Broken bond … :(

[bonilla&BUB]

Oh dear me, I was too quick to brag that my two were bonded. I am sorry about that.They happily lived together for two days. Snuggling, following each other around, sleeping together, grooming each other ….it was the sweetest thing I had ever seen in my life. BUT then two mornings later around 5am I heard the fight. I had to yell and break it up. I let them stay together for a brief moment and then they fought again! The buck (chuck) nearly took my finger off – he got right to the bone. I was in my jammies and fur was flying. 

I immediately set up one of the old cages and separated them. It has been 12 days since they have been separated and they seem to want to press noses and both seem depressed. Neither wanting to come out of their cage for more than an hour or so… 

I have been doing the regular pre-bonding techniques that everyone recommends, switching cages and switching items. 

I was going to do a small 30 minute bond session tonight so I set everything up again and my buck immediately nipped at my does rear end (which has always been a sign of aggression for me – she will then nip him and then circling breaks out and a nasty hair pulling & biting fight). I stopped it, re-positioned them, and he did it again! I got scared and put them back into their cages. 

Ugh, I feel terrible! There must have been something I didn’t see. Has this happened to anyone before? What do you do when a bond breaks? Any suggestions? 

 

[Mikey]

Stop all bonding and prebonding for atleast 2 months. This will give them time to calm down, heal, and forgive one another if they want to. Have you seen why your male attacks your female, or is it seemingly random every time?

[bonilla&BUB]

2 months?! Oh gosh. Okay thanks.

What do you mean by why he attacks? She’s just sitting, generally not even facing him. She freezes actually, which is what she did when they first met too. I’m not sure what you mean by what the reasoning could be. Do you have some suggestions that maybe might trigger my thoughts?

I haven’t seen any aggressive behaviour on her end yet unless he attacks first.

[Mikey]

Two months or longer is best as it helps remove the fighting from their memories, or atleast allow them not to hold a grudge on eachother for the fighting. The wait, although a but long, can do wonders. My two buns who had a skin tearing scuffle before, groom and cuddle one another now after the wait and rebonding

It could be territory then, or he is just mad and taking it out on her. Sometimes scuffles like that start for reasons like nipping that escalates or lunging that becomes full chasing, ect. If she freezes when around him, it means she is a bit scared, which isnt really anything to worry about in most cases. But since shes not doing anything specific to bother him, it sounds like it would be territory or he doesnt feel like he is dominant enough so he is trying to “prove” it

[bonilla&BUB]

That makes sense.

Thanks Mikey I will get back to you in 2 months for some more advice if needed!

[Mikey]

Wishing you and your babies luck for the future!

[Author]

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