I'm about to do a cube session while I watch a movie. I have expanded it to a 1x2. So.... it's not really a cube, but more like a rectangular prism. (6th grade math to the rescue!) I have two quick questions:

1) Should I use the same towel I was using in the first cube, that has both of their smells on it? Or should I start with a neutral towel? I have used the same towel for the sessions in the first cube, so I don't think there is any reason to switch it out, correct?

2) Is there any reason that I couldn't do this?: Put the buns in the new cube, then put in a divider (with both buns on the same side) to make it just the size of the first cube. Then slowly back it up to use the full space? Just so it eases them into it?

We should call it "Cube 2.0"

Cube 2.0!!! You are my kind of rabbit bonder! It is a great way to keep track of things and it probably will throw your buns for a weird ride: bonding in an evergrowing neutral territory. Do it. Totally go for it. I think this will be a fantastic journey to witness.
Oh, just keep using the same towel. It won't matter.

I did last night for about 2 hours. No nips, but a lot of tense moments. Beans is really getting fed up with not being groomed in return. He's really pushing the "groom me" and Benny looks like he's not too happy about that. Goodness, why are bunnies so difficult!!!! When things looked tense, I would rock the cube back and forth a bit, just to distract them, and it would make them stop. I did let it go on once at the end (the stand offs) and nothing happened, so I probably was just being my paranoid self

And the stand offs are coming now because they didn't have room to face each other before.

OH, good news! I just did a ~2 hour bonding session.
IT WAS TOTAL CALMNESS! Not any tension, not once. 
And....
Benny stretched out! I've only seen him do this ONCE in his cage (although I'm sure he does it when I'm not around). 

 

Sadly I've never see them flop or in post-flop position  . But this was by far the closest I've seen. Do some rabbits just not flop, or am I doing something wrong? I also have only seen Benny binky ONCE. And Beans only a few times. I feel like a bad bunny momma.  But it does make that binky moment the best feeling ever! I just can't stop smiling like an idiot! 

They flop behind your back! Don't take it personally

That actually makes me feel a WHOLE lot better, you saying that! They were so relaxed that this size cube might not last too long!

Petzy, what is your icon? I saw you said something about it being a hairstyle.... somewhere.

ADD: Never mind, I just looked up "rabbit hairstyle" and I saw it. 

I want to give my bunnies a phone book to rip up. Since I already have to wait for one to come in to give to them, would it be okay if I used it in bonding sessions instead of giving them each their own? So that way they can both have it soon?

Also, Benny (and Beans a little bit) eats things. Like, they eat the toilet paper rolls. I know its okay for bunnies to eat them a bit, but he acts like it's food, it's gone within a few days (but I never let it get that far after the first time). I also know that phone books are soy based, but what if they ingested a lot? Well, I guess if I only use it in bonding sessions that I could watch them close and they wouldn't have access to it all the time. What do you guys think?

*Urgh, "you guys" sounds so weird! I'm a southern gal, y'all!*

Haha, Petzy. This whole second page is just between you and me basically!

You're like my bunny bonding advisor!

Posted By leyley904 on 06/02/2010 11:22 AM
Haha, Petzy. This whole second page is just between you and me basically!

You're like my bunny bonding advisor!

I don't mind.

--I would like though for other people to post more in here. Come on.

 

Did you see my phone book questions?
The times on the posts aren't with my time and I'm VERY confused.....

Okay, I'll do the rotating. Is it a bad idea to have it in bonding sessions? Will they fight? Or does it not really make a difference?

Oh, no. Just the cardboard roll.

So, how much would be too much for ingesting phone book pages? I will check on them a lot and if I see a good bit gone I will obviously take it out to give them a break.

If your rabbits have hay in their racks I doubt they are going to gorge themselves on a phone book. They should just rip it up and dig at it and if they accidentally eat some, as in a little shred here and there, it's fine. I have no idea how much paper it would take to make a rabbit sick.
I don't think the phonebook will make a difference in your sessions, but try it if you are curious.

Okay thanks!
I'll try it out soon!

EMERGENCY QUESTION

Okay, bonding session in Cube 2.0. No phone book, nothing new. Same thing that they did well in the day before last.

Almost right away Beans nipped Benny. They just kept fighting. I took them both out and right now they are in a forced snuggle on my lap. LOTS of hair flying, no blood, but I can't tell if there may be little cuts yet.

WHAT DO I DO NOW? Do I just not bond today? Go back to one cube tomorrow? Do I put them back in right now with a blocker in the cube making it a small cube? EHHHH

Okay my dad got home so I put them in opposite cages. Beans in Benny's, Benny in Beans'. I figured they couldn't connect fighting with getting away from each other....maybe.... I don't know.

Keep the sessions basic as in the beginning. smaller cube and more time. Always end on a forced snuggle. Never let them fight like that. As soon as any nipping starts you have to stop them because it is too early in their bonding to let them sort out who will be boss. When you stop them, push down their heads gently enough but forcefully enough. Be calm and wear gloves. Add a stressor next time such a rocking the cube.

Okay. Is it okay if I leave them in opposite cages tonight and then tomorrow do a smaller cube with a stresser?

if they don't fight through the bars, you can leave them.

how is the bonding going, Leyley? I hope you didn't have a serious setback.

Hm... okay.
I'm back with the single cube. They had one more minor tussle in that, with just a bit of hair pulled. Other than that, they just seem indifferent (I can't think of the right word.). Beans still grooms Benny, but there are more tense moments than when I started. I'm still convinced it will work, don't worry about that, they just started off so wonderfully I guess I got a little too optimistic and now I'm bummed. I'm going to stick with the single cube for a while, I don't want to push them and they have a major setback.

I can't tell you what is making me feel this, but I'm almost positive that Benny needs to groom Beans for this to work. I feel like I can tell that's what's holding them back. Any ideas?

Sorry I haven't updated in a while! I will update when anything interesting/important happens, and if they go a while without any of that, I will update anyways!

I do have two questions:

I ordered a maze haven, comes in tomorrow. And I just came to a depressing realization.
How will I use it? ...when it comes to smells and territory? I know it can be split into two. And I was thinking I could let them each use half, and then let them take turns if I wanted to use the whole thing for a while. But that won't work, will it? It would have their smells and when they were bonded they couldn't use it together, correct? I can't very well wipe down cardboard with water and vinegar! If I kept it as a whole, and let them take turns with it in floor time, so that they whole maze had each of their smells, would that be okay? I'm worried I will have to wait to use it until they are bonded, which could be a while! You know how difficult the suspense will be!!!??? (off to add ANOTHER slave confession, I love that thread! It will be an "add" to another post, so you will be able to tell which one )
If it's a bad idea to let them take turns with it, what do you think about me using it once I get to the pen stage of bonding? Or will the claim it?

Other question.... if I can remember it.....

Dang. It'll come back to me.

Oh good. I was wondering if they were still getting on with sessions.

You worry too much about this maze! Just use it! They can take turns now and once they are bonded there will come a point when they will be ready to share!

Yay!
I'm a worry wart! My dog Roger got neutered yesterday. Imagine your mom calling, your already worrying your head off, and she starts with this "Roger won't be done until later. There was an emergency---"
FREAKING OUT! Luckily, it ended like this "and his surgery got pushed back a spot so that dog could be helped."

Sorry, that was random.

My two are snuggling in their maze right now - the maze that Otto owned alone for months. Don't worry about it! You can give them half, or just switch it back and forth for a while. Once they're bonded, like Petzy said, they will reach a point where they will share anything.

Thank you! I can't wait to put it together for them and see them explore. Haha, they better like it!

Okay, I have them in the cube. Nothing exciting at all. They just sit... and sit.... and sit. With an occasional groom from Beans. I just tried making pellet mush and added in mushed pumpkin and barley treats (a tiny amount) and I even tried mushing some cilantro leaves and carrots into it. I put it on their heads and Beans groomed away. Benny didn't. I've done this before with banana and got the same result: If I hold Benny's mouth right above Beans' head and he will.... groom/eat the stuff out of his hair. It doesn't look like grooming, but it's sure better than nothing. He won't do it if I don't hold him up. And he only does it when I hold him up when their is something on Beans' head.
I'm just getting so frustrated

I feel like no improvements are being made. Could I just try a pen and sit in there with them with a spray bottle? I don't know, what would you guys do if you were me? They don't seem to be making anymore strides towards bondage at this stage. So, should I just move on and work out the issues at the next stage instead of trying to prevent them through this stage? (I make no sense, sorry).

I would, too, move to a bigger space like a pen as you suggested. You are right, when no more progress is made, you must take the next step. Each phase of bonding will have its challenges but you can't prevent them, they must unfold and be dealt with as they arise.

Thanks so much, Petzy!

Keep stressors on hand when you do the pen sessions; a jar of coins, spary bottle, blow drier... anything that can startle them in case of aggression.