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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 1 month ago by Robert.

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- 01/03/2015 at 6:08 PM
  swedishbun
  Participant
  29 posts
  Feel free to click on the links below to our bonding adventures with B (original bun) & L (new bun).
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/topic/aff/11/aft/133603/Default.aspx
  
  https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/afv/topic/aff/11/aft/136196/Default.aspx
  
  The short story, we’re six months into bonding. After our trip to nowhere-land during the holidays, there has been a huge improvement in the bunnies’ bonding experience.
  
  We used a small cage that fit perfectly in the back seats (and we could tie around belts) and didn’t take the full width of the car. The buns traveled in there for the car rides and when we drove around the national park (and even stopped for lunch).
  
  In the hotel, we arranged the cage on the suitcase rack next to the bed (winning). They slept in there for three nights. The xpen was in the corner of the room and we made it 2.5 squares large. There, they ate together and shared a litter box.
  
  The good news:
  
  Being in a different environment made a HUGE difference. I couldn’t believe we did 72 hours together (maybe a couple hours apart) in either the cage or the xpen. There were small skirmishes but only a tiny bit of fur taken off.
  
  Since we returned, the buns have been living in the xpen (2 squares large) and go into the stroller at night. They each get a couple hours of house run time to get their binkies on.
  
  The bad news:
  
  Since we returned from our trip, there have a been a couple serious fights (fur pulling and biting), but mostly small skirmishes or bullying. Bullying is probably 70% of the problem now. L is now bullying B for fun (she just hops towards him like a lunge and he takes off in the other direction). They are able to stay in the xpen together during the day, eat their food, and share a litter box, but they do not snuggle or sit next to each other at all. (they will however snuggle in the stroller)
  
  It’s the first time we’ve seen B take on the submission role and actually be scared of someone else. I suppose he has accepted L as the dominant bunny in the relationship. And I think L is enjoying pushing and bullying him.
  
  Is this normal? Will her bullying stop after she gets off the ‘power trip’? Will they start sitting near each other in the xpen?
  
  Are we almost there to bunny loveville?!!!
  
  Would love to hear any comments/next step suggestions you have.
- 01/03/2015 at 6:21 PM
  swedishbun
  Participant
  29 posts
  and a photo of them in the “new” xpen
  
  they look peaceful…until L hopped out of the box and gave sleepy B a bite on the bum.
- 01/03/2015 at 7:25 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17224 posts
  Sometimes it’s humping, sometimes it’s chasing/bullying. Either way, they eventually get over it (most of the time, anyway). The submissive bunny accepts that that is their place in the relationship and the dominant bunny is finally satisfied that he/she is, in fact, the dominant one.
- 01/03/2015 at 9:22 PM
  tanlover14
  Participant
  3617 posts
  A lot of that is pretty normal. Keep pushing them, you’ll eventually get there. Whenever anyone has a skirmish where I feel it went too far, I take them all out and do a stress bonding session then put them back in together. I have always felt once you are to this stage it is important to not separate and just push through until their bonding is cemented. Good luck! Bonding can be such a pain!
- 01/05/2015 at 3:03 PM
  swedishbun
  Participant
  29 posts
  We’re moving forward! Now instead of terrorizing B, the two silly buns just freak each other out and then run around the pen. It’s a farce
  
  We also had our first night out yesterday where the two played in the living room and had only tiny fight (they both want the Christmas tree for themselves). That was historic!
  
  Keep you’all posted.
- 01/08/2015 at 12:07 PM
  theshrew24
  Participant
  66 posts
  Thank you for all your threads! I am having some issues with my buns, many of which are similar to yours (I spent 3 weeks during the holidays at my parents, and with all the noise and lack of structure and relatives wanting to “let them play together even,” I lost most of the ground that I had gained). Your thread has made me feel so much better. I also live in an apartment with minimal space, so the techniques you used have been a major help.
- 01/09/2015 at 12:29 AM
  Robert
  Participant
  83 posts
  What helped my rabbits whenever we had a small skirmish (and was out very last one btw they are now fully bonded) was when it started to happen (this was a dominance issue and they were circling each other in a tight circle) was the smoosh technique
  
  I grabbed them both quickly, which honestly stressed them a tad then forced them together and lay down and keep them there while petting them
  
  It got it over and they went back to being lovey dovey
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