mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/16/2009 09:28 AM |
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I wonder that too? |
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MarkBun  Richmond, CA
 Posts: 2792


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| 06/16/2009 12:19 PM |
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From the progession that's happeing, I believe that it is just a matter of time. You may always have dust ups - Maryann still tends to lunge at Dono during dinner time because when I go to feed them, he darts away and she is already high strung due to the food. But they seem to be making excellent progress.
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| My bonding quest with Maryann - Read about a less than easy bonding with two buns - but they did bond! |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/18/2009 10:28 AM |
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Any new updates Petzy?! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/18/2009 02:35 PM |
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Well, I've been following your thread and feel I'm not quite that far yet... Mine are doing fine on the patio set-up. So well they were getting on that I dared put them together indoors. I dissolved Deirdra's condo and changed the room quite a bit. I blocked off the access to underneath my bed to allow the trio access to only open space. Deirdra and Mops are so close now, even Deirdra will groom Mops (it used to be only the other way around.. ). It's so cute, too, since he has the long face furnishings it looked like she was flossing her front teeth with his cheek hairs... 
I put them all into the room. Things went well, there were treats waiting for them, the dogs were lounging and I observed... I stayed up so late drawing out the sssion but then Lint started chasing Deirdra and she screamed as he grabbed her fur. Now she is more afraid of him than before. He seems to have gained his courage back to go and try for a humping... and she will not have it.
Here they are at the beginning of the session...

I'm glad I took this photo because now it seems unreal that it really happened. Lint lied down first and D came after. Check out his expression, though, what is he thinking? 

Lint is actually unhappy with this threesome... he is only keeping from chasing her off because Mops is between them.

After Deirdra screamed because Lint scared her, I put them in new territory in my yard in an L-shaped run.

...where they sat sat like this for the duration of the session after Lint had nipped at Deirdra right away when I put them in.
you can see Deirdra here very tense after she tried exploring the narrow run and getting nipped for it.
--I'm now setting up a pen in my basement to have a neutral place indoors where they will interact (nothing new happening in the bathtub). I believe very much in the paired bonding for trios/quartetts etc. where you introduce each bun individuallly to the new bun, but in my case here, Mops definitely seems to keep Lint from chasing Deirdra. |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/18/2009 03:38 PM |
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Dexter screamed the first time he met Delilah too, after she got him. That scream is awful. Flossing her teeth with cheek hairs! hahaha At least Mops seems to be keeping Lint in check when they're together. |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/18/2009 05:18 PM |
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Today went well, my new basement bunny zone is almost ready and will help, especially myself since watching the bonding sessions has kept me from getting other things done that I normally do in the basement.
On the patio this afternoon the normally uneventful time turned into a type of stress bonding delivered by the elments as we finally got the rain we needed !! 
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/18/2009 05:21 PM |
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They are all buggy eyed! At least the rain did some good! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/19/2009 09:43 AM |
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 Rabbit bonding can be.... unexpected!  
Yesterday, I needed a new strategy. I had been seeing no more changes on the patio, only the usual, sitting together but then no interactions...
indoors I had had only unfriendly sessions or, like the bath tub, no interactions.
I washed the grids from Deirdra's dissasembled condo and put one up in my basement. Total no-bun's land.
Last night, I furnished it, and at midnight I moved in Mops, then Deirdra and lastly, the little devil Lint. This was the first time, in an enclosed space he didn't chase or freeze. All three thoroughly explored the new dwelling. It took a while and eventually they each picked a spot for themselves to do routines... Lint and Deirdra respectively at opposite ends of the 5 by 2 by 2 grid condo. I stayed up til 3 a.m. watching them and then napped off in my makeshift bed til 6!!! I woke up to three peaceful bunnies. (If they had founght it would have woke me.)





I will leave them like this since while they're sleeping now and then in the late afternoon it will be exercise time on the patio and then back into the condo overnight.
The great news is that I could see right away how Lint's attitude and demeanour was different than in any other location I had tried. He was more like the bunny I used to know before Deirdra came.  |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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Miyuki  Hawaii
 Posts: 241


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| 06/19/2009 10:12 AM |
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I'm enjoying reading these bonding threads very much. Someday maybe I'll have some stories of my own  . These are inspiring. Petzy - I know they're ears but it looks more like Mops has got some long hair  . Good luck with your bonding!  |
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Inkblot ~ Lost battle with sarcoma cancer 5/31/09 |
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MarkBun  Richmond, CA
 Posts: 2792


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| 06/19/2009 10:30 AM |
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If there was no fighting in that area, my suggestion would be not to take them out to the patio anymore. Keep them in there 24/7 and upwards of 3 weeks. Let them become complete buddies in neutral territory. It may seem cruel, especially to buns used to a lot of free run time but it enforces the bonds greatly. |
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| My bonding quest with Maryann - Read about a less than easy bonding with two buns - but they did bond! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/19/2009 11:03 AM |
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I'll do that! They are actually quite happy in the basement because of the cooler temp.
Lint just asked for grooms from Deirdra. 

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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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megrat7  Otown, Fl USA
 Posts: 71


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| 06/19/2009 11:33 AM |
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Wow what a process! You've got me rethinking adopting another bun! But Craigslist is evil and there are so many that need a good home! I have a male whose getting neutered soon... and would like to get him a friend. I like how in one of the first videos its like "I hate you but I'm going to ignore you and eat" classic! Looks like things are slowly improving! |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/19/2009 12:03 PM |
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Oh yay!!!!!!!!! Im glad Lint finally calmed down al little! They look qute content in the basement! So much progress! |
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MarkBun  Richmond, CA
 Posts: 2792


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| 06/19/2009 12:11 PM |
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Now, if D just smartens up quick enough and gives him grooms, things will go much better and quicker then.
Most people are afraid to leave bonding bunnies somewhere 24/7 but they sometimes forget that THAT'S why they're doing the bonding. 

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| My bonding quest with Maryann - Read about a less than easy bonding with two buns - but they did bond! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/19/2009 12:55 PM |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/19/2009 06:36 PM |
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megrat, that's great your bun is getting neutered soon! -- but you can get a bunny other places than craigslist, right? Deirdra was originally from the meat auction. |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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BB 
Forum Leader San Francisco Area
 Posts: 7917


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| 06/20/2009 12:29 AM |
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Petzy - what great documentation of your process! Thanks so much for sharing. I think trios can be the tricky and so the more videos and info out there really will help others. It looks like they are well on their way! Congratulations! Bonding can be very time-consuming and stressful, and many times it takes a little diversion from the basic rules to make it work for the different scenarios. The fact that you observed and tried different things...well, again CONGRATS! I know that it's still something that you have to watch but great job!!! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/20/2009 09:54 PM |
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Thanks, BB. i really enjoy the video-making. It actually helps to watch them back after the sessions to pick up on some triggered behaviors. I always find the nipping looks very bad when it happens, but then I watched my videos and found it wasn't too serious, at all. My three have been getting along. I don't want to sleeo in my basement any longer... lol. -- I observed a new thing Lint is doing to Deirdra: They all sit close together and then he starts to perform a 'teethy groom' on her that sometimes makes her jerk back a bit but not take off. It's like a kitten's love bites... licking and then a little pinch. But I've been finding no fur fluffs and their body language is relaxed. -It is going well.- I never thought I would say this, but I love having my bunnies in the basement, just because it helped the bond to happen!  |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/20/2009 10:03 PM |
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BB 
Forum Leader San Francisco Area
 Posts: 7917


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| 06/21/2009 12:04 AM |
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Jack did this to Rucy in the beginning, and he will do that with Vivian on the rare times he groomed her. When the other bunny would jerk, he did eventually try to be more gentle. Sometimes too, bunnies will find a little something - a little fur nodule (especially on bunny cheeks) and they focus in on it to try and get rid of it - sort of their way to help get off any ickies. So if he seems to be doing in the same place, that could be what's going on, otherwise, he may learn to settle that type of groom down and become more gentle.
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/21/2009 02:43 PM |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/21/2009 03:24 PM |
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Should I not give pats on Lint's head when he is bad like in the last video? I thought it might calm him, but watching it he looks like he's thinking "hehe, Deirdra hopped away and I get lovings!" |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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MarkBun  Richmond, CA
 Posts: 2792


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| 06/22/2009 09:07 AM |
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I still think things are going great from what it looks like. Two things though. First, put the food where all three can eat it at once. Mealtime is a social time for buns just like it is for us humans. Second, about the pets, what you should do is pet both buns at the same time when Lint is sitting next to D like that but not nipping. When Lint begins to nip, you should say "NO!" as you don't want to let him get away with it. |
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| My bonding quest with Maryann - Read about a less than easy bonding with two buns - but they did bond! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/22/2009 02:52 PM |
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They do eat together in that cube. It's crowded but i thought it would bring them closer. I could change this space, make it bigger.

I definitely try to be less soft with Lint. He is jealous of D, nips at her and me when I pet her. |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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MarkBun  Richmond, CA
 Posts: 2792


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| 06/22/2009 03:17 PM |
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Oh, the video made it look like there wasn't enough room for three in there. I love how he's using Mops as a barrier. My maryann lunges at me whenever I bring my girlfriend over to the house so I know ALL about rabbit jealousy. |
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| My bonding quest with Maryann - Read about a less than easy bonding with two buns - but they did bond! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/23/2009 10:37 AM |
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--Mops the barrier bunny, LOL!
But this morning I brought them fresh clover and Lint didn't care who he would get stuck beside...

And last night he even shared the litter box with D for a moment. |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/23/2009 10:45 AM |
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YAY!!!!!! Looks like you did it! You have me beat! LOL! They all look so good together! Little bunny butts! |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/23/2009 10:56 AM |
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It's not true love yet though. Lint still enjoys making Deirdra leap away from him... He will posture as if he's going to nip, but then she's already gone and he sits there watching, squinting, pleased with himself and celebrates with a tooth chatter! |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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mrmac  San Diego, CA
 Posts: 2167


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| 06/23/2009 12:15 PM |
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HAHA Thats so funny, but not funny! Lint is so smart! hehe |
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Petzy 
Forum Leader Northern AB Canada
 Posts: 5938


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| 06/24/2009 07:13 AM |
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"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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