Which area should I introduce Zeus and West?

Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS. SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED. We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best.

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

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.

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 14sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 10 months ago by bunnnnnnie!.

Viewing 14 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 01/26/2012 at 7:22 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  I live in a studio, and there’s no neutral territory in it for Zeus. He’s literally been on every inch of this apt, including in the bathtub. .
  
  BUT, he’s about the least territorial bun I’ve met. I can be in his cage with him, take food from him, take a toy from him while he’s playing with it, and besides giving me a sad face he doesn’t do anything. . West on the other hand is territorial a bit, she stomps her front feet and nips at Zeus if she thinks he’s going to take her toys. But there’s only one corner of the apartment she thinks is “hers”.
  
  Should I introduce them in the bathroom, where Zeus spends the least time, and where it’s a small enclosed space? My only concern is West is insecure on linoleum, with her crooked leg she needs grip to really get around normally. And I’m afraid if she feels vulnerable, she’ll be more likely to try and fight Zeus.
  
  My other option is making a pen in the middle of my living room (away from West’s territory) with NIC grids. The issue there is that area definitely will smell like Zeus, there’s really no way to get that out of the carpet (whereas I can clean the scents out of linoleum). But West will be more comfortable and able to move around on the carpet.
  
  I really don’t think Zeus is going to be the aggressor, their interactions through the bars has always been West being bossy, and Zeus yielding to her. . What do you guys think?
- 01/26/2012 at 7:32 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I think I would try the pen initially and see how that goes.
- 01/26/2012 at 9:49 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  That’s kind of what I was thinking Sarita. Is there a general consensus on offering food during bonding? On one hand I don’t want them fighting over it, but on the other hand maybe making a positive correlation, ie, “When I meet this other bunny, I get treats!” might be a good thing.
- 01/26/2012 at 9:51 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  I think maybe eventually you could. I wouldn’t do it on the first few sessions just yet.
- 01/26/2012 at 9:56 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Sarita on 01/26/2012 09:51 AM
  I think maybe eventually you could. I wouldn’t do it on the first few sessions just yet.
  
  Okie dokie. I just want to completely set them up for success.
- 01/26/2012 at 10:21 AM
  Elrohwen
  Participant
  7318 posts
  Yeah, I would stay away from food for now – in a couple sessions you can add a pile of hay though.
  
  I also think the pen will be a good start. If Zeus really isn’t territorial (I know Otto certainly isn’t, no not all are) then it won’t matter too much. With mine it was helpful to have slippery floors because it kept Otto quiet – when he moved Hannah humped, so having him be quieter at first was good. But your buns are the other way around – the one who can’t move on slippery floors is the one more likely to be dominant/aggressive, so staying on carpet is probably best.
- 01/27/2012 at 7:47 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  I think I’ll be postponing the bonding for another week or two.. .
  
  When West is out loose, she likes to walk around the perimeter of Zeus’s cage, not even to be near him but because she’s too scared to go out in the open center of the room yet, so she sticks to the perimeter. When she does this, Zeus gets excited and jumps around, trying to get her attention. This scares West (it’s a 10lb bunny bouncing off the walls of his cage, I understand her nerves ). She gets insecure, so she bites him through the bars. Last night Zeus actually tried to nip her back, for the first time. I think it was kind of a “Hey, this is my cage YOU came up to, and I’m being friendly, no biting me!”.
  
  So I rearranged last night, so the buns’ cages are only a few feet from each other. Before they were in seperate corners of the room, seperated by my futon. Now they can see each other 24/7, and smell each other. Poor Zeus, he just so wants West’s attention, and I think he’s beginning to get frustrated that she won’t be his friend and be nice to him. So I’m hoping being able to see and smell her all the time will help Zeus not get so crazy excited when she comes over near him.
- 01/27/2012 at 7:51 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  That sounds like a good plan.
- 01/27/2012 at 7:57 AM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  Is your studio stand alone or does it have a hallway? I’ve done a couple sessions in our hallway with some success.
- 01/27/2012 at 7:57 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Sarita on 01/27/2012 07:51 AM
  That sounds like a good plan.
  
  Thanks. Is there anything else I should do? I think it’s a little bit of a personality clash.. Zeus is a really friendly, no-worries guy. West is very insecure and fearful. So when she acts out defensively, Zeus is very surprised by it. But I’m hoping Zeus’s laidback nature will eventually make West comfortable. Fingers crossed!
- 01/27/2012 at 7:57 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Sam and Lady’s Human on 01/27/2012 07:57 AM
  Is your studio stand alone or does it have a hallway? I’ve done a couple sessions in our hallway with some success.
  
  No hallway, it’s basically one big room with a bathroom.
- 01/27/2012 at 8:07 AM
  Sam and Lady's Human
  Participant
  2001 posts
  Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 01/27/2012 07:57 AM
  
  Posted By Sam and Lady’s Human on 01/27/2012 07:57 AM
  Is your studio stand alone or does it have a hallway? I’ve done a couple sessions in our hallway with some success.
  
  No hallway, it’s basically one big room with a bathroom.
  
  No I mean, like is it in an apartment complex. With a commonway between all the apartments?
- 01/27/2012 at 8:08 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Sam and Lady’s Human on 01/27/2012 08:07 AM
  
  Posted By bunnnnnnie! on 01/27/2012 07:57 AM
  
  Posted By Sam and Lady’s Human on 01/27/2012 07:57 AM
  Is your studio stand alone or does it have a hallway? I’ve done a couple sessions in our hallway with some success.
  
  No hallway, it’s basically one big room with a bathroom.
  
  No I mean, like is it in an apartment complex. With a commonway between all the apartments?
  
  Ohhh I getcha. There is a hallway, however it’s extremely long (there’s like 40 apartments attached to the hallway), and lots of people taking their dogs out for walks, so not a good bunny area.
- 01/27/2012 at 8:36 AM
  Sarita
  Participant
  18851 posts
  What about a balcony?
- 01/27/2012 at 9:01 AM
  bunnnnnnie!
  Participant
  1491 posts
  Posted By Sarita on 01/27/2012 08:36 AM
  What about a balcony?
  
  No balcony. It’s really a very small space.. 335 sq ft. . I’m hoping to move back in with my parents maybe within the next 6 months and then I’ll have more room, but obviously that’s not an immediate option.
Author

Messages

Viewing 14 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.