Bunny Bonding Question

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This topic has 5sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 6 months ago by Hedi.

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- 05/20/2007 at 8:49 AM
  Hedi
  Participant
  969 posts
  I am getting Cooper fixed this Tuesday. My girls are already fixed.
  
  I was hoping to bond him with one of the girls but I think he has already chosen one.
  
  PLEASE tell me if this is a good sign! When Cooper is out playing in the bunny room he flops and lays by Pookie’s cage. If she is close to the edge of the cage they rub noses. When Pookie is out she spends most of her time sitting by his cage.
  
  Does this mean they have already chosen each other and bonding may be easy? (please say yes)
- 05/20/2007 at 9:40 AM
  osprey
  Participant
  2065 posts
  It sure seems as if they like each other. Buns will go at each other through wire if they don’t like each other, the laying down and relaxing is often part of the bonding ritual. Relaxing can be a way for one bun to show the other "I am OK being near you". I think you are wise in holding off a physical meeting until both have been fixed. Intact boys get really humpy, and could turn her off permanently.
- 05/20/2007 at 11:54 AM
  Gravehearted
  Participant
  2428 posts
  it does sound like there’s some bunny flirting to me. I’d second Osprey’s advice and wait until at least 3 weeks after the neuter to attempt any bonding. if he’s too humpy, she might decide no way.
- 05/20/2007 at 4:09 PM
  Hedi
  Participant
  969 posts
  Cooper is such a sweet boy but he sprays so much! I am sure thats why they got rid of him. Thats ok though, he is better off with me! lol
  
  It is really cute because he flops by her cage and when she comes over to him they nose rub and it looks like they are whispering-so cute. When she is out she spends most of her time near his cage. Actually, the past several weeks she rarely comes downstairs to play. She spends all her time up there with him.
  
  She is only 2lb and he is 5lb 11oz so I worry about the size difference. I know that if he got to her presurgery he would probably hurt her on accident. Surgery is Tuesday so I figured we would need to wait a few weeks before introducing them. Hopefully it will go really well. Pookie wants a friend so bad. She tries to be Carrera’s friend but Carrera just wont have it. Carrera lets her groom her thru the cage but thats it.
  
  Carrera is a very indepent and headstrong girl so she will get to pick out her own boyfriend-that should be interesting.
- 05/20/2007 at 6:33 PM
  BinkyBunny
  Moderator
  8776 posts
  Though this really does seem like a good sign, I just want to offer a caution note. Both Rucy and Bailey will lie next to each other with the pen inbetween, but if Bailey meets Rucy face to face, her tail goes up, she’s starts growling and biting anything that moves. Bailey seems to enjoys her company as long as Rucy is not messing with her stuff, and there is no way for her to mess with her stuff when she’s safely behind a pen. My vet also told me that sometimes rabbits will hang out near their each other to re-emphasize where each other’s territory ends/begins as well as to say…ya know, you don’t even phase me!
  
  But for the most part you can look at hanginig out near each other as a good sign, just still watch for signs of aggression when they meet face to face (tail up, ears back)
  
  The rubbing of noses really seems to be a good sign.
- 05/20/2007 at 6:48 PM
  Hedi
  Participant
  969 posts
  Before Cooper came along Pookie would lay next to Carrera’s cage and of course groom her when Carrera would allow her. When we attempted to bond they drew blood.
  
  We planned to bond Cooper with Carrera because of their size being the same. Pookie is very shy but she would love to be Carrera’s friend but she doesn’t like her. I think Pookie is lonely so thats why she hangs out next to Coopers cage.
  
  I really really hope it is a good sign. He of course is just nuts for her but it is so cute to watch Pookie spend most of her time sitting next to his cage and kissing him thru the bars. It may not be a love connection but Pookie really needs a friend and hopefully he will understand that. lol
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