Bonding a nethie

[MissMinnie]

I've done well over ten bonds but this current one is just not going to plan. Existing neutered male lion head and spayed female nethie. They've lived side by side since march. The male briefly lived as a trio before a scuffle broke out and I decided I wouldn't risk it again (years ago).
The male is like a little pup and really friendly. The female is nervous but friendly. On neutral ground they'll graze and she'll even lie down so must feel relaxed to a degree but if the male gets too close she'll nip him and if we weren't there a fight would break out. I can only describe it as a sort of nervous type aggression. I'm not particularly female with the Netherland dwarf breed ...is this typical behaviour? Id gladly persevere for months if that's what it takes but usually I've bonded rabbits in just a couple of weeks. Any suggestions?

 

[Omi]

Well you've got more experience than me in the number of bonds you've done and so just disregard my thoughts if they're not helpful. I haven't had Netherland Dwarf rabbits, but I have read that they can be a bit skittish and highly strung.

It does sound as though there is a good possibility that they will bond, as they are content to be close (but not too close) in a neutral area.

Could it be that your Nethie is just not able as yet to fully trust the male? How does the male react when she nips him? What do you do when she nips him?

 

[MissMinnie]

Think the problem partly is that I've had too much on this year and have bitted at it rather than being able to commit a full month.. ideally I'd start by bringing them in together for 15 mins every evening to sit side by side for a fuss. I think the nethie needs to feel less nervous around the male

 

[Omi]

I think you're probably right about the Nethie needing to feel less nervous around the male. It sounds possible that this is the reason for the nipping ie to test his reaction.

 

[a reader of books]

Nethies as a breed do tend to be pretty nervy (though not all Nethies are), and being anxious can express itself in aggression like you're seeing, yeah. I think she's likely warning him off because he makes her nervous if he gets too close. When I bonded my anxious, sensitive Nethie a few months ago, I just focused on making the bonding area feel as safe to him, and her, as possible, so think about what prey animals need to feel secure: places to hide, not having to compete for food and water, not too much noise or other stressors from the environment, etc. Meeting a strange rabbit is already stressful, especially when the bunny is pretty nervous to begin with, so I think finding a way to make her feel as safe as possible in every other way will be helpful to the bonding process. I like those big wooden log bridges, because they can hide in them, and retreat if/when they don't want to deal with the other bunny, but there's also no way to get cornered in them if the other bunny approaches or during a chase. Plus, they're sturdy so will stay in place if there's any chasing going on. Having two or more of them pointing in different directions means she can always sit somewhere out of view of your other bun. Making sure she has plenty to eat without having to go near your other bunny can help, too. I think you'll likely just need to let her take her time so she can discover for herself that your boy isn't a threat and will become more curious about him.

 

[MissMinnie]

Thanks. My plan is to fully commit my evenings to this after the October half term.

 

[tonibun]

15 minutes is too short a time for a Rabbit to learn to trust another Bunny. It can also be very confusing as they don't understand why they are being put together then separated. We usually recommend that once you put them together you keep them together and in most cases it will take about 3 days for them to realise the other Rabbit is not a threat.

 

[MissMinnie]

Thank you

15 minutes is too short a time for a Rabbit to learn to trust another Bunny. It can also be very confusing as they don't understand why they are being put together then separated. We usually recommend that once you put them together you keep them together and in most cases it will take about 3 days for them to realise the other Rabbit is not a t

 

[joey&boo]

When I was younger I'd do 24/7 bonding & it was always happily bonded bunnies in less than 24 hours (I was lucky). As I've got older I just can't stay awake to do it, plus I had a few awkward bonds where I couldn't trust them completely (I'm an over protective bonder) so I've just done it for as many waking hours as possible (momentum & continuity being key) & split them to sleep / work.. My current pair took ages - there was endless chasing I've never experienced before. I've got to say I'd find the idea of bonding nethies scary because of their speed & size but many do it & I'm sure you can too.

I think I'm trying to say I do agree with tonibun but its also ok to compromise to something you feel comfy with. My bonds do take a lot longer these days but I get there in the end, everybun stays safe & I've not yet had a pair of buns fall out at a later stage

Reader has some really nice tips on providing a positive bonding space

Good luck

 

[tulsi]

I have a nethie x lionhead and bonded her to my dutch x lionhead buck. They spent many months living next door to each other after a bonding attempt which ended in a rather enthusiastic fight.

Once they were settled again I tried them together in a run on the grass (back in what seems like an age ago when we had sunshine). I left them for 48 hours and then put them back into a newly cleaned out shed where they have been ever since.

I hope your bond goes smoothly.