Patricia Silva
New Kit
Hello,
I have 4 rabbits free room
First I just had a pair. Female got pregnant before neutering and we had several babies.
While they were growing, father had an accident in a maxillary bone and had to stay apart for not chewing or eating hay. That was very unfortunate because he could only come back home when babies were 2 month and were not naturally bonded with him.
We gave some bunnies but stayed with a male and a female
So now 4 (2 girls 2 boys). Father and mother 1 year, daughter and son – 5 month. Only daughter is still not spayed.
When back home, trio father-mother-daughter bond was fine, but son was being bulled with a little chase and bites at the back, so that it was clear that the territory is father’s territory. Son accepted it more or less being attentive and trying to be aware of the father, and we were last month in a process of getting them closer and closer, eating together, same room and they were almost laying together.
The 2 females love father and they are also a good trio with son (so 2 good trios almost being a quadri)
Unfortunately father had a GI stasis and had again to stay 1 ½ day at the vet. Gone back home, son and daughter fought him. Immediately I separated them and slowly, changing rooms I rebounded the trio father-mother-daughter.
Tried first the daughter because they were a good bond before.
After one week changing pairs and rooms daily, so the 2 males share females and smells, last sunday morning (17 feb. 2018) I tried to bond the males in a new house with nothing. Pursue and fight. Tried latter with the girls for distractions and a tenderer and calmer climate. Again pursue and fight but less. Then we came home and tried to see if they would continue fight mode or each one would go to a separated place. Both happened, but still fight and when they were are a same room, calmer (tired also), laying, I separated them each in one room for sleep.
Now is when I really need help!!!!
I set up 2 exact equal pans at the living room (size 2,5m x 1,5 m | 7,5 ft x 4 ft) and 1 m (3,5 ft) apart in front of each other and put a pair in each so that they can see and be more relaxed in the presence of each other.
I had put them only yesterday and it was ok. No aggressive behaviors. At bed time I took a pair to sleep with me and the other stayed free range in the living room with the pans opened.
Questions:
- Any experience or advice in what is the best approach? Change pairs, cages and the most time possible with them seeing each other or separate for a longer time and rebond from scratch? Or other.
- Now they don’t stay in the pan / cages all day. I separate them in different rooms. I wanted to put them there only when I’m at home working or doing house stuff…
- Is it a good idea to let them free (each pair) with access to the two pan areas opened, or should I close them and they just use them when I’m there and in the “bonding programme”?
- I feel changing between room and living room, and changing the females each day is a bit stressfull and if bonding process takes long as I expect, It might unbalance the trios structure and create stress and aggressiveness.
- Separating the females that get so well together might not be good, so I sometimes join them in trios with one of the males. I had a glimpse of pair mother-son with daughter being worst and some chasing when I put the trio together yesterday…
I'm very pacient but a bit ansious now on if i'm taking the right path, or how can I bond this 4.
Tank you so much!!!
Patricia Silva
I have 4 rabbits free room
First I just had a pair. Female got pregnant before neutering and we had several babies.
While they were growing, father had an accident in a maxillary bone and had to stay apart for not chewing or eating hay. That was very unfortunate because he could only come back home when babies were 2 month and were not naturally bonded with him.
We gave some bunnies but stayed with a male and a female
So now 4 (2 girls 2 boys). Father and mother 1 year, daughter and son – 5 month. Only daughter is still not spayed.
When back home, trio father-mother-daughter bond was fine, but son was being bulled with a little chase and bites at the back, so that it was clear that the territory is father’s territory. Son accepted it more or less being attentive and trying to be aware of the father, and we were last month in a process of getting them closer and closer, eating together, same room and they were almost laying together.
The 2 females love father and they are also a good trio with son (so 2 good trios almost being a quadri)
Unfortunately father had a GI stasis and had again to stay 1 ½ day at the vet. Gone back home, son and daughter fought him. Immediately I separated them and slowly, changing rooms I rebounded the trio father-mother-daughter.
Tried first the daughter because they were a good bond before.
After one week changing pairs and rooms daily, so the 2 males share females and smells, last sunday morning (17 feb. 2018) I tried to bond the males in a new house with nothing. Pursue and fight. Tried latter with the girls for distractions and a tenderer and calmer climate. Again pursue and fight but less. Then we came home and tried to see if they would continue fight mode or each one would go to a separated place. Both happened, but still fight and when they were are a same room, calmer (tired also), laying, I separated them each in one room for sleep.
Now is when I really need help!!!!
I set up 2 exact equal pans at the living room (size 2,5m x 1,5 m | 7,5 ft x 4 ft) and 1 m (3,5 ft) apart in front of each other and put a pair in each so that they can see and be more relaxed in the presence of each other.
I had put them only yesterday and it was ok. No aggressive behaviors. At bed time I took a pair to sleep with me and the other stayed free range in the living room with the pans opened.
Questions:
- Any experience or advice in what is the best approach? Change pairs, cages and the most time possible with them seeing each other or separate for a longer time and rebond from scratch? Or other.
- Now they don’t stay in the pan / cages all day. I separate them in different rooms. I wanted to put them there only when I’m at home working or doing house stuff…
- Is it a good idea to let them free (each pair) with access to the two pan areas opened, or should I close them and they just use them when I’m there and in the “bonding programme”?
- I feel changing between room and living room, and changing the females each day is a bit stressfull and if bonding process takes long as I expect, It might unbalance the trios structure and create stress and aggressiveness.
- Separating the females that get so well together might not be good, so I sometimes join them in trios with one of the males. I had a glimpse of pair mother-son with daughter being worst and some chasing when I put the trio together yesterday…
I'm very pacient but a bit ansious now on if i'm taking the right path, or how can I bond this 4.
Tank you so much!!!
Patricia Silva