Meet Wesley! Plus bonding questions

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 9sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 1 month ago by Mikey.

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- 01/02/2017 at 8:46 PM
  Sparkles
  Participant
  26 posts
  I adopted a bun to bond with Sparks from animal control today. He was from a hoarding situation and is super timid, but warms up quickly with treats! He’s only been home for a couple of hours and is already happily munching away, so seems to be settling in well!
  
  I’m on my iPad so don’t know if it’ll post, but here he is!
- 01/03/2017 at 2:25 PM
  Luna
  Participant
  2219 posts
  Hi! He’s a lucky bun to be rescued from a hoarding situation. I can’t see the pic though.
- 01/05/2017 at 9:26 PM
  Sparkles
  Participant
  26 posts
  Whoops, sorry! I don’t have access to a computer at home so I’ll try to fix it when I have one I can use
  
  He’s all black and I think a Polish or Polish mix? He’s quite overweight right now though, so hopefully that’ll change no that he has room to run around!
  
  Some questions about bonding.
  
  Yesterday was the first day I started swapping their pens, and they’re already flopping near the pen of whoever is still locked up during outime. My plan was to give him a whole week to settle in and just swap pens during that time, but since they both seem so calm about the other already, is it okay to try a session sooner?
  
  He came home Monday morning.
- 01/05/2017 at 9:34 PM
  Sparkles
  Participant
  26 posts
  .
- 01/05/2017 at 10:40 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Cut bun! He looks like a dwarf breed based from the angle of the picture
  
  I would still give it a week or two. So he can get more comfortable and get his smell around to make things feel more like his so it isnt all so new when bonding starts
- 01/06/2017 at 11:52 AM
  Sparkles
  Participant
  26 posts
  I’ll wait, thank you! I definitely don’t want to do anything that could negatively effect bonding them!
  
  He seems to be quite the chewer so far. Nothing he’s not suppose to, but he’s done more damage in the four days I’ve had him to Sparks toys than she has in four months haha
- 01/06/2017 at 12:26 PM
  Vienna Blue in France
  Participant
  5317 posts
  Hi how exciting : Wesley and Sparks !! Great names. LOL
  Yes let him settle…. and for Sparks to get used to him also.
  Keep swapping them. It’s great they are not showing aggression to each other at this early stage.
  
  Has he been neutered ?
- 01/06/2017 at 1:29 PM
  Sparkles
  Participant
  26 posts
  Yep! Before he was even seized by animal control (they did surgery to confirm a few months ago).
  
  Ha, Sparks was already named Sparkles when I adopted her. I had planned to change it but she already knew and responded to her name, so I shortened it to Sparks
  
  Wesley is from The Princess Bride
- 01/13/2017 at 8:31 PM
  Sparkles
  Participant
  26 posts
  Hey guys!
  
  I had my first bonding session on Wednesday and it went pretty well. Sparks groomed him a few times, and though there was no fighting or chasing, there were a few nips when he wouldn’t groom her back after a bit.
  
  I did a few “bunny magic” sessions and they both seemed to really enjoy it and snuggled up a bit more together, but still no grooming by Wesley.
  
  They both groomed themselves though and laid down separate and seemed pretty calm. It lasted about 40 minutes.
  
  Today was the second date. Sparks immediately groomed him when he asked, but when she did he wouldn’t groom her back still. A couple nips by both of them about that, but again no fighting or chasing. I did a few bunny magic sessions again, and they both snuggled in more, and Sparks again groomed him after.
  
  Is everything sounding pretty normal for his far in or is there anything else I should be trying?
  
  I’m switching their pens daily, and they’re grooming each other and snuggling through the bars of their cages. Currently I’m using my bathroom for bonding. I’m cleaning it we’ll befoe hand with vinegar and then some Natures Miracle to be sure. They have access to about a 4’x3′ area in it. So not huge, but they can definitely get away from each other if they want.
  
  They usually are about a foot or so apart grooming themselves or flopped out in the bathroom when not interacting. But will come over and sniff the other and go away with out any issues as well.
  
  Should I try making the space a bit smaller? My tub isn’t full size so I’m worried that would be too small of a space to use.
  
  Any advice would be great!
- 01/13/2017 at 9:57 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Sounds pretty normal for just a few sessions in I wouldnt try to downsize the bonding area yet because they are interacting once in a while. Ignoring is also a good sign, and so is flopping, so theres nothing really wrong happening to need downsizing. Dont increase size until they both seem fully comfortable though (minimal nipping). To try to get your boy to groom more, you can put a bit of mashed banana or drops of apple juice onto both of their heads to encourage both of them to groom each other
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