bonding HIckory and Nilly

[Bren]

Well today was day two of bonding for them. JUst a quick review….Nilly we have had for 2 years….Hickory we got back in February. THey have been living in the same room with Nilly having free rein of that room and HIckory in a nice cage with a  pen around it so they can almost touch noses in some parts, but can’t get at each other. I have been able to switch their pens from time to time, and toys, etc….so they definately have the scents down I think. We brought them to the bathtub. we opted to allow them on the floor rather than the tub since hickory is large…11 lbs. and mine is 7 lbs. It is not a large bathroom, and they can see each other from where ever they are. Day one was 10 min. and Nilly (female) definately tried to go after hickory (male) a few times and we used the advice here and seperated them with a squirt of water to nilly and a towel after that to make sure she stopped. Hickory was an angel and just very timid and took what ever she dished out. (both are fixed) After they were not tiffing and just sitting ignoring, we finished up the session.

 

Today,nilly didn’t go right after hickory, she waited a while. She took one lunge which we managed to stop her with spray and towel before she got to him. THen they just ignored each other for a bit. Nilly started eating hay. then I was really suprised that hickory came over to her to investigate. but she put a quick end to that by going at him again, which again we stopped. some time past with nilly grooming herself and then hickory came half way to her. then she looked like she was going to lunge and I stearnly said BE NICE! lol.  (yeah , right huh!?) anyhow, she backed down and he backed up and went back to where he was. sooo, i figured that was a good place to end? where she actually stopped herself and sat back down?  That was probably 10-15 min.

 

My daughter is helping me    so, what are your thoughts? I have to say I am so stressed over this, only because I am terrified she is going to hurt him in some way. He is very docile and a big ole teddy bear!

[Bren]

I am still unsure what to think. I have had the buns together now a total of 5 times. I am now up to 35 minutes.  The last session basically was better, however, I am a basket case in the process.  The female (nilly) basically wants to take a hunk out of hickory!   Although she only tried once this last session. the rest of the time they basically ignored each other. Nilly ate a little, and even fell asleep. I ended the session in the middle of her nap. I use a squirt bottle and a towel to seperate them when she attempts her attack…if you call it that. Poor hickory is terrified to come out of his cage at this point and thumps now anytime I try to get him. I have also been taking him (just him) out in the living room and trying to show him that everytime he leaves his cage isn’t always going to be about him feeling under the gun trying to bond with Nilly. Any suggestions?  They are really too big to do the laundry basket thing, etc…… I only have one carrying cage right now so can’t put in the car. Anyone have buns that didn’t get along at first and about how long and the characteristics they went through as they bonded? 

[LoveChaCha]

have you tried making a 1×1 nic grid cage and putting them up onto the washer while it is going? it stresses them, but it makes them huddle together. i’ve heard of some people on there using that, as well as car rides.

[LoveChaCha]

where is petzy when we need her?

[Bren]

lol, good idea. Wish I could, but my washer is a front load up on a large pedestal…..couldn’t do that   ugh!

[LoveChaCha]

Perhaps putting the bunnies in an nic grid (with a towel on the bottom for their footsies) and bouncing them on your lap?

[Bren]

well both of them are too big to fit on my lap. (what was I thinking getting the big buns…hahaha) well I can say that yesterday was the first time I felt like maybe there is a chance! (thank goodness) we only had 25 minutes because it was our hell night for appts around the family. but we still made the time and brought them together. As I said before, hickory is no worry, he has never once acted anything other than interested (except terrified when brat bun decides she wants to take hunks!)

They started out far apart….then Nilly was good enought to close the gap and sat about 2 feet from Hickory eathing hay with her back turned towards him. i am assuming this is good? She must trust that he wont hurt her right? She actually almost touched noses with him and didn’t even nip. I kept encouraging her with a nice tone of voice telling her good girl and she eventually just turned back around eating hay and ignoring him.  Whoo hooo….at least no terror in todays visit! haha.  I tell ya, she has me in stitches just so worried for both of their safety. I am at least hopeful there can be a bonding at this point where as before I was really starting to second guess.

 

my main issue is that they are big buns….Even the bath tub seems small for them. I am thinking about though putting them in there when I feel good about how they are interacting.  

My only worry at this point is my female taking a hunk out of the male! lol. I just dont ever want that! She came close, and scared the *&#^*#^$ out of me!    What are some of the characteristics to look for for positiveness?  I know eating, rolling or flopping, sleeping, grooming self and other, etc.  I didn’t know about the turning the back towards the other rabbit, etc… any ideas on that?

I would also love to do more sessions on the weekend but at the same time dont want to stress out hickory. he already thumps now when I have to take him out of his cage. poor boy….I keep telling them both how awesome they will feel if they JUST COOPERATE!  

[Bren]

I will still look for opportunities to “stress” them though……Just have to figure something out that can accomodate their size and still allow me to “break” them up if it doesn’t go well.

[cactuspancake]

just find a big cardboard box and modify it, that’s what I did, although I think it made them angrier and my bunny’s missing a chunk. I’m keeping them in cages next to each other now because I’m scared of them fighting.

[Monkeybun]

I would say, do sessions every day, no matter what. Unless there is a huge fight. They need to get used to being around each other, so the more sessions done, the better. Don’t let Hickory’s thumps deter you

Also… at some point, you will have to back off a bit, and let them sort things out. Don’t interfere unless its getting bad. A little charging and growling is fine, just stop actual fights. I was scared to let my girls deal with it, but I had to. They need to sort it out amongst themselves what the situation is, and who top bunny is.

[Jenna, Chubs & Comet]

Bonding can suck and be really discouraging! But hang in there because it’s so worth it and eventually…they will give in and love each other and be happier for it. I agree with Monkey, let them work it out unless it gets bad. Small spaces are not necessarily a bad thing either, big buns or no. I used to squish mine ext to each other and pet pet pet so they didn’t have a chance to get mean. Now that they are bonded, they squish together on their own for pets

[Bren]

well I thought trying them in the bathtub would be a good idea….umm….NO! Nilly took to instantly going after hickory and it was a mess! I can’t believe none of us got hurt! sigh…I love all the advice and encouragement. I appreciate it! I think it is just going to take some time…..I was kind of hoping for a more civil way to do this. what my worry is that they seem to have started claiming their own areas in the bathroom now…plus….I can’t hold up the bathroom for two hours at a time…but that is really the only neutral area. Does it matter? Will that cause problems down the line?

I have to say I slacked and didn’t do it at all this weekend, it was crazy and I just didn’t have the time. If we sometimes are away is taking a break over the weekend going to cause problems. Sometimes we just can’t do it if there are school functions going on into the later hours…

I so want them bonded! I think Nilly is also feeding off me too…..I am nervous and edgy any time she goes near him! But she latches on to him with her teeth so I can’t just let them go at it at that point. Poor hickory! Nilly acts all lovey dovey as long as they are side by side with a cage in between….why so different when they are out? I have also thought about removing the barrier between the cage and nilly while I am there in the kitchen to check. I have a barrier on the outside of Hickory’s cage so she can’t hurt him through the nic cubes of his cage. Perhaps doing that along with the meetings will help…… sigh……  Ok, so WHO lives in the area and needs some extra spending cash? I am almost ready to say hey, I will PAY you to bond them! lol. I am just a nervous wreck!

[Bren]

Jenna, your post cracks me up…….I couldn’t even get them together in the tub….I think my hands would be chomped off if I tried petting them next to each other….hahahaha!!!!!  Ok, so my buns are Pshycho buns!  Well, let me rephrase that, only my Nilly is pshycho!

[Bren]

oh no, I just got this off of a website…..I guess i didn’t know what that ACTUALLY meant…….

Note: If rabbits don’t get along they may play a little game one could call “I’m happier than you are.” Usually when a rabbit flops near another it shows how comfortable it is with the other, but with rabbits that are not good friends it can actually be used as a mild insult. When used in this way it means something similar to the “I don’t care about you” insult described later, but more like “I’m happy and you’re a miserable excuse for a rabbit, so there.”

Aw Nilly…….You are now INSULTING hickory….not feeling more comfortable! ugh! Is there such a thing as rabbit time out!? haha

[Bren]

well for the last two days they have done ok. Nilly wont go over to Hickory, but they was no fighting, just ignoring each other for 40 minutes each day.

I also removed the barrier around Hickory’s cage and that has gone very well. they can touch noses, etc….and no scuffs at all. Perhaps this is the way to start helping Nilly with getting closer to hickory without wanting to attack? lol. she of course liters the floor with poo all around his cage…

[Author]

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