Grumpy new bun and questions about bonding

[Tanha]

 We, my husband and I, adopted 2 bunnies from a rescue this week. It was a surprise for me from my husband because I was missing the bunny I had for over 8 years who died a few years ago. I was always checking out different rescue sites and fell in love with a little lionhead female named Fera. He knew this and called to inquire about her. He also knew that I wanted a bonded pair if we ever got rabbits again so he asked if she was bonded with anyone. They said no, but that they would try to find her a friend. They bonded her with a male lop/lionhead mix named FuManChu. I do not believe they were fully bonded when they arrived here. I think they did it pretty fast, but so far so good meaning no fighting.

FuMan is trying to be the dominant one and mounts Fera often. She doesn’t seem to mind, but I feel so bad for the poor girl because she’ll be eating, drinking, etc and he’ll interupt her by trying to mount her. She runs away and he stops thankfully but it’s pretty often. He does it a lot more when we’re around longer as in to try to prove his dominance around us? I don’t know. 

For the first day or so Fera would groom FuMan and I saw her put her head under his chin looking to be groomed, but he doesn’t seem interested. He will lay by her though. I am very inexperienced with bonding rabbits and I’m worried the rescue did not give them enough time together. It’s literally only been 4 days with us so I’m being patient, but I’m nervous. 

The rescue also told us FuMan has shown some aggression towards people, as in biting.    Not many people, but still. He seems so grumpy and thumps every now and then. We have not tried to pick either bun up since they got here because they seem very leery around us and I want to build trust up with them first. I don’t want to chase them down basically. 

Tonight Fera was running around and did her first binkies here. I was so excited, but feel bad because I feel like she’s being bullied a little and I’m questioning the decision to have them both. I don’t plan on seperating them especially since they do seem to be bonding…I don’t know if they are fully bonded, but I would hate to seperate them and find out they get depressed without each other. 

Do you think FuMan will come around more as time goes by? How can I tell if they are fully bonded? Will he ever quit trying to mount her or at least not do it so much?

Please give us tips! What would you do? I’m worried we should have only gotten Fera, but she seems to like the idea of a friend…I just don’t think FuMan does.   

[RabbitPam]

First, I just want to confirm that both bunnies are speutered, so it’s really safe for them to be around each other. Confirm with the shelter that he was neutered also, even if she was spayed. She may not be able to be pregnant (making her safe around an un-neutered male), but aggressive behavior in a male is common before neutering, and that could be a factor. If he’s not, have it done asap.

Some male bunnies hump a lot due to a problem with their bladder, and that was the case with BB”s bunny, Jack, when she got Vivian. BB set up several changes in their habitat to ward off Jack’s constant attention and give Vivian a little peace away from him. You could search through older posts (keywords Jack, Vivian) to see what she did in her set up to help this. Or view the gallery photos to see her arrangement. Please DO NOT REPLY to older posts. Just Read Only, btw.

But it was really before she learned he had a bladder issue, and later on he was more seriously ill. But humping is establishing dominance, and it may simply be that. It may be OK between them in about 2 weeks if that’s all it is, and he may calm down when their relationship boundaries are set. Just be sure to have them both examined by a vet so there is no physical cause.

It also sounds a little like they had a “difficult” bunny to place, and as long as he was doing well with your girl, he got sent home with you. Now, that said, Vivian was also categorized like that, and she turned out to be a beautiful, loving bunny in the right home. I expect he will be terrific with you after some bonding time with his humans, his life is good with his new girlfriend, and he feels more secure. Give them both medical care, patience, and loads of time to adjust. Yourself, too.

[Beka27]

I also think they just need more time. New bond, new home, new family, new “stuff”… that’s a lot to go through in a short amount of time. Keep them together, in close proximity. Don’t open them up to the house just yet. Keep them confined to their pen for a week as they continue to cement their bond. Maybe then, let them out to the rest of the room for another 1-2 weeks. Take it very slowly with them.

[Tanha]

Thank you both. According to the rescue they are both spayed/neutered. I’m supposed to be getting official certificates about it soon I guess. I’m also planning on taking them to the vet soon. The first opening they have is July 3rd. Do you think that’s too long to wait? The rescue said they only get a general look over so I’m worried about that too. I might be able to get them in sooner if the vet feels it’s urgent. Also how do I get two untrusting rabbits into a carrier to travel to the vet? lol. I’m hoping that gives us some more time to work with them and maybe we won’t have a problem, but any suggestions are welcome!

We also had that feeling about FuMan…being placed to just move him along. I have no problem being patient and working with him, but I don’t believe they told my Husband about his “issues” until they arrived here. After they had started the bonding process. I don’t like that at all…seems kind of sneaky. I also don’t like that they may have put Fera at risk just to get rid of a bunny. The more I think about it all the more upset I get because we were under the impression that the rescue would want what’s best for the rabbits and that’s why we were interested in adopting a rescue bun. Leaves a bad taste in my mouth for the future.

Fera has been sticking up for herself more today. I don’t know if that’s necessarily a good thing, but she was very persistent and finally got FuMan to groom her. She kept putting her head under his chin and she would not move it. I’ve only seen him give in and groom her twice now, but maybe that’s progress? Also she has pushed him out of her way today once too. Then instead of running one time when he tried to mount her she turned to face him and he stopped. I’m hoping she’s not becoming fed up. As of right now they are laying together so who knows.

I will be heartbroken if they knowingly put us in a bad situation. Meaning giving us sick bunnies, or bunnies not ready to be placed, etc. Were we wrong to put trust in a rescue? They also want a hefty donation for the bunnies. We planned on mailing it out today after pay day. I have no problem giving a donation, but I feel like we were tricked.

[tanlover14]

Personally, I have to agree that it’s really not fair to you. It DOES sound to me like they may have been a little sneaky – she worked but I think they should have given you a little background on his behavior and personality.

I do also want you to realize a GREAT deal of bunnies in shelters become very cage aggressive in that particular environment and become prone to aggressive behavior and biting. So do not give up on your new little man. I volunteer at 2 shelters and I see this ALL the time. Actually, one of my own bunnies was put on a list to be euthanized by our local Humane Society because of how aggressive he had become to the staff and other people. Thankfully, we have a group here that specializes in cases like this and was able to scoop him up before he was euthanized. He’s actually become the SWEETEST little guy and loves to cuddle and give kisses for hours but the stress of being in a shelter just REALLY got to him. Please don’t think he’s any less better than Fera because I guarantee with lots of love and care he will come around more. He may not be a cuddly type bun as lots arent – but I bet with love he will prove not to be quite as aggressive as everyone said he was. He needs time, patience, and love.

With that being said, I completely agree with Beka. New bond, new home. That’s very stressful and I would give them lots of time in their set area to calm down and begin feeling comfortable in their new home. And the quickest way to a bunnies heart – finding their favorite food! Try giving them treats – some favorites around here are Craisin and Banana. My Tan rabbits are very skittish about new people but by golly – they hear that Craisin bag and they will run to anyone now! Treats and favorite veggies (handfed if they will accept) will help them see you as a positive thing to interact with and they will most likely become more curious of you and what you have to offer!

[Tanha]

 I wasn’t really planning on giving up on FuMan or the situation…I’m just upset with how it all seemed to come about. I don’t like being taken advantage of and it seems like that’s what happened. I’m also very passionate about animals and it bothers me to think that a rescue that’s supposed to be so concerned with saving bunnies would throw two of them together quickly and hope for the best just to get rid of a “trouble” bun. I have no problem giving the situation time and seeing if he comes around…I just don’t want to hurt Fera in the process.

I really do think some time in a consistent, stable environment will help the poor guy. I think he’s just scared from being moved around so much and not feeling like he had anywhere of his own. Would we have taken him knowing of his aggression issues…I don’t know, probably, but I just wish it would have been disclosed from the start.

I  think food is the way to his heart…same with Fera lol. I have a box in the pen for them to hide in and for the first day or two they spent a good chunk of time in that, but I discovered adding new hay to the pen even if they didn’t need it would lure Fera out. FuMan loves his pellets and feeding time is his favorite time. I have found out Fera loves her salad so with all these new discoveries they are warming up to us nicely. Let’s just hope they continue to bond together.

Since he does most of his mounting when we’re around too long do you think we should give them a little more time alone? I don’t know if being in there more will make him more comfortable and not feel the need to mount or make it worse. They have a bunny room, but are in a pen until they get used to the situation. They don’t have full roam of the room yet. Also I don’t think I went into too much detail…it’s not really humping. It’s just more of an attempt at mounting. She moves away almost instantly and he’ll give up. He just does it so often though.

 

I really appreciate your replies!

[tracface]

Think over time fuman will be nice. Its just all new to him, so hes just trying to show hes top bunny. It will get better, i think

[tracface]

Think over time fuman will be nice. Its just all new to him, so hes just trying to show hes top bunny. It will get better, i think

[Tanha]

 I hope so! Thanks for the reassurance.

[Beka27]

I would have been annoyed at this situation all around. I am a major control freak, so 1) I would have wanted to be involved in the adoption process from the beginning, 2) I would have wanted the single bunny home first to get her bonded to ME, and 3) I would have wanted to be the one to take her bunny dating at some point in the future (some rabbits will bond to anyone pretty easily, and YOU can have more say in who comes home with you).

In my opinion, your husband went about this the wrong way. I know it was supposed to be a surprise and everything, but couldn’t the surprise have been, “I put Fera on hold for you! Let’s go meet her!”?

Have you contacted the rescue? I’m curious if they tried her with multiple rabbits and he was the one that worked best, or if he was the first they put with her.

[Tanha]

The rescue usually has some bonded bunnies already so I think that’s what he was looking for…he was just trying to be sweet and I really appreciate it. We wanted an established bonded pair because I don’t know much about bonding myself.

I have contacted the rescue a few times and the woman isn’t too talkative which again leaves me with an uneasy feeling. My husband didn’t deal with the woman from the rescue…in our area we have a local rabbit society/rescue that links people with rescues from around the area. The people from the rabbit society have been helpful, but the woman from the rescue isn’t the most open person I guess you can say. They work with her often, but I just get a weird feeling about her. I almost feel like I’m bothering her by asking very reasonable questions. I’m pretty sure FuMan is the first rabbit they tried with Fera. After reading up more on bonding rabbits I see this isn’t the best way to go about it. I had no intention on having to bond bunnies any time in the future and neither did my husband so I never really read up on it.

[Author]

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