Bonding Journal: Storm, Harley, and Thumper

[Harley&Thumper]

Tomorrow Storm, Harley, and Thumper are going to start the bonding process. I’ve been prebonding for about 3 weeks now and none of the bunnies seem annoyed about it other than they have to be picked up to go from one side of the apartment to the other.

In the past (months ago) Harley and Thumper would have a small scuffle if they saw Storm but hopefully they have gotten over that by now.

[Sofia]

Hope this works out well, theyd be such an awesome trio!

[Harley&Thumper]

Session 1: Lasted 45 minutes until Thumper decided she had enough of Storm and went to draw blood. Luckily for Storm my finger got in the way and Storm is unhurt. I think my biggest problem is getting Thumper to accept Storm. Storm was perfectly fine with both Harley and Thumper but didn’t attempt to groom anyone. Harley humped and groomed everyone and displayed no aggression whatsoever. Good job Harley. The session ended with a very careful smoosh between Storm and Thumper.

I think I’m going to get a stuffy with Storm’s scent on it and I’m going to give it to Thumper so she’ll hopefully stop trying to nip / attack poor Storm.

[Harley&Thumper]

Right now I’ve decided to do more prebonding for a week so Thumper will stop trying to nip the stuffy when I put it near her.

[Nutmeg]

Hey! Just starting bonding myself – so good luck to us both haha.

The stuffy really helped me with my male Rupert. Hope it works for Thumper too so that she realizes that the stuffed animal doesn’t retaliate.

[Harley&Thumper]

So bonding got delayed slightly because my neck has been bothering me for the past week but I did get a short bonding session in today. I took all of the buns for a quick drive to work and back and everyone was well behaved. After the drive was over I put everyone in the neutral territory and gave them a few treats to munch on.

Unfortunately Thumper still doesn’t like Storm so I imagine I will need to have them go on several car rides together.

Is it normal for bunnies to not try to claim the neutral territory? I haven’t seen any territorial poops.

Also, would it be better if Harley didn’t go on the car ride with Thumper and Storm?

[Harley&Thumper]

I’m also bonding them in the kitchen where I bond Harley and Thumper 10 months ago. Could it still be considered their territory and that’s why Thumper doesn’t like Storm?

[Harley&Thumper]

Had another bonding session today. Started with a half hour car ride together and about a half hour in the neutral(?) territory. Harley is still grooming and humping Storm and Thumper is still trying to bite Storm if Storm doesn’t groom her. Storm also seems to want to be groomed but doesn’t get angry if she isn’t groomed. This is probably going to take a while before we have a breakthrough.

[DanaNM]

I think your sessions are too long, and the kitchen probably isn’t neutral enough.

Start with a bit shorter sessions, and try a new location. You could even do only short stress sessions for a few days in a row.

When the approach each other to request grooms pet them both and swap scents. Help them build a calm association so things don’t escalate to a fight when their grooming requests aren’t met.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Harley&Thumper]

The only neutral-ish area in my apartment is the kitchen so I would either have to have the sessions outside where it’s still a little warm or go to a friends house or the back area at Petco.

I do make sure to pet both Thumper and Storm at the same time when they approach each other but it hasn’t helped out yet. And again it is only Thumper that attacks, Storm has been very laid back. Everyone is eating their treats and grooming themselves during the sessions.

[DanaNM]

Outside or a friend’s house could work great.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Harley&Thumper]

Had another bonding session today, this time at the Petco across town.

Thumper nipped Storm a few times but it didn’t look like she was trying to bite at all. Harley was humping a lot more than before and Storm and Thumper weren’t putting up with it for very long before they started to hop away. The only one who didn’t groom themselves was Storm. Harley and Thumper both groomed themselves. Everyone took turns eating from the pile of greens I brought.

Is it strange they didn’t leave any territorial poops during the session? It dead make clean up easier :p

[Nutmeg]

I am by no means a bonding expert – but I can say that with mine there was no territorial pooping, which I was super excited about!
Yesterday Rupert (aka Poopert) dropped a pile of poop on the hay mat I had out for them to play with during their bonding session – but it was all in a big pile, so I’m thinking he just had to go lol.

[Harley&Thumper]

The weird thing is back when Harley was speed dating to find a partner there were plenty of territorial poops left by both bunnies.

[Asriel and Bombur]

Once the sessions started getting longer, mine didn’t poop at all. But once I decided to take a break it’s like the floodgates opened.

[Harley&Thumper]

At this point I’ve decided that bonding sessions in the kitchen are a waste of time but I’m wondering if I can feed everyone their morning pellets at the same time in the kitchen. Storm’s pellets would be spaced away from H&T’s but still nearby.

Would this help them associate each other with good things?

[DanaNM]

I think it’s good to feed them at the same time near each other, but in their separate areas. Then its all part of pre-bonding.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Harley&Thumper]

Had another session at Petco, this time I brought a good amount of hay for them to munch on together. I think Thumper has graduated from biting Storm to nipping. Storm still isn’t trying to groom anyone. Thumper did stretch out for a bit during the session so they seem to be mostly relaxed.

[DanaNM]

Sounds good

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Harley&Thumper]

Finally had time for another session today. It was about an hour of munching hay together in the kitchen of my new house. Storm still isn’t grooming anyone and Thumper is still nipping Storm. Harley didn’t try to hump anyone though.

Should I try bonding sessions with just Thumper and Storm?

[DanaNM]

I think eating together relatively peacefully is good. No humping is also good. And bit of nipping is normal. Sounds like they are communicating and not escalating to all out scuffles too quickly?

I think it’s your call on whether to work with just Thumper and Storm. The dynamics will be different in the group vs. a duo, so many experienced people recommend working with all three together, but I know there are lots on this forum that have worked with ind. pairs in addition.

I think if I were in your shoes, as long as the group of three is manageable (not turning into a tornado of bunnies that’s hard to control), I would just keep working with all three.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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