Gandalf and Ginny moved in together

[Bianca]

So many of you have seen Gandalf’s teeth journey in the health section – he is my foster to adopt who came in as an older rabbit with horrible teeth that had to be trimmed weekly until he could have them removed. And Ginny was part of a litter of three I fostered until desexing. But after that because she was separated from her brothers she became very depressed and lost a lot of weight so I took her back home for foster again. I put her pen next to Gandalf’s which really cheered her up – her whole outlook on life instantly changed. For a couple of weeks I have just had them next to each other where they can see (and then touch) each other. Ginny was a little passive aggressive (she is so much happier than Gandalf, just so everyone knows!) but other than that they started napping as close as they could to each other, grooming at the same time next to each other, and bringing their food right up to the bars to eat next to each other (and so Ginny could pull Gandalf’s hay through the bars to eat).

I swapped toys over a couple of times but not litter trays. I did a play date a few days ago where they were just on the couch with me and I gave them both pats until Gandalf fell asleep (he does that easily with pats). Then a couple of days ago they had a play date just outside their play pens in the living room area. There were a couple of tiny scuffles then they just pretended to ignore each other but were actually flopped only 10cm away from each other. They stayed out supervised for nearly an hour. 

Then today I wanted to do a big clean of their area so they had another supervised play date that just became a marathon bonding. They spent a lot of time doing the whole “you groom me” “no you groom me” thing. They explored the room together a lot. They both got angry at a cushion together because it was in their way. So when I finished cleaning I set up one large playpen instead of two. I gave them the bigger litter tray in a different corner, with a fresh blanket, a different tunnel (the advantage of being a foster carer, I have lots of stuff now!) and fresh food and water. They have been in there for I think 3 hours now with lots of shared eating, flopping together, napping together in the tunnel, etc. Not sure about grooming each other but they groom themselves cuddled up together. I’m not fussed about the lack of grooming – I have known Ginny since she was a baby and she has never been much of a groomer even with her brothers that she was really attached to. 

So I won’t called them officially bonded yet, but I think we are winning. They will stay together tonight with me pretty much staying up with them to do regular checks. I have found marathon bonding really successful in the past. 

Once I have officially adopted them (Gandalf just needs a final vet check on his teeth and Ginny will need to be vet cleared because she is in foster for her depression) I will let them stay just as a couple for a while. Then eventually I will bond them to my group of four so I have a group of 6 free range around the house. I think that will be interesting – Terry and Ginny are both quite passive aggressive so I may get a lot of “I’m happier” “NO I’M HAPPIER GOSH!!” 

Now that I have given everyone a small essay to read, I will share a couple of photos in my next post.

P.S. Gandalf and Ginny met my two foster kittens today. So I have a really cute photo of that to share as well. 

[Bianca]

This first photo is the “you groom me” “no you groom me”. They usually then groom themselves right next to each other.

“Ginny you groom me?”
“Nah I need to have a go at that cushion again”

Ginny and Gandalf eating together in their new set up. Fingers crossed the marathon bonding goes well!

Gandalf and foster kitten Gohan meeting. I supervise the kittens with the rabbits carefully but the kittens have made no move to play with the rabbits – they are all just curious about sniffing each other and having nose boops. 

Right now Ginny and Gandalf are eating hay together. I think this pairing is going to be really good for both of them. Ginny isn’t depressed anymore, and Gandalf has been eating a lot more hay since he had someone to eat it with. He wasn’t too keen on it after the teeth removal for a bit – he wanted it not long after the surgery but he pocked his gums with a piece and made them bleed so it put him off for a few days. Now with Ginny they don’t stop eating it!

[Bam]

It sounds just lovely! Friendship can be fortified in the presence of a mutual enemy (the horrid cushion that was in the way) =D

[Bianca]

That cushion was so evil!

They spent all night together without any issues. Lots of napping together. Ginny spent ages last night grooming Gandalf. They even go to the litter tray at the same time. Right now Gandalf is taking a nap while Ginny eats a leftover piece of celery that was a bit too big for Gandalf.

[Bam]

Stunning pictures! The Gandalf-Gohan nosebop picture is too adorable for words!

[jerseygirl]

Oh wow, lots of changes at your place!

Once I have officially adopted them

That made me laugh. This is why I cannot foster.

If you do end up with a group of 6 free-ranging, and not a destroyed house, I will be seriously impressed. And envious!
Having 10 at home currently (im bun-sitting) the mess is over the top!

Its so funny to me, weren’t the originals (Og and Weatherwax) your Husbands rabbits initially? Is it fair to say you are now more the “rabbit person” in the relationship?

Im afraid I’m not up to date on Gandalf’s teeth situation. My time on the forum has been in short stints lately. I will have to make time to read about him.

[Bianca]

Posted By jerseygirl on 4/15/2018 2:02 AM

Oh wow, lots of changes at your place!

Once I have officially adopted them

That made me laugh. This is why I cannot foster.

If you do end up with a group of 6 free-ranging, and not a destroyed house, I will be seriously impressed. And envious!
Having 10 at home currently (im bun-sitting) the mess is over the top!

Its so funny to me, weren’t the originals (Og and Weatherwax) your Husbands rabbits initially? Is it fair to say you are now more the “rabbit person” in the relationship?

Im afraid I’m not up to date on Gandalf’s teeth situation. My time on the forum has been in short stints lately. I will have to make time to read about him.

Haha, if I give them enough stuff of their own the four are pretty good at not destroying too much. I just have to make sure I don’t upset their routine – i.e. if I clean in the morning Terry gets upset and something will be destroyed. 

Yes, Ogg and Weatherwax were originally my husband’s that he rescued from someone who wanted to dump them. And yes, I think I am the rabbit person now. He still loves them but isn’t quite as obsessed as I am. 

There is a thread on his teeth in the diet and care section, but basically he came in as a stray with extremely bad teeth and had to have them trimmed 3 times in 3 weeks before having them removed. By then they were so twisted that one of his peg teeth was bent badly and the other was shattered, and his jaw was not aligned properly. Now with no front teeth he is doing really well, especially for a senior! 

[BB8]

Aw! Gandalf and Ginny are so cute together!

[Gordo and Janice]

Great pictures with cute captions. My hat goes off to you…so many many little ones. I would be overwhelmed. Thanks for sharing.

[Bianca]

Just wanted to update:

Gandalf and Ginny are doing really well together. Gandalf didn’t know how to eat hay when I got him, and even though he eats it now he is such as snob (“eww, I stood on that piece, no way I can eat that now!”) but Ginny is so greedy she encourages him to eat more, which is great.

Gandalf will get his final vet clearance for adoption at the end of the month, and then I can officially adopt him.

I will eventually bond Ginny and Gandalf to my others. As some of you may have read, I sadly lost Terry due to kidney failure last month, so I have wanted to give Maggie, Lily, and Greebo time to adjust to missing the rabbit who brought them all together. They are okay now though, so once I have adopted Gandalf and Ginny I will start pre-bonding. Mind you, Greebo has snuck up a few times in the morning when he has free roam and said hello. Gandalf just says hello back, Ginny gives him her best “come at me!” body language. The Greebo runs away on his stumpy little legs and pretends he wasn’t there.

[Gordo and Janice]

Wow, my one little rabbit soaked up my attention, affection, and time like a sponge. How you miracle workers can have 3, 4, 5 and more, AND deal with vet issues, AND deal with personality querks, AND work on bonding, etc., etc. AND actually have a normal functioning life is beyond my comprehension. I am just amazed.

Always glad to hear about Gandalf’s progress and the crew.

[sarahthegemini]

Aw how sweet! Squueeee! <3

[Bianca]

Posted By Gordo and Janice on 5/20/2018 7:06 AM

Wow, my one little rabbit soaked up my attention, affection, and time like a sponge. How you miracle workers can have 3, 4, 5 and more, AND deal with vet issues, AND deal with personality querks, AND work on bonding, etc., etc. AND actually have a normal functioning life is beyond my comprehension. I am just amazed.

Always glad to hear about Gandalf’s progress and the crew.

Haha, it isn’t too bad. I’m fairly experienced at bonding and have been somewhat lucky with my rabbits too. Bonding them as a group of 5 will be my biggest challenge because Ginny and Maggie are both quite dominant females. I find once they are in a group they are quite good at occupying each other as well, and mine aren’t caged so I don’t need to let them out for exercise. Ginny and Gandalf live in part of the lounge room near the kitchen so they get lots of attention from everyone including the foster kittens (Gandalf is 100% convinced he got groomed and not booped on the head last night), and the other three live in my study where I spend a fair bit of time each day too. They also have my very talkative quaker parrot yelling “wabbits!” and making fart noises at them from her cage when I am not home.

I am going to have to change all their hay over from oaten to meadow because Gandalf is struggling with the thicker bits of meadow due to his lack of teeth. 

[BB8]

So glad to hear Gandalf is doing well! It’s great that he and Ginny are bonded and are helping each other! Please post some pictures once all your buns are bonded, it will be adorable

[LagomorphaLady]

. A Amazing! Gandalf has gone such a long way, it sounds like they are getting something they both needed. Also Gandalf is probably the best name Gandalf from the looks of his picture. He is just such a Gandalf.

[Bianca]

Thanks everyone. My only concern is keeping Gandalf’s weight on when bonded to other rabbits. We are having a battle right now due to some hay that was too thick for him to eat much of (which I didn’t realise for a couple of days). But I think what I can do is take him out once or twice a day to feed extra pellets. And obviously make sure they are all fed a hay he can eat. I might have to resort to chopping it into more manageable pieces.

[Author]

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