Bonding Pip to her new friend
- Thread starter Mervinius
- Start date
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Why do you think I'm sat upstairs.That is one petrifying stare. Are you not scared?
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Oops sorry George. I popped down to check on her and she's trying to chew her way out. So made a cup of tea and returned upstairs. She had been sleeping, so I'm sure she will settle again soon. Well fingers crossed anywayOh good grief, that is one very scary stare, I just showed it to George, he's jumped off the sofa and gone in the bedroom
There's a lot to be said for just letting them get on with it. The more they are irritated by temporary changes to their normal environment, the more likely they are to take out the frustration on each other in the short times they are together.
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Do you think I shouldn't get her used to being in a pen then? The pen is massive, she has half of the lounge.
I had presumed once they are bonded that they will have to live in a pen for at least a week before I can start expanding the area until they can both be free roam? This is what it said everywhere I've read online.
I didn't want to get them bonded and then just give them both free reign of the whole house. That seems like that would be a bad idea and we wouldn't be able to keep an eye easily.
We also don't know how he is going to be free roam as he's only lived in a hutch. So we wanted to slowly get him used to living in such a big space.
Definitely! I know it’s hard, but I would try to put some time aside to put them together and keep them together. It might be hard temporarily but hopefully it will mean they are well on the way to being bonded.
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Unfortunately I haven't got two days together until early Dec, and no one to help before then. But yes that's the plan, to do leave them together then. I have a week booked off work.
For now I will continue a few more dates between then and now so they can get used to each other even more before the final push.
Pip is settled in her castle now. She has snoozed most of the day, so although she may have been a tad grumpy she soon accepted her situation.
I've been in touch with my rescue and they've agreed this is the right plan for Pip.
I know this isn't how others would do it, but I'm doing what I can to fit around work and make sure Pip is ok. She is my princess after all.
joey&boo
Wise Old Thumper
Your plan sounds good to me & in the meantime they'll hopefully continue to progress during dates. I'll be containing my 2 in one room for a week once they are bonded too. To me it makes sense you want her to adjust to pen life now rather than when they are a newly bonded couple. You'll never get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet with bonding but all kinds of methodologies can work & you know your bunnies best. Pip is the same age as Boo was when I bonded to Eddy & I felt really protective towards her. Pleased she has settled down
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Thanks. Yes everybun is different so there's lots of different styles, but I do appreciate everyone's advice.
Pip's penned area is half of the lounge, so she has plenty of room, including her castle and a nice warm radiator.
she can also see and smell Bumble through the bars. Yeah, I'm so overly protective it's hard isn't it. But she's definitely happier than when she was alone. So I know it's for the best. she may have to live in that corner for a while once they've bonded, but she will be happier with company and then we can introduce them both to the wider world of the house is slow stages.
She did live in a pen until a few years ago so it's not totally alien to her.
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
I like your plan to get Pip used to the pen. Not only will it be less of a change once they are bonded, it will also mean you will not be spending as much date time with her trying to escape. Plus it will be easier for you to get her to the date area.
Perhaps it will also help once you are ready to give them both free range because the entire house may no longer be viewed as Pip’s territory.
My bunnies are my family too so I understand you being protective of your princess.
Perhaps it will also help once you are ready to give them both free range because the entire house may no longer be viewed as Pip’s territory.
My bunnies are my family too so I understand you being protective of your princess.
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Thanks. Yes it will be less for her to deal with once bonded, so hopefully won't put a strain on their relationship at that point.
Yeah currently I do have to chase her before each date which isn't ideal, cos she obviously gets stressed by that. She is so teeny and can fit into teeny spaces I can't reach. This way i can just open a panel up into the bonding area. Yes hopefully we can give the rest of the house a good clean so it may not be thought of as hers as such. She generally spends most of her time in the lounge anyway, the rest she spends on the landing upstairs. The other rooms she only hops in now and then because they are laminate.
Yes bunnies are def part of the family.
Mervinius
Mama Doe
I just did 3 hrs with the terrible twosome. Lol. I tried to intervene less. Pip did her usual 30mins of chewing the bars. Bumble hopped over so I decided to see what he'd do. He went straight for a butt nip. Then they boxed each other, so I stopped them. But then they calmed down. It did stop her chewing the bars though. Lol.
Mostly it was snoozing, drinking and munching. They were happy if they stayed a foot or more apart. If they got any closer than that they'd box/squabble and grunt at each other. He did a few binkies, but not as many as the last few times.
Later Pip was eating some hay and Bumble hopped over, I again left him even though he froze and looked suspicious. He then lunged and pulled fur and they bounced off each other like kangeroos. So I intervened. She lost a large chunk of fur but I'm not sure where from. She seems fine though.
After this we had quite a bit of hay eating sometimes a foot apart but mostly further apart.
The dated ended with a short snooze with him lying in a flop and Pip in Lindt bunny pose, they were about 40cm apart.
I dont think there was any huge step forwards, but I'm sure there's some progress in there, even if it's just from me being able to sit still for 3hrs
keletkezes
Wise Old Thumper
I think you just gotta keep going until you can do a long stint. As long as there's no backwards steps until then it should be alright. I think Pip and Bumble need time to settle and that'll come with long periods.
Mervinius
Mama Doe
Little update tonight.
I was exhausted from work, but partner said it would be good to do a date. Finally showing an interest at last, not helping exactly but at least it pushed me into doing a date. Lol
So I did just over an hour. There was only one very minor scuffle, otherwise they ignored each mostly and munched hay.
It was the first time Pip hasn't tried to chew her way out of the pen.
She was much more settled and starting eating hay almost straight away. They were eating about a foot apart with no squabbling.
She did a territorial wee and a poop on top. He came over sniffed it alot. Then chinned her poop twice. Lol not sure what that means but I'm saying he owns her poop. He then did a massive wee which was very pongy next to hers.
He was in a major binky mood, which was very cute to watch. Pip didn't react at all this, no charging like the last few times. Then they had a 5-10min snooze at the end and Pip did her first bun loaf in the bonding pen, but kept her ears up.
It was certainly more relaxing for me, I have noticed one thing and not sure if it's coincidence.
I bought a new yellow blanket and whenever I use that one even though it's been washed. They are both more reactive and pee more.
Tonight I used our old blanket which they both seem to be calmer with. Going to use this from now on, even if it is coincidence. Maybe they both hate yellow.
I also put much larger piles of hay in there, in case they were both being territorial because they thought there wasn't enough food. Again might be coincidence, but I'm going to try that again.
Going to try to do an hour at least every day now until I can do the last longer session when I'm off.
I was exhausted from work, but partner said it would be good to do a date. Finally showing an interest at last, not helping exactly but at least it pushed me into doing a date. Lol
So I did just over an hour. There was only one very minor scuffle, otherwise they ignored each mostly and munched hay.
It was the first time Pip hasn't tried to chew her way out of the pen.
She was much more settled and starting eating hay almost straight away. They were eating about a foot apart with no squabbling.
She did a territorial wee and a poop on top. He came over sniffed it alot. Then chinned her poop twice. Lol not sure what that means but I'm saying he owns her poop. He then did a massive wee which was very pongy next to hers.
He was in a major binky mood, which was very cute to watch. Pip didn't react at all this, no charging like the last few times. Then they had a 5-10min snooze at the end and Pip did her first bun loaf in the bonding pen, but kept her ears up.
It was certainly more relaxing for me, I have noticed one thing and not sure if it's coincidence.
I bought a new yellow blanket and whenever I use that one even though it's been washed. They are both more reactive and pee more.
Tonight I used our old blanket which they both seem to be calmer with. Going to use this from now on, even if it is coincidence. Maybe they both hate yellow.
I also put much larger piles of hay in there, in case they were both being territorial because they thought there wasn't enough food. Again might be coincidence, but I'm going to try that again.
Going to try to do an hour at least every day now until I can do the last longer session when I'm off.
bunny momma
Wise Old Thumper
I am glad the date went so well after your exhausting day at work.
It is good to read that Pip is becoming acclimated to being in a pen and she is also calmer around Bumble and his cute binkies.
No charging sounds very positive too!
Well done.
It is good to read that Pip is becoming acclimated to being in a pen and she is also calmer around Bumble and his cute binkies.
No charging sounds very positive too!
Well done.
