Re bonding after vets trip.. crazy humping

[Kikidiki]

Hi
Nene and Kiki are neutered males, 3 years old. They live outside together and were bonded. Nene was always the dominant one. Nene went to vet for stasis and went on his own as he was very ill. He came back from vets in side by side pen with Kiki indoors until he recovered.
I am now trying to rebond them in their original home outside but Nene keeps humping Kiki constantly. I have been trying to leave them to it but am bringing them back in to their pens when I feel Kiki is stressed. They have had 24 hours together at one point but humping was still continuing. I don't know whether to 1. carry on with my current approach 2. let them get on with it for longer and hope it settles or 3. take Nene to the vets in case there is an underlying illness. They haven't fought because Kiki is not challenging Nene back , but will sometimes run off which ends in a chase. Nene was also circling in front of Kiki in the garden earlier. He has not done these things before.
I don't have a neutral space for them any more but not sure if I would have to do all that again either.
Any advice gratefully received as it is stressing me out!
Thank you

 

[Omi]

Hi, if it were me I would go with option 2. From what you've said I think this is Nene re-asserting his dominance after the separation for the vet visit. I'm not saying you were wrong to take him separately. I have often done this depending on the circumstances.

I reckon as long as there is no real aggression then things should settle down again. Chasing is OK as long as neither rabbit becomes stressed and also Kiki doesn't challenge back. I would try not to bring them back to their pens unless absolutely necessary.

If the situation continues, then I would consider taking Nene back to the vet, but it does sound as though it's a bonding issue, which should resolve.

 

[Kikidiki]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I will give this a go then and try and take a step back from the stress it causes me! (Have to keep reminding myself that rabbits behave like rabbits, not people!)

 

[tonibun]

It sounds like their bond has broken down and there is a risk you can't get them to live happily together again. Of course it is Spring and this could be affecting them.

 

[Kikidiki]

Yes I'm not sure what to do. They have been awake all night chasing and attempts at humping, no fights but we are all exhausted now. I don't think either wants to give in so it's very worrying

 

[Kikidiki]

It sounds like their bond has broken down and there is a risk you can't get them to live happily together again. Of course it is Spring and this could be affecting them.

I am not clear with bunnies how you know the difference between a bond that has broken and can't be remade, and one that needs some re-bonding time (realise if they have had a big fight they won't forget generally), but what makes you suggest that there is a risk particularly here? (just trying to make sense of it all). It is Spring, yes, I am hoping it will pass but I am not convinced it is just Spring as he is so persistent and is kind of frantic.

 

[Omi]

Yes I'm not sure what to do. They have been awake all night chasing and attempts at humping, no fights but we are all exhausted now. I don't think either wants to give in so it's very worrying

I can appreciate how stressful this is. How many hours have they been together now without intervention since yesterday? You say that neither wants to give in, but in what way should Kiki give in?

I personally would keep at it a while longer as long as no aggression, but on the other hand, tonibun is very experienced with bonding and so it would be interesting to hear more from her as to why she is thinking the bond has broken and can't be remade.

 

[Kikidiki]

I can appreciate how stressful this is. How many hours have they been together now without intervention since yesterday? You say that neither wants to give in, but in what way should Kiki give in?

I personally would keep at it a while longer as long as no aggression, but on the other hand, tonibun is very experienced with bonding and so it would be interesting to hear more from her as to why she is thinking the bond has broken and can't be remade.

They have been together another 24 hours now without a break - I meant 'give in' in terms of who is going to groom who when requested. They do groom each other, but there seems to be some kind of standoff about it (not really sure of what it all means). Thank you, yes no aggression - apart from really quite aggressive eye 'licking' and ear nibbling from Kiki at times! Kiki is a bright little gentle hyperactive bunny and Nene is an bossy yet not quite as alert bunny so Kiki manages the situation very well by darting around and then pretending he was just eating grass and looking innocent

 

[Omi]

Maybe try giving them something as a distraction. Do they normally get rabbit-safe twigs to chew? I was thinking maybe a pile of freshly cut Hawthorn twigs, with new buds on, might give them something else to focus on, instead of each other.

 

[Moonstone]

Have you thought about trying herbal medicine? I used it to calm down a humper.