Unhappily bonded buns?

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 4sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 3 months ago by SlinkyKat.

Viewing 4 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 08/05/2018 at 5:33 PM
  SlinkyKat
  Participant
  41 posts
  I’m fostering two adorable senior bunnies, a male and a female. To give some context, they’ve sadly have had it rough for the last year, jumping from foster to foster and adopted home back to foster etc. I worry that because of the stress that they may have developed some behavioral issues with people and each other. The boy lunges at hands and the girl is very shy, but apparently they both used to love attention and were very friendly.
  The boy also chases and nips the girl a lot, in fact it’s the only way I’ve seen them interact. I feel bad for them, they’re both clearly sweet at heart and very cute. I want to help them become as adoptable as possible so they can find their own permanent home but I’m not sure how to help.
  The last adopter returned them because of their squabbles (which they didn’t know how to handle) so I want to help the buns avoid this again if possible. How can I give these bunnies “marriage counseling” so they fight less? How can I help them be more trusting of people? Thanks!
- 08/05/2018 at 7:12 PM
  Whiskers
  Participant
  38 posts
  I am curious as to what others say. I am wondering if rebonding them would help. That way they get one on one attention for a while to build trust with humans. Then slowly re introduce them to each other. Sounds like a lot of unstable living conditions. That would stress anyone out including bunnies. Poor buns. So glad you are willing to help them out.
  
  Just a couple of questions. Were they bonded rabbits before and if so how long? Just because they live together doesn’t mean they we’re bonded or bonded properly. Second question do you know if they we’re bonded if they were separated for any amount of time? Like for a a month or so 1 bun with one owner and the other with someone else?
  
  Gonna watch the experts answer. Just for curiosity sake.
- 08/05/2018 at 8:28 PM
  SlinkyKat
  Participant
  41 posts
  I wish I knew more of the buns history, but all I know is they’re 6 years old and have been adopted through the shelter and fostered through the shelter together for a year, so they’ve at least been bonded a year but possibly their whole lives.
  I was told the people who returned them because of their squabbles had tried seperating them during meal time and hiding their food and some other random things that might have ended up making the situation worse. I don’t believe they’ve ever been separated for long amounts of time but it is possible.
  Rebounding them might work, if there’s no “easy” fix, I’d always be willing to do that lol. Thanks for you input!
- 08/06/2018 at 3:55 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  It doesn’t really sound like they’re bonded. If the only interactions you see are chasing and nipping, they are not bonded. Bonded bunnies may have an occasional tiff, but day to day, you should see them snuggling, flopping and grooming each other. Do you really never see them do any of that?
  
  If so, I would separate them and start bonding from scratch. It may be hard because they’ve got into this pattern of bullying.
  
  Maybe they were properly bonded once, but moving home does sometimes break bonds.
- 08/08/2018 at 11:23 PM
  SlinkyKat
  Participant
  41 posts
  I haven’t seen any snuggling flopping or grooming yet…. I’ll be sure to start helping them bond again. Thanks for your help!
Author

Messages

Viewing 4 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.