When will my buns love me?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 9sd replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 4 months ago by LBJ10.

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- 11/22/2017 at 5:40 AM
  Von
  Participant
  12 posts
  I’m a new bun owner: I adopted two beautiful lionhead bunnies from a friend of a friend: Booplesnoot (aka Boopie, male) and Lily (female) are littermates and have been together from birth, and they were raised by and around humans. They were just 9 weeks old when we brought them home and have been with us for just a month.
  
  They’re a bonded pair, so I don’t touch them if they’re snuggling or near each other. Both will eat treats out of my hands and allow me to pet them and pick them up (though they don’t cuddle for long); I shattered my left ankle at the start of the year, so I’m home with them all the time and they know my voice/household sounds. And I understand that, as prey animals, they don’t enjoy being picked up… but how am I ever going to be able to clip those sharp little bun claws if they won’t stay still?
  
  I use mobility aids, so crouching/stooping/etc. to their level isn’t something I can do easily (though I do try); when we let them out for supervised playtime, they’ll boop the soles of my feet with their noses and, for whatever reason, they seem to pay extra attention to my injured leg). I leave them alone for the most part, though I try and do something resembling snuggles with each of them maybe once a day, since 1) I want them to get used to being held and 2) I hear that rabbits who have no contact with their humans get depressed. If they struggle, though, I let them go: I don’t want to hurt them.
  
  They used to bite, though they’ve mostly stopped doing that after we (by yelping each time) made it clear that it hurt, although they still give nibbles while being petted or brushed.
  
  As of now, both are unfixed, though we’ll be taking Boopie first (since he just turned 3 months old and vets in our area have said that the recommended age for the surgery is 3-5 months for boy buns and 4-6 months for girl buns) and Lily will go next month when she’s old enough. I’ve heard that spaying or neutering should curb some of the more aggressive behaviours, though others have said it only get worse. Who’s right? Does it depend on the bun?
  
  I love them both to death and can’t imagine my life without them in it, but I wish they loved me back. Does that make sense?
- 11/22/2017 at 9:38 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  First, you need to separate them. They are not a bonded pair. They’re friendly because they’re still young, but when hormones kick in things can get very ugly really quickly. You also could have a surprise litter on your hands. They need to have their own cages and not be put together for 1-2 months post spay. So you still have a while you need to keep them separated.
  As for bonding with them, it’s only been a month, which is no time at all. Just keep being on the floor with them and feeding them from your hand to build up trust. Buns don’t really enjoyed being picked up, so unless it’s absolutely needed, don’t do it. Some buns don’t even enjoy pets. So honestly, don’t hold them, especially if they seem like they’re not enjoying it. It will only make them no trust you.
- 11/22/2017 at 4:15 PM
  Mikey
  Participant
  3186 posts
  Babies cant bond. They can make friendships, but it is not a bond. As soon as hormones come into play, the only thing they will think about is breeding and fighting for territory. Note, that it can take a month for sperm to leave the males body, and up to two months for hormones to leave a males body after a neuter. Note, that it can take up to six months for hormones to leave a females body after a spay. During this time, hormonal spikes due to hormone levels shifting will be common. Hormonal spikes mean huge risk in fighting, aggression, and mounting. Rabbits often fight to the death. It is highly advised that you separate them until after both are spayed/neutered and have had a few months for their hormone levels to drain out.
  
  Thankfully, the best way for a human to bond with a rabbit is to just be around them. Its ok if you cant get on the floor with them very often, as long as you can be near them and talk to them. Maybe get a chair near the bunnies and use it as your human to rabbit bonding chair. You can sit there and have them jump onto your lap if they are comfortable, lean to pet them when you feel comfortable and when they allow it, and just talk to them. Many people read their rabbits books because although the rabbit doesnt care about the book, it will make the bun happy that you are spending time with them and talking to them
- 11/22/2017 at 4:56 PM
  Von
  Participant
  12 posts
  Re: Babies can’t bond~ I had no idea. I guess we’ll have to get a second playpen before we take Boopie in for his surgery (we already have a cage that’s big enough for a large dog, but I’d hate to keep one of my babies in that, even temporarily).
  
  The couple I adopted my buns from told me that two males would fight, but that one of each wouldn’t be an issue as long as we got them both fixed. Now I’m scared that my sweet babies, who spend all day snuggling, will try to hurt each other; the surprise litter, while not ideal, is something I could live with, but I don’t want to see either of them hurt.
  
  I do have a chair that they can easily get onto, as well as a ton of books. Maybe I’ll get my husband to move things around a bit, especially if we need to get a second playpen. Can I still put them together, so that they can snuggle or nuzzle through their cages if they feel so inclined, or should they be in separate rooms?
  
  Thank you both for the info. I’m still figuring things out, but I want my buns to feel happy, safe, and loved.
- 11/22/2017 at 9:03 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  I think you’re on to a great start by asking for advice. Being a first time bun owner can be super daunting.
  I kept both my boys 6 inches apart so they could still see and smell each other, and it actually helped them a ton after they were neutered. Keep the cages a bit apart at the least, just so they can’t mate or fight through the bars. Not all buns will hurt each other, it’s just a very likely scenario.
  Just give your buns some time to warm up to you. A month isn’t long at all. Bombur was comfortable with us starting with the car ride. Asriel didn’t start coming out of his shell till he was about 6 months old, which was 4 months of us having him. The biggest thing with bonding with your buns is to just be patient. They come out of their shell when you least expect it. Sit with them, talk gently, pet them when they seem like they want it, give them food from your hand. It could take a while, but it will be well worth it. Hang in there
- 11/23/2017 at 12:53 AM
  Von
  Participant
  12 posts
  It definitely is daunting; I’ve always been an animal lover, but I’m used to dogs and cats. I’ve learned a lot, though it’ll probably be years before I can comfortably say I have a handle on things.
  
  So far, things are mostly good. I’ll pet them from time to time, though I don’t want to overwhelm them; I talk or sing to them from across the room, so they’ve gotten to know my voice, and I never, ever go into their playpen- that’s their space, so I only reach in to pet them or refill their food/water bowls.
  
  Because of my mobility issues, we only let them out when my husband is home, usually for ~2 hours or so. Once I’m able to walk again, and better engage with them on their level, that will probably change.
  
  I’ll probably end up keeping one of them in the cage/crate and the other in the playpen after Boopie’s surgery, since both lock and the bars are different sizes, so I can keep them apart but still close enough that they can see and smell each other. The cage already has both of their scents on it, since we used it while waiting for the playpen we’d ordered to arrive, so I hope that will help.
  
  I feel a lot better, now that I have this info; everyone I’ve met here has been super helpful and kind, and I thank you all for helping me help my buns to have long, happy lives.
- 11/23/2017 at 7:18 PM
  LittlePuffyTail
  Moderator
  18092 posts
  Welcome to BB and congrats on becoming a bun parent.
  
  They are very complex little creatures. Much more so than most people (including myself) realize before bringing one (or two!) home. I’ve had buns for over 13 years and am always learning.
- 11/23/2017 at 8:45 PM
  Von
  Participant
  12 posts
  Thank you so much!
  
  They are definitely strange and complex… very different from cats and dogs. My Boopie is particularly expressive, in that he always lets us know when he’s unhappy: he’s like a toddler that way and, also like a toddler, he’s usually okay after a nap.
  
  I don’t think learning ever stops, though I never realized that rabbits were capable of such a wide array of emotions. I’ve met other pets with far less personality than my babies, though that’s what makes buns so much fun.
- 11/25/2017 at 10:21 AM
  Bladesmith
  Participant
  849 posts
  Our little dwarf bun, Dawn, once she became a house bun, has taken 2 years JUST to get to the point of being willing to come to me when I’m laying on the floor and chin me, tug on my clothes, stand up on me, and once in a while, she’ll grant me a little lick or allow me to rub her chin a little.
  
  Before she “retired”, she was a show rabbit and breeder. She’s never really been allowed to set her own limits of who handled her or the limits of her territory before, and was a very aggressive cage dweller, the poor thing. So she’s justifiably determined not to be handled on anything but her own terms. I have to respect her boundaries.
  
  That said, she still has to be handled, for grooming, nails, and cleaning her little boopie butt (She’s prone to diarrhea, which is why she no longer gets treats, but she still gets grumpy tummy from time to time), but she seems to understand those necessary times, and tolerates it. Sorta. I know that every time I pick her up it’s setting me back. I had to clean her butt last night, and the easiest way to do that is warm running water to loosen the poop and get it off her fur so that pulling it doesn’t tear the delicate skin around her bunnylady parts. She was a trooper, being held in one hand with her belly in the air, and sorta stayed sitting on my chest after while I dried her off (Wet bunny is a no no), but the second she could get down, she did, and I received SIX double foot flicks from her to know how pissed she was.
  
  That said, 10 minutes later, she was out and sitting a few feet away form me. Mercurial creatures, raddits.
  
  TL;DR It takes a long time sometimes. Clover and I bonded on first sight. Dawn not so much. You have to progress at the rabbits pace, and the rabbits comfort level. Some will never be cuddlers, and some will. I just take whatever I get from Dawn as a blessing, because I know how hard it is for her to trust humans.
  
  Sorry, I’m a long winded cuss.
- 11/26/2017 at 12:10 AM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17231 posts
  Hmm… I’ve been waiting 7 years for my buns to love me. Can’t say it’s happened yet. Hahaha!
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