Bonding Gina to Pippi and Jenny

[Gina.Jenny]

Today seems to be showing a clear change in Gina’s behavior towards the other two.

When we first caught Jenny, Gina was snarling at Jenny, and clearly wanting to fight, rearing up, with claws extended, just like an angry cat, and trying to bite through the cage bars.

5 days ago, with Gina showing some signs of calming down, post spay, I used some sections from one of the garden runs, to double her floor space in the dining room, at the same time, causing her to interact much more with Pippi and Jenny. I kept a close eye out for any sign that anybunny might try to hurt anybunny else, as the bars on the run are almost double the width of those on the cage, and definitely wide enough to give a nasty bite through. Pippi showed this today, by having a good chew on Gina’s tunnel through the rails. Thankfully, the teeth through the bars have stayed limited to trimming tufts of hair, which I think is normal during and after bonding?

I’ve been feeding the three in close proximity to the run bars six times a day, using pellets, fresh cut grass and greens twice each, and they have no problems eating pretty much as close as they would if they weren’t separated by the run.

Today, I noticed, Gina was doing a lot more sniffing, and a lot less nipping, through out the day, and the Jenny was responding by sniffing back. When Gina’s run was left open, so that she could come out for some floor time, she added a new loop onto her daily check, by hopping along the outside edge of her run, to the barrier that was shut, but can be opened, to give Pippi and Jenny their chance at floor time. She had a really good sniff round, with Jenny sniffing on her side, and again, no signs of nips, no claws, and no snarls, even though Gina seemed to be trying to find the way in she knew was there, to get into Jenny and Pippi’s space.

Really hoping this change from nips to sniffs means the girls are beginning to accept each other. Its four weeks tomorrow since the spays.

I’ve two big exams coming up, and am way behind in revision, due to Jenny being so poorly, post spay, and then Rusty’s rapid decline. I need to focus on the exams, and don’t think that trying to bond the three right now is wise, as I can’t give it enough time. Once the exams are both over, if the girls continue sniffing instead of nipping, I will see if they can become a bonded trio. If it doesn’t seem likely to be straightforward at that point, I think I will rearrange again.

 

[Gina.Jenny]

Think today is showing another big hop in the right direction

Jenny has put her nose down low a few times, inviting Gina to groom her through the run bars, over the past few days. Until this morning, Gina has totally ignored her, but today, she gave Jenny’s nose the tiniest of tiny licks, and about half an hour after, I saw both girls trying to get their little noses under each others.

Assuming they are inviting/requesting/demanding grooming from each other, then I think we have one from who will kill who, to who will groom who! If nothing else, there needs to be enough trust there that the other won’t bite their nose!

Pippi seems a bit unsettled by this change in attitude between the girls. He is quite clingy this morning, and hopped on my bed for a timeout, something he’s not done for quite a while.

[Gina.Jenny]

I think Gina’s hormones must have kicked back in, as the past couple of days she has been inclined to nip the other two if they come too close. Its been just over 5 weeks since both girls were spayed, hopefully Gina will settle down again soon…

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