Bonded – suddenly scared, chasing.

[julcyfruit]

Hi BBers,

My bonded girls are around 2-3 years old, but I only just adopted about 3 months ago. They are both spayed and had been getting along great in their new home. Yesterday we went to a local bunny festival where I drove them and let them hang out with other fixed bunnies in a run around pen. It was a bit loud during their normal nap time…

When we got home they were fine, happy after getting some quiet snoozes in. So I decided to give them a bit more space overnight (the extra space is part of their normal supervised play area, we just keep them in their hutch and pen overnight)

Woke up to find bunny fur everywhere! From both of them. We watched them closely today and it seems Peanut is very scared of Evie. She will run away as soon las Evie starts hopping over to her. Evie will then chase. Peanut will sometimes thump but most times she will run away and hide.

I haven’t seen them actively box or bite, but I’m just worried they will if I let them continue on like this.

Is this normal? Is their bond breaking? What can I do!

[Mikey]

They likely still smell like the other bunnies. While out of territory, they may be fine with it, but when they smell other bunnies in their territory, it becomes an issue where they want to attack the “stranger” rabbits. To avoid a break, you might be best to put them in separate pens/cages close enough that they can see and smell one another, but not close enough they can reach. During these few days, swap their toys/litter/bowls/ect twice a day (once in the morning, once at night). After theyre acting normal with one another, it should be safe to put them together

Now, should they have started ‘bonding’ with another rabbit or rabbits at the event you want to, their bond may be semi broken. Any time you invite another rabbit(s) into an already bonded pair or group, you risk the bonded rabbits splitting to either prefer being single, or wanting to bond with the other bunny(s) instead. It would really depend how long you were at the event, and if either were rather interested in another bun or group of buns there

[Roberta]

I know this is probably a silly question, but as they were in a communal run having a hoppy hour, is it possible you picked up the wrong bun when you left ? Were there any bunnies similar to either of yours ?

[jerseygirl]

Roberta, not a silly question at all!  Never thought of that.

  Its like now days when parents or caregivers take children to play cafes and they issue them matching barcodes as they come in that are checked when they leave. For different reasons obviously. 

[julcyfruit]

Not a silly question at all! Our two were very different from the others at the event, they stayed close to me as well while I watched like a hawk as I was scared they might fight with others :’)

[julcyfruit]

Thanks Mikey! This definitely answers some questions for me! I’ll try keeping the separated and see how it goes!

[julcyfruit]

Update!

I brought out a smelly blanket of theirs before the event, and rubbed it on both. We gave them some more extra space into neutral territory that they haven been allowed to go in weeks (under sofa)…….and now they’re lying next to each other again!

Peanut is still a bit jumpy but phew! Baby steps to normal!

Thank you all!

[Mikey]

Woohoo! Peanut might be a bit skittish for another day or two until she realizes shes no longer going to be bothered

[julcyfruit]

Update again!

little Peanut was still running away from Evie and getting spooked – we tried putting them in a carrier and going to a neutral space and it didn’t do much. But yesterday our friend happened to bring their German Shepherd doggy and after being super spooked by it, the bunnies are completely back to normal (maybe a bit grudgy towards me but thats ok… hahaha) Peanut finally groomed Evie back and they are happily cuddling together again!

when all else fails bring a doggy!

[Author]

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