Getting a bit frustrated

[skibunny8503]

Ok, so 3rd time bonding and I’m getting a little frustrated.  Archie is still mounting a bit but he grooms the heck out of her…kind of violently which I think I read that they will do that at first.  But he did dig at her fur once.  I know he’s a clean freak but she’s not THAT dirty.  Every time he hops away from her and she puts her head up he turns back around and runs back over to her to incessantly groom her.  She looked like she was getting agitated a bit.  He’s always grunting around her too (if that’s any importance)

Everytime she moved he went after her to groom her.  She hasn’t interacted with him at all.  I don’t know if she’s scared of him or what she’s exactly thinking.  I want to make this work (& I know it takes time) but clean freak over here is making it a bit difficult.  I think she’s still getting used to the place, has only gotten out of her cage like twice going out to the living room but as soon as she sees one of us she runs back to the cage.  *sigh* 

[BinkyBunny]

Awe. It can take time to deal with all the bunny bonding drama. It is mentally tiring. People who don’t have bunnies would be like…”huh? how hard can bunny bonding be?” but it can be frustrating especially after you put time in they insist on being difficult.

Just take a deep breath and keep trying.  Average is 3 WEEKS to bond, but obviously being the average, that means that it can take much longer.

The fact they are not down right aggressive and mean is good. You might want to try the stress methods, like car rides.

[skibunny8503]

*Takes a Deep Breath* 

I emailed Jen about it and she suggested to spend more time with Gracie because really she hasn’t gotten to know us and she probably doesn’t trust us to well for putting her in a cage with Archie.  We finally got her out of her cage and closed the door because she’s always afraid to explore.  At first she kept trying to figure out a way back in but now she’s running around a bit, which is good. 

We tried a car ride yesterday and it helped a little.  I don’t want to stress her out too much with bonding and in a new envirnoment.  We’ll try feeding them in the same bowl today and see how that goes, if not I might have to do laundry hehe!  I am SO glad they aren’t fighting though, I would hate to see them hurt each other.  Let you know how the next session goes. 

[MarkBun]

Maryann would often run over and nip dono when he moved. It was her showing him that she had not given him permission to move yet. I believe that Archie is doing the same thing, but grooming instead of nipping. He’s establishing his dominance and it may take a bit before Gracie accepts it.

[Author]

Messages