Bonding a Trio

[mocha200]

Session #1: Lulu and Chaco-The Cube

Lulu and Chaco had their first session today. I decided to start them out in a NIC cube on a running washer. Overall, I would say that it went ok. The only issue I had was Lulu trying to bite Chaco’s face. She pulled some fur but that was the worst of it. I always stopped her before she had time to do any real damage. Why did she go after her face? Chaco didn’t do anything but let out terrible sounding grunts (that is the only bunny I have ever met that could let out such an awful noise!).

For some reason the embedded video wont show up once I post this so here is a link:  http://youtu.be/g7HOrRxugfM

These pictures show how they were pretty much the whole time besides in those video clips. Lulu pretty much ignored Chaco and tried to escape while Chaco just sat their terrified. I think next time I need something scarier for Lulu.

[rissakai007]

If she was upset then she would have lunged at whatever part of the other rabbit she could get to. It’s an act of agression. Grunting is also a warning to the other rabbit. Maybe you could bring them into a calmer setting for the next session. Sometimes female rabbits that didn’t know each other before are difficult to bond.

[MoveDiagonally]

I’m looking forward to pics and videos!

I think it sounds like it went alright. I’ve always found a preliminary group session really helpful in gauging how difficult bonding is going to be and where my problem bunnies are. So I might give that a go if you haven’t. If you have enough spare grids I might make another cube that will fit all 3 so you can stress bond them as a group (a box would work as well). One on ones can be really helpful but the dynamic in a group is different. Sometimes bunnies that don’t get along in pairs get along okay in a group and vice versa.

This is exciting. 

[tanlover14]

So excited for you, Mocha! And I’m happy you started a thread so we can all follow along!

I agree with MD. I’d do a group session to see how everyone interacts with each other.

[Zombie-Sue]

Until I read through that whole thing, I thought Chaco-The Cube was her full name, Lol. Then I figured out that you were putting them in a cube. It must be getting late….

Popping in to let you know I’m also eagerly awaiting pictures. I don’t think I’ve seen Chaco before.

[mocha200]

I just posted the video and pictures on my original post above.

Zombie-Sue: Haha! That is so funny! I really don’t like her name, I want to change it but I am terrible at thinking of names! :p Right now I think it would be cute to call her Lady____. I just don’t know what the second part would be! Also Miss_____ would be cute too!

Today I might take your suggestions and try all three of them together. Mocha hasn’t ever been with her before so this should be interesting. I am thinking of doing a car ride down our road as the running washer wasn’t scary enough for Lulu. I will just have to see if my Mom will drive me as I don’t think driving with 3 unbonded rabbits in the back is a smart idea! :p

[tanlover14]

LOL, definitely not. Get someone to drive for you so you can monitor! Although, try to interfere as little as possible. Let them lean on each other for comfort!

[mocha200]

Session #2 The Shower-1 Hour

So we had a change of plans. My Mom had to use the van to go to town and we are down to 1 vehicle at the moment. Instead I decided to go with the downstairs bathroom shower as non of the bunnies had ever been in there before. Sadly we have no bathtubs in our house so I had to use NIC grids to block off the shower. Here is what it looked like:

As for how the bunnies did, I think it went ok. Right away Lulu would bite Chaco everytime she would move close to her. Lots of fur was pulled but no one was hurt. Eventually Lulu would put her head down and ask to be groomed without biting at all! That happened about 3-4 times! Mocha wasn’t involved much. He sat in the corner mostly. He did hump Chaco 2-3 times and Lulu once but then he went back to sitting in his corner! :p This is how most of the session looked like:

The Triangle:

Lulu and Chaco would also sit like this next to each other without fighting at all. They both were to concentrated on the weird noises my parents and the cats were making :p Aren’t they cute?

All of the bunnies groomed themselves during the session along with Lulu grooming Mocha and Mocha grooming Lulu. Chaco doesn’t even ask for grooming. Chaco did lay down for a few seconds though! 

Here is the video! It took forever to edit as it was mostly them just sitting in one spot!  

http://youtu.be/wWO6f4Lx27E

How would you say they did? What would you recommend my next session be?

[Zombie-Sue]

LOL wow! It seems like it’s going really great! I’d try a longer session next time and see how they act when you feed them together (unless any of the buns have a history of being very food aggressive)

[mocha200]

Lulu is extremely aggressive when I feed them. She gets so excited that she starts charging at Mocha! :p

[Zombie-Sue]

Then I’d hold off on that LOL

[MoveDiagonally]

Awesome Mocha! I would keep at it with the group sessions. This is really great.

[Monkeybun]

When you mentioned renaming her, the name that popped into my head was Lady Godiva… but that could be because I want chocolate.

Looks promising!

[Zombie-Sue]

Oh, oh, Lady Princess ;;

[mocha200]

I just added the link to the video in the post above. I can’t seem to get it to embed! Idk whats wrong. Sorry about that! You will just have to use the link.

So I am trying to decide what to do for today’s bonding session. Should I do the shower again? Do a car ride? Or both? Also should I try doing a longer session like 2 hours?

[mocha200]

Oops. Sorry I posted out of order. Ignore this post.

[mocha200]

Session #3 Shower/Bathroom-2 Hours

Today’s Bonding session went very well! Not as many bites from Lulu today! All the bunnies laid down during the session. Mocha even flopped 3 or more times! Mocha humped Chaco a ton but she just sat there and took it. He even groomed her multiple times! Mocha tried humping Lulu also, but it just turned into him chasing her in circles. The one thing I wish would stop is Lulu biting! Towards the end I got a spray bottle and sprayed her when she did it and that seemed to work. It is so cute! After Chaco gets bit by Lulu she runs to Mocha for protection! I got tons of pictures today so I hope you all don’t mind! 

For the first hour we were in the shower again:

Mocha flopped

Mocha and Lulu snuggled and groomed each other for a lot of the time

It isn’t the clearest photo but this is a picture of the first time Mocha groomed Chaco! He did it many times after this!

Mocha laying down next to Chaco

The second hour I took them out of the shower and placed them on the bathroom floor. I eventually made the space a little smaller as they were just sitting on opposite sides of the room (Mocha was still in the shower when I took this picture).

Forced snuggles

After forced snuggles

Chaco seeking protection from Mocha

Post continued below.

[mocha200]

Continued:

I saw a lot of this today

I think they might be plotting something!

Lulu getting comfy!

Chaco lays down. I know it is just a loaf but considering she just stretched out for the first time in her cage, this is good.

Ok! I am done now with all the pictures! Any tips on how to do my next session? I honestly don’t know if I can sit on that toilet seat any longer! My butt was going numb! Do you think it is to early for an xpen in a neutral territory? Any tips on how to stop the biting?

[mocha200]

Session #4-The Pen- 2 1/2 Hours

I should have updated you sooner on this session but life gets busy. Anyways, this session was on Sat. January 18th.

For this session I decided to do a pen in the basement living room. Mocha and Lulu had gone in that room before last summer but I don’t think it made a big difference.

Pretty much Bun Bun (aka Chaco) sat in the litter box the whole time looking wide eyed and scared:

Lulu did a TON of biting. She would charge at Bun Bun and the poor girl would desperately try to get away! She never fights back. I would squirt Lulu when ever she bit her but eventually she ignored the sprays. 

Mocha would hop up to her and lick her a few time and then proceed to hump… She always sits there nicely and takes it. She is such a good girl!

Edit: Mocha has also been wanting to hump Lulu and will chase her in a few circles to get her. He never succeeded. Lulu also likes to nip him during the sessions. I don’t really get scared when she does it to him because she does it all the time when ever she wants him to move.

Mocha and Lulu did a lot of snuggling and kissing:

There was a lot of boring times where I just watched TV.

I haven’t bonded since then. I got really disappointed with all of Lulu’s biting. It was getting really bad. tanlover suggested I turn on the vacuum when she bites so I will try that next time. I’ve also been busy and am leaving for vacation on Saturday. All bonding has been put on hold until I get back. I am a little nervous that the pet sitter will let Bun Bun out of her cage on accident or let Mocha/Lulu in her cage and they will fight. I’m probably just being paranoid. 

Anyways, any other tips on how to make Lulu stop biting would be very appreciated! 

[Zombie-Sue]

That’s the best kind of bonding. Where you spend most of the time watching tv lol.

There’s only so much you can do. I really like the squirt bottle and yelling.

[mocha200]

Zombie-Sue: Haha yup! I’m currently obsessed with NCIS so I just watch that the whole time. Last time I had it on my laptop and set it up in the bathroom.

[HenryMouse]

It seems to be going very well! Bonding two females is much harder than male x female since the girls have to work out dominance issues. Maybe you could try your next bonding session in the car?

[mocha200]

I am currently doing a bonding session. They have been together for 2 hours. Lulu has been doing some chasing and fur pulling wich is very annoying. I’ve been turning on the vacuume and squirting her if it gets to bad but sometimes she just ignores it. Mostly Bun Bun runs behind mocha for protection and then Mocha stops her from chasing anymore. Mocha has been snuggling with bun bun for like the past half an hour. Mostly lulu pouts in the corner but she did join them for snuggles for a bit.

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