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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Caution: Mad Rabbits Ahead

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    • Roberta
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        It all started a couple of weeks before Easter. Mummy Pepper (12mths old) and Pipi (from Peppers second litter 18/12/2011/ 5mths old) decided to have synchronized phantom pregnancies. First Pipi started then Pepper joined in. Seeing as the last entire male (Iggy, Also from the December litter had been in his new forever home since February I was pretty sure it was a false alarm, especially after I found Pipi asleep on her back four feet sticking in the air right in the middle of the nest. Not normal kindle behavior. The really fun part was she decided that every bunny else’s fur was much better for the nest than her own. This caused some consternation but the bond is strong (Thankfully). Whilst all this was going on I get a call from Miss Emily, can she bring Nermal (born 15 November 2011) back, she and her brother are studying and concerned they cannot give Nermie Nomnoms the care and love she needs. In the interim the nesting frenzy dies down and things return to something resembling normal. Easter Sunday Nermal arrives home (in a bird cage/shakes head) they did bring her normal food so that I could transition her back. The bond is well and truly broken and Pipi hates her enough to vault the Xpen and do battle. Finally the battle lines are drawn and it is mutually agreed to stay on the respective sides of the line (unless any bits are accessible through the bars) Pipi decided to go for an attack from the rear and managed to get a mouth full of fur from Nermals bottom, Nermal retaliated with a really good bite to the nose. (I have to remember to buy a water pistol this weekend). During this time Daddy Piglet was booked in for a haircut (French Angora) and Pepper was supposed to be spayed a week later until the cost of the hair cut went from $60 to $250 in the space of an hour. Probably a good thing that I had to postpone Peppers surgery as bonding and alpha bunny issues are part of the exciting events. So things are going along and there is no progress in rebonding, Nermal is OK with Daddy Piglet on a one on one play date but still must be supervised as the attacks from Pipi have got her really wary. Little Blossom who is desperate to play with Nermal but she can’t be left with Nermal as she looks and smells like Pipi (you can guess what happens) Mummy Pepper is the alpha bun and is happy to groom Nermal through the Xpen but she also dotes on Pipi (she’s grooming her right now). Pipi see’s herself as a contender for the throne and I can now see a distinct problem with desexing Pepper before Pipi who will no doubt make a move to usurp Pepper which could destroy the warren bond. The hormones are now running high and the decision has been made to wait it out and get Pipi and Blossom done together in June, Then get Pepper and Nermal done Together in July. Hopefully this will preserve the bond between Pepper, Pipi and Blossom and allow the bond to regrow with Nermal and the rest of the warren. Now Pipi is going through another phantom pregnancy, running back and forth with a mouth full of nesting material and a credit to the bond Daddy Piglet, Mummy Pepper and Little Blossom are all in there grooming and comforting her, even helping to shred the paper. Currently Pipi is ripping the stuffing out of their favourite pillow to poke in her nest. As there is definitely not going to be any babies I am letting her have the stuffing.

        I think if Daddy Piglet could get to the liquor cabinet he would turn to drink being surrounded by all these crazy females.

        Any input would be appreciated, Is my spaying schedule appropriate, will it be the best way to preserve and restore the bond and is the current hormone flood the cause of the phantom pregnancies?

        Nermal

        Pipi and Blossom

         


      • Sarita
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          Awww…they are cute! I’m not sure what you can really due into the buns get spayed.


        • jerseygirl
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            My vote definitely goes for Pipi being first up for spay. Lol. Is she definitely nesting? Thats odd for her to be going thru 2 falsies at such a young age.

            especially after I found Pipi asleep on her back four feet sticking in the air right in the middle of the nest.

            Haha! Maybe she was trying to relive her kit-hood?

            That’s sad the people gave up on Nermal so quickly. Still, it’s good she’s come back to you (asides from the upheaval it’s caused in your group).

            You might want to try some interactions between them in a completely neutral area. Somewhere far away from their living area.

            They are all very sweet. I didn’t realise some of the kits got the angora wool. You have your hands full!


          • Roberta
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              Hi Jersey Girl, It was definitely nesting complete with hop by fur plucking. Pipi would have a mouth full of hay and paper then go flying up the ramp and as she passed any bunny unfortunate enough to be on the bunny bungalow terrace would get plucked as she went past. The look on Piglets face was classic.
              Thankfully she now seems to have lost interest and instead of having a nest shape its more like a platform of paper fur and hay. Blossom and Piglet think it’s wonderful and obviously think it should remain as part of the winter decor, that however will not be happening, they can have their polar fleece blankies back for winter. I am in contact with a lovely man who has two english angora boys, he is giving me some much needed grooming advice. It’s just getting them to sit still whilst I brush them and french angora fur is a little different as it is fine on the outside but thick like fleece next to the skin. It is a blessing that the french angoras have short fur on their faces heads and ears.


            • Roberta
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                With the bonding I have a plush bunny in Nermals cage. (Cage LOL, Multi level level space) that I am going to transfer to the bungalow on the next hutch clean, I’m hoping if I keep moving it back and forth every week they will get used to Nermals scent being in the living area with them. Nermal is in her seperate playpen and has just managed to turn the paw print sleeping bag inside out. I might drop that into the adjacent play area for a while too.

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            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Caution: Mad Rabbits Ahead