! We went out and got another cage for Bluebell this morning, as the chasing is getting aggressive (we know when Nugget isn't happy and he ISN'T happy) and both have been out on their own and seem back to normal, happy bunnies.
My problem now is, the only area that Bluebell can roam in, due to peeing/pooing/chewing (she was always in a hutch, not indoors), is the hallway, which is where Nuggets cage is. In order to get him into the living room, I need him to be supervised while Bluebell is out, which I cannot do if my partner isn't in & vice versa.
I tried one more time tonight, having them both in the hallway with lots of toys and treats and he went lunging for her, ears back, angrily humping and nipping.
Is this a match that just won't work out?! Any advice would be amazing - the pet shop are offering to take her back to re-home her alone, if it makes Nugget happy but she's already put weight on and looks much better for being with us. Are we being selfish by keeping her if both rabbits can see/smell each other?
Bluebell's temperament is wonderful, despite not being spayed but surprisingly Nugget is displaying aggression even though he was neutered back in September 2016.
As said, apologies for such a long post but any info would be really greatly appreciated! xx
I am new to the forum, but after doing my own research (and some questionable advice from various pet shops) I figured why not ask those who will probably know the most - you all!! Also, apologies if this is a bit of a long post, but I want to give as much info as I can to potentially find an answer to our situation as we really do not know what to do!
My partner and I rescued a 2 year old lionheadXdutch rabbit called Nugget, back in November 2016. He is already neutered and an absolute angel - litter trained, cuddly, explorative, sweet-natured, very intelligent. About a month ago, we decided to get another rabbit, to provide him with companionship of his own kind as he would get very upset if we were not with him all the time(sometimes, 40 minutes of cuddles and strokes plus hours of free roam was just not enough, bless his cotton socks!!). We returned to the pet shop where we rescued him from, as they have rabbits available for rehoming.
We found a gorgeous otter mini lop, Bluebell, who is an ex-breeder and is 5 years old. She came from a woman who used to breed lops and could not keep them anymore - the other females, all 2 years or younger, got paired with males at the pet shop prior to us being able to visit potential matches for Nugget. She was the last one left and of course, we fell for her! She is not spayed as the pet shop said it was too dangerous an operation for a female rabbit, especially at her age.
*The following bonding process was advice from the pet shop owner*
The initial bonding was putting her in his cage and seeing how they got on for 25-30 minutes. The usual occurred, which we had read up on - humping, thumping etc. They started to settle down and we figured this could be the start of a beautiful relationship! We took them both home in the same carrier and were instructed to leave them alone in his cage for one week, so they could bond properly.
Fast forward to two weeks later (today). The humping etc continued and they started to flop out together by the third day, all looked well! But Nugget found a new habit, thumping through the night. We have tried covering the cage/spraying water/startling him/ignoring him and it has just gotten worse - he keeps us up from 10/11pm all the way to 3/4am with constant thumping. We have also watched the rabbits behaviour begin to turn aggressive - blood was shed from a chasing/circling match they had and they're both going bald from hair pulling and over grooming, which I expected in parts.
We have tried to let them out together but Nugget is getting more and more aggressive over humping Bluebell and is starting to nip her when she gets any attention from us - as neutral as we are trying to be in not favouring one over the other! We went out and got another cage for Bluebell this morning, as the chasing is getting aggressive (we know when Nugget isn't happy and he ISN'T happy) and both have been out on their own and seem back to normal, happy bunnies.
My problem now is, the only area that Bluebell can roam in, due to peeing/pooing/chewing (she was always in a hutch, not indoors), is the hallway, which is where Nuggets cage is. In order to get him into the living room, I need him to be supervised while Bluebell is out, which I cannot do if my partner isn't in & vice versa.
I tried one more time tonight, having them both in the hallway with lots of toys and treats and he went lunging for her, ears back, angrily humping and nipping.
Is this a match that just won't work out?! Any advice would be amazing - the pet shop are offering to take her back to re-home her alone, if it makes Nugget happy but she's already put weight on and looks much better for being with us. Are we being selfish by keeping her if both rabbits can see/smell each other?
Bluebell's temperament is wonderful, despite not being spayed but surprisingly Nugget is displaying aggression even though he was neutered back in September 2016.
As said, apologies for such a long post but any info would be really greatly appreciated! xx