Bonding Pip to her new friend

[Mervinius]

Aw the buns are home I love the little face looking out, no treats how very dare you

I know the atrocity of no treats! Pip certainly hasn't forgotten the sound of the kitchen cupboards, she is back to begging everytime we go in there.

 

[joey&boo]

aww well done everybun. It must feel amazing to have them home. Good to hear they are behaving. Good bunnies

 

[bunny momma]

It is so wonderful that Bumble and Pip are bonded and finally home! Well done to all!

 

[Mervinius]

It is so wonderful that Bumble and Pip are bonded and finally home! Well done to all!

Yes we have missed the poppets so much. I spent hrs just watching them last night, I wish I didn't have to go to work so I could enjoy their mischief more

 

[keletkezes]

Congratulations and good luck

 

[Mervinius]

Both happily munching hay this morning. I have a wonderful scattering of poop to admire as well.

 

[Mervinius]

My little poppets, seem to have been well behaved whilst I've been at work. We extended their pen a bit last night and we had a wee bit of chasing from Bumble but I distracted them with a big bundle of hay and they've been fine since.
As I've not done this before I'm wondering what you guys think.
How long should I leave them in their current set up. I really want to cement their bond?
It's 1.2m square, so they have quite a bit of room for two teeny nethies. I dont want to rush and have them free roaming and have them fall out.
I was thinking maybe a month but is that too long? We can add another pen to extend them again a few times before they have free reign of the house.
We are a lily worried about Bumble and his chewing, so want to go carefully so we can monitor his mischievous nature. I dont want him. Getting an upset tummy.

 

[Shimmer]

What advice did you get from the bonders?

 

[Omi]

My little poppets, seem to have been well behaved whilst I've been at work. We extended their pen a bit last night and we had a wee bit of chasing from Bumble but I distracted them with a big bundle of hay and they've been fine since.
As I've not done this before I'm wondering what you guys think.
How long should I leave them in their current set up. I really want to cement their bond?
It's 1.2m square, so they have quite a bit of room for two teeny nethies. I dont want to rush and have them free roaming and have them fall out.
I was thinking maybe a month but is that too long? We can add another pen to extend them again a few times before they have free reign of the house.
We are a lily worried about Bumble and his chewing, so want to go carefully so we can monitor his mischievous nature. I dont want him. Getting an upset tummy.

I'm very glad that they're home and seem happy with each other.

Personally, as they took a while to bond, I wouldn't want to rush it. I think your idea of extending the pen could be sensible. I would actually start to do this after around 2 weeks and not leave it as long as a month. I would be cheered by the fact that there was no bad reaction to moving them from the bonder's accommodation back to your house.

If there is an issue at any stage, then the advice is to go back to the stage before when things were settled.

 

[Mervinius]

I'm very glad that they're home and seem happy with each other.

Personally, as they took a while to bond, I wouldn't want to rush it. I think your idea of extending the pen could be sensible. I would actually start to do this after around 2 weeks and not leave it as long as a month. I would be cheered by the fact that there was no bad reaction to moving them from the bonder's accommodation back to your house.

If there is an issue at any stage, then the advice is to go back to the stage before when things were settled.

OK, 2 weeks sounds like a good plan. We can just add a section or 2 of the extra pen and see how they react. Yeah they were fine the night we bought them home. I was very pleased with that, I thought they might react, but I had smothered everything in vinegar .

The rescue lady who bonded them, said it depends on the buns. She said watch their body language and go from there. She said some will be fine and some you will need to be more cautious. I can message her anytime.

 

[bunny momma]

They look very healthy enjoying the hay. ❤❤. You were without him for three weeks, so I agree on making changes to their accommodations slowly.

 

[Mervinius]

Cuteness warning.... the duo are doing well, they've been in their set up a week now and we've only had the odd bit of chasing, but it wasn't aggressive. Pip is 100% still top bun and is enjoying being queen of her kingdom again. She has peed all over the blanket. So going to attempt to clean them tomorrow after work and hope it doesn't upset them!
I've emptied the litter tray loads and been picking up stray golden nuggets, and it hasn't bothered them at all.

 

[Pets mum]

Aw, they really are lovely, and very impressive nuggets

 

[Mervinius]

Aw, they really are lovely, and very impressive nuggets

Pips nuggets have doubled in size. I'm not sure why, her diet is the same, but maybe it's because she's loved up. She certainly doesn't seem to want to stop eating.

 

[bunny momma]

They look like they were friends forever! I like the picture where they are both begging!
Do they take turns eating from the same bowl?
❤❤

 

[Mervinius]

They look like they were friends forever! I like the picture where they are both begging!
Do they take turns eating from the same bowl?
❤❤

not sure about taking turns. It's more like ramming their heads in a the same time.

 

[joey&boo]

they look so adorable . What a pair of cuties

 

[Mervinius]

they look so adorable . What a pair of cuties

Just cleaned the cuties out properly as Pip has peed everywhere! Had to put them both in the pet carrier so I could sort out their space. I forgot how awkward it is to get 2 stubborn nethies into one carrier. They somehow hunker down and it's so difficult to budge them even a mm. . Can't wait for them to be free roam, so I can just cleaned around them. So much easier!
Pip thumped at me and was thoroughly unimpressed. Both are happily sat back in a clean pen and I'm wondering how long before we have the 1st pee. She's so territorial!

 

[Mervinius]

Buns have been really well behaved and last night we had our first flop together.
Tonight however we had quite an aggressive chase that appeared to come out of no where. With him grunting and chasing her at speed. Def wasn't playful. It paused and then started again and he pulled some fur, as she got stuck in the house.
I told them to stop and they froze head to head I think he was trying to get her to groom him, which she refused. So I'm guessing they haven't quite sorted out their hierarchy yet? Or could it be a bit of spring fever. Dan heard him honk at her last night like boy buns do.

I have given them so forage to distract them and they are right next to each other munching on that. Keeping a very close eye on them.

Or could he be frustrated that he's in a small space? It's still 1.2mx1.2m. I was going to expand it sat cos we are off all weekend.

 

[Omi]

I think I would give it a try with a larger space at the weekend. I know that this is contrary to some views, which will advise to keep the bunnies in a smallish space until completely settled, but I personally think it's good for either one to be able to run away if being chased. It will also provide more interest for them. Frustration or irritation isn't after all good for relationships.

You'll be there to intervene if necessary too. I would anticipate that it might cause a slight reaction when you first open up their space, but that long term it might be beneficial.

If it's a disaster, you can always go back to the smaller space.