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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.
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Getting along for over 24 hours can still be used as an indicator. But you may need to learn to read their behavior a little more. One bunny annoying the other bunny (including a small nip) is going to be different than one bunny trying to pick a fight. If that makes sense. LOL Bonded…
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That’s reassuring! If this bond ends up being a one-sided grooming, annoying-sibling kind of bond, do the indicators for them being bonded change? Is getting along for 24+ hours without any nipping, chasing, fighting still the indicator?
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I think ot’s good you’re interrupting attempts at violence – I do with my buns on the rare occasions I’ve seen chasing/nipping that lasts more than seconds. Best not to let things get a chance to escalate. But it’s really great that Lottie doesn’t seem bothered by it and just goes back to eating/chilling 😃…
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He may simply be saying, “hey, I’m the boss around here”. Lottie is acknowledging by backing up and then returning to what she was doing, so I would say that is a good sign. And grooming is great, even if it is one-sided!
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Thanks for the feedback! I’ve let them keep ignoring each other and we’re starting to see one-sided grooming again! A new behavior that’s emerging is Pekoe has been lunging at Lottie, which we discourage/interrupt as soon as we notice. In the instances where we haven’t stopped him in time, Lottie generally moves away then almost…
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I wouldn’t rush anything if they are peacefully getting along this way.
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We’ve had a couple days of long sessions in this larger space and things are progressing! There is still nipping but it seems like Lottie is reacting less frequently. Pekoe has gotten less patient though and the poop wars are beginning. We have hay on the floor as well as a litter box that they…
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Sounds like a larger space was all they needed! I agree that ignoring is not a bad thing. It’s progress.
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I think ignoring is great, actually. I means sth like “I don’t see you as a threat and I’m not a threat to you”. I’d let them do the ignoring in peace tbh. It’s a really promising and important step. There is communication going on, but it’s very subtle. After a cpl of sessions of…
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We moved into their evening hours and things went relatively smoothly. Overall, it felt like a good 7-hr bonding session! Lottie groomed Pekoe once but he has not yet reciprocated. He got nippy whenever Lottie approached him from the side or hopped towards him too quickly. We also noticed both buns stuck to the same…
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Digging can also be out of frustration. Particularly if they want to do something, but aren’t able to. Example: They want out to run around, but the pen is closed.
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We tried a larger space today and started during the time of day when they are normally napping, and so far so good with minimal nipping! I have a feeling bonding will be more eventful though as we move into their more active hours… There is some digging behavior we’re noticing with both Lottie and…
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Is the carrier by itself not already scary? Cause my bunny does not like the carrier no matter what. I’m thinking they wouldn’t associate the other bunny with the carrier… just that the carrier is scary and, oh look, someone is here that can help me feel better. But I guess we can’t read their…
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We’ve walked around our home for a few minutes with both in the carrier and that seems to help some. Is using that method to start every single session a bad approach? I want to avoid the association that carrier with other bun = scary. The 3 x 3 is not the usual space, no.…
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It sounds like she doesn’t appreciate his pushiness (demanding to be groomed) and she just wants some space. I would not be overly worried yet. You could either try giving them a bit of a break, or you could try distracting them by taking them for a car ride (or similar) in a carrier together.…
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Spay/Neuter Are your bunnies spayed/neutered? Yes If so, for how long (for each)? Pekoe (male): 5 years, Lottie (female): 1 year If not, why not? Are you aware of reproductive cancer risk in females? If not, please read about it here. Housing Please describe your bunnies’ current housing set-up (living together, as neighbors, etc.). Set up as…
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Thanks for the advice.
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If she isn’t spay, but has no access to a male, then she could be experiencing what they call a phantom or pseudo pregnancy. Her hormones make her think she is going to have babies and she builds a nest. This will resolve after a few days once she realizes there are no babies (assuming…
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She isn’t spayed.
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This sounds like nesting behavior. Is she spayed?