Honey’s gone to her boyfriend’s house

[RachelF]

I just don’t know what to do with myself! Honey got picked up this past Friday by her possible new boy’friend’ Clyde’s foster mom.

I know this sounds silly, but I emailed her on Sunday to see how the weekend went, and haven’t heard anything.. and I’m anxious and I miss having my girl around!! I keep wondering how they are doing, and I guess I assumed the foster lady would have called me by now to tell me how things are going.
 

I know its gonna take time to bond the two– the fosterer said sometimes even a month.. but I don’t know if I can take having a bunny-free house for much longer

[Beka27]

that would be tough… i’m surprised she’s willing to take them that long to bond…

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

WOW Yes that’s hard! I hate going on vacation because I miss them so much. I find looking at pictures of them helps. Try phoning her if you still haven’t heard from her though-she may just be slow on emails

[RachelF]

I just feel like a pest so I haven’t called, but I think I will if she doesn’t email my Friday(that will have been one full week).

I just miss her. I’ve been spending double time on BB.com!

[MooBunnay]

awww – I’m sure things are going well Soon you’ll have a full bunny house!

[jerseygirl]

You have given your rabbit over to her care. I don’t think you’d be a pest for having rung to check on on Honey and Clyde! Plus you are still grieveing for Kit so being separated from Honey must be extra hard. Give yourself a break and call her! I would even request to see them, keeping yourself “invisible” so as not to affect the bonding perhaps. (i.e., not letting Honey see or hear you but just having a look in at them.)

[RachelF]

I am just going crazy, I swear! I’ll walk by her xpen and almost start talking to her atleast twice a day. Every little noise makes my reflex go off, and i automatically think “oh, what is she getting into now.” My fiance thinks its particularly funny to open the xpen cage door– I always have had a fear of leaving it open on accident and her getting hurt or tearing the place up– and I am like obsessive, it has to be CLOSED =)

 

I really think the bonder is a great woman, she’s retired and spends a lot of time at home with her 4 bunnies and managing the House Rabbit Society in my area. I know shes done several bonds before, I just hadn’t expected that a week would feel so long. Also, we didn’t talk about a specific date that I would get to pick her up because she said every bunny bonding is different(which is totally understandable) so its not like I have a certain day to count down to on my calandar! It could be two weeks– or a month!

 

I really want to rush things but I know that wouldn’t be the best thing to do, so I’m trying to be patient. I’d love to pick her up this weekend.. but odds are they aren’t getting a long just yet. Honey is such a bossy little thing, and she’s never really clicked with a rabbit so I’m almost positive its gonna take a good while.

 

Jerseygirl, I think I will request to visit this weekend, even if I can’t take her home. Do you think her seeing me would upset her? I guess it could make her lose focus.

 

I almost wish they would let me try to finish the bond myself. But I know that won’t be the case, they even told me no matter how much I love Clyde, that he can’t go to a home unless hes BONDED.

 

Ugh I need to stop worrying.

 

[MarkBun]

You should keep yourself busy with getting things ready for the new couple. You need to try and make a neutral pen for them both to live in. Deoderize the are, maybe go out and buy some new things like a new litter pan and so on. Get ready for her to come back.

[RachelF]

Your right, I did get new litter pans, and I put the dishes in the dishwasher. What should I do about the carpet that the pen is on? It has her fur stuck in there and a vaccumm doesn’t really get it up. Do you think that would be too much of her scent on the area?

I am planning on keeping them in my bathroom for the first week that they are back, but when I do reintroduce them to the xpen, will that be cause for concern??

[MarkBun]

Keep them confined in the bathroom together for at least a week. Don’t let them roam the house. It might seem like punishment but you want the bond to stick and having them confined with one another when they get home will help. When I say ‘confined’ I mean in the same X-pen. They don’t have to be in a small box. They just have to see and be around one another 24/7. There may be some mounting or nipping that goes on at first. Useage of a water spray bottle can help but remember that they will need to work things out.

The first time that they are on non-neutral territory though, there might be a bit more scuffling.  Your best bet is to put something into the X-pen like a cardboard box/house so that there is something that the attackee can run into to break line of sight.  Obstacles in the way help to deter chases.

As for the rug, I went out and found a jute rug for about $40 that fits underneath the condo. Not only did this help cut out the scent but it also protects the floor from digging bunnies and the accidential spray. I got mine at Target.

[RachelF]

thanks markus! btw– i sat up last night and read your bonding quest– i admire you more than you will ever know! Honey reminds me so much of Maryanne in her first stages of bonding, teeth and all!

i hope i am as persistant and patient as you! although i am having a lot more help, considering most of the bonding is being done for me.

i’m nervous when they come home, though.

going to visit Honey tomorrow or Sunday. I hope she will give me a feeling of when they can come home! she said they are doing okay, Honey isnt pushing her weight around AS much, and Clyde isn’t scared of her but hasn’t fought back.

[MarkBun]

When I brought Maryann and Dono back from my professional bonder, I felt the same way. I actually thought she was pulling my leg that they were getting along but when I walked in, Maryann was actually grooming Dono. I almost cried… I mean I got choked up (manly term).

I was nervous as anything when I set up the X-pen in the bathroom because it wasn’t REALLY neutral territory. Maryann had been in there although she hates the linoleum. But there was no real fighting. Every once in a while, they’d have a ‘discussion’ but I think the entire two weeks I only saw two tufts of fur on the floor. One was Dono’s and one was Maryann’s (he decided he wasn’t going to take anymore of her attitude).

Now, me climbing over their pen to get to the shower was comical – especially since I had to keep a sheet on top due to Maryann being a hi jumping champ. But it was worth it for my babies.

Lately, I’ve been catching Maryann humping dono. Not sure what’s brought it on but it’s something that lasts for only two seconds and he doesn’t seem to mind.

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