he honked

[DallasDelight]

I have been reading a ton of articles/websites/threads about bonding rabbits since I got Duncan. After reading a really good one yesterday I decided to do what they suggest and put Dallas and Duncan’s cages together(well, about 3 inches apart..but close enough) so they could see each other. They hopped around and ignored each other for about 25 minutes..then they sniffed at the cage bars closest to each other for a few minutes and there was no growling/lunging/aggressive behavior at all. They’ve been pretty much ignoring each other ever since. It’s been about 6 or 7 hours.
Well just a few minutes ago Dallas honked!! He has never done that before, and it must have been a happy honk because the honk was followed by an immediate major flop next to the closest side of his cage to Duncan. Then Duncan copied him and flopped in his cage next to the closest side to Dallas! They’re both fast asleep like that now.

It looks to me like it’s a great sign, but since I’ve never bonded rabbits before..I was wondering what you guys thought?

 

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

OK, the topic title made me chuckle a little, but the happy flop too? I’m trying not to wake my napping boyfriend up with my awkward laughing!

[Cassi&Charlie]

So cute! But be warned, they could be playing the “I’m hapier than you” game, where they’ll try to out flop each otherto show that they’re soo much happier than the other bunny. My guys did that a lot during bonding, so funny to watch…

[MooBunnay]

Yes, I agree that flopping can be a sign of happiness but also a sign of competing like Cassi&Charlie said. I have one bunny that when he gets out will flop in front of all the other boy’s cages, and then sometimes, just to make sure they realllly notice, he’ll drag himself around with his front feet while keeping the back half of himself in the flop position.

[DallasDelight]

oh yeah! I forgot about the I’m-happier-than-you competition. haha buns are so funny..what odd little games they play with each other

[dlscanne]

I’m still new to the bonding process too.  My two are paused in their bonding now, since they broke out in a fight after being bonded and free range for 1.5 months.  Now Frank is free range and Winston is in a pen, and I switch them twice a day.  Recently their behavior through the bars became much less aggressive, and they kept flopping side by side like you mentioned.  They looked so happy and content. I thought maybe they had made up and tried a bath tub session…and they still wanted each other dead. Probably like everyone else mentioned they had just come up with another form of competition.   I’m going to try car bonding when the weather gets nicer here.  Maybe your two will love each other… but be careful!

[dlscanne]

P.S. Franklin doesnt honk, but Winston is a big honker. Whenever he does it he’s agitated. He seems to be saying “Franklin you will taste my pain”. Or “dustpan I will crush you”.

[Cassi&Charlie]

Hahahaha!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

At my shelter, two rabbits hate each other-they’ll go to the others cage and dig, and get the other one furious-then flop and stretch out right in front of the cage LOL

But sounds to me that it’s happy and a good sign

[Author]

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