Elrohwen 
 Forum Leader
Danbury, Connecticut
Posts: 5757
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| 06/14/2010 12:27 PM |
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I agree that if they're not progressing, it's time to move on to a bigger challenge. With my two, when I was at the point where I felt comfortable reading a book while they sat there, I knew I could move them up a level. |
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| - Elrohwen |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/14/2010 04:10 PM |
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Oh, I could definitely read a book. I can even walk out of the room (very quickly, within earshot) to get a drink or something. I didn't get a chance today so far. I'll either do it tonight or tomorrow.
One question. I'm running low on neutral space. There is a small "hallway" going into the master bedroom in my house. The master bedroom itself isn't totally neutral, though. It has some of each of their smells. The game room in my house is neutral, but I'm going to leave that for cementing. I was thinking I could drape towels around the edge of the pen and put it in the little hallway. Would that make it okay... being next to an non neutral territory even? |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/14/2010 04:39 PM |
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that would be OK, as long as you also cover the floor with a blanket, towel, or similar. good plan to save an area for cementing!  |
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 "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/14/2010 06:59 PM |
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I was actually thinking that I could go buy a cheap, rubber-backed rug from target if I needed to. I had one in their cages last setup (but we threw that one away). It worked pretty well and wasn't expensive. But, first I'm going to look around the house for something that would work and be easier. I probably will be able to find something here 
I'll update tomorrow!
Oh, I'll also leave some windows open for a bit to air out the area. |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/15/2010 08:38 PM |
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I did a pen (small pen) bonding sessions earlier today. It went well. 3 nips, but whether or not they would have reached a fight is unknown, the spray bottle really works ! They each groomed themselves, and Beans groomed Benny some. Benny also thumped a few times.
I should have asked you guys' opinions first, but I didn't think about it  . I put the maze in the pen and let them check it out together. Luckily, it went great. Benny went straight to the middle and relaxed. Beans shot in and out exploring the maze, and came up on Benny too fast once and got thumped at, but that's all.
I'm going to start decreasing their pellets. On top of that I'm going to start feeding them most of their pellets to them when they are together. Maybe they will start associating each other with something good that way.
Oh, and Benny has started smushing himself up along side Beans and the edge of the pen. I can't tell if it is him pushing his head under Beans to be groomed, but just going too far and off to the side on accident. Or if he's snuggling. I'm hoping the latter.  They both seem very relaxed unless coming face to face to each other unexpectedly. When that happens their is either a nip then spray, or a thump then walk away. (RHYME  )
I'll keep you all updated! |
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LoveChaCha
Washington
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/16/2010 10:45 AM |
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 Thanks, but he's all mine! |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/16/2010 11:34 AM |
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Posted By leyley904 on 06/15/2010 08:38 PM
either a nip then spray,
or a thump then walk away.
Bonding poetry??
-- It is going so well for your rabbits, Leyley!!  |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/16/2010 12:21 PM |
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Yes! I was getting antsy with them not making progress in the cube. But, I guess they were just "talking" it out with each other while I wasn't watching . Once they are bonded, I'm going to start transitioning them into free range in my room. They aren't 100% litter box trained, but we'll see how it goes. It makes me want them to hurry up and love each other so I can have them running around with me! Going to do another bonding session soon! Longer today, hopefully! |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/16/2010 02:20 PM |
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Actually, Benny did receive a nip to the schnoz, which is bleeding but just a tad. Not dripping or anything.
Oh, and after the fight I forced-snuggled them. Then Beans did his flop. They relaxed a bit and ran around some more. Now they are back in there cages. |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/16/2010 02:28 PM |
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The transition from confined sessions to a pen is tricky. You will need a working spray bottle at all times, and continue on with heightened guard.
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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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| 06/16/2010 02:29 PM |
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I like you journal style, Leyley. I can just see how things go down. ~ |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/18/2010 06:43 PM |
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GOODNESS!
I'm still going to continue with this for a week or two. But there's still good bit of sitting around. Anything I can do to encourage them to interact.... positively?
Also, would this work for cementing? It's about the size of a 2x3 NIC cage.
I also did a snuggle session on my lap last night. My babies are so cah-UTE!
I'm about to do a session.... I should start updating AFTER sessions, lol! |
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LoveChaCha
Washington
Posts: 5606
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| 06/18/2010 08:33 PM |
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*steals your bunnies* Looking forward to hearing about your next session |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/20/2010 10:14 AM |
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Posted By leyley904 on 06/18/2010 06:43 PM
Anything I can do to encourage them to interact.... positively?
digging material possibly. Shredded paper or little sticks to move around -- anything to spark their interest. |
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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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| 06/20/2010 10:16 AM |
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Of course, you can cement in a commercial cage (given enough exercise time) but equally you could just cewment in whatever enclosure they are going to live in permanently. |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/20/2010 10:18 AM |
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Thanks, I'll try putting some little toys in there with them.
Ah, true. I didn't think about just using whatever would end up being their permanent home.
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/20/2010 10:47 AM |
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Okay, sorry if this is a stupid question, but I just want to make sure.
Should/could I do some bonding sessions in the cementing cage (whichever it is that I use) to get them used to the cage, or should I leave it completely neutral until it comes time for the actual cementing process? |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/20/2010 11:28 AM |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/20/2010 11:32 AM |
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Transfer to larger area will be your biggest hurdle but it looks like they are ready for you to try it.
Leave the cementing enclosure for last. |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/20/2010 06:42 PM |
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Okay, I got that cage today. I'm not going to use it for cementing. I will most likely use it as their cage once they are bonded. They will be free range in my room unless I'm not home (so for the school year I will probably attach a pen to it for them). I put them in there to see how they did in a cage setting, and they are doing WONDERFUL!
Could I leave them in there all night (sleep by the cage) and see how they do? Or is it too risky at this point? I think I saw that mocha did that, I'm not sure if it's a common thing.
Here is a video:
(it's loading on photobucket, I'll add it in a sec!) |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/20/2010 06:50 PM |
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I'm still going to upload the video, but I've decided not to even consider leaving them together tonight. I'm a heavy sleeper and I'm not confident enough that there wouldn't be problems.
I'm going to scrub down the hallway tomorrow (long hallway) or in the next few days to see how they do in a larger space. They haven't been in there for months anyways. |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/21/2010 09:25 AM |
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So you have a brandnew cage there now? It may be your best place for cementing. You could try and cement them in a small space such as this cage without ever transitioning to larger area. I have not done this but it may work. If your rabbits get along inside the new cage which they may because it will have a scent in it unlike anything else in their world, you could try it for a day-long session. If it goes well, you could go for the overnight. After ten days of cementing they would automatically get along in large area too.
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/21/2010 09:50 AM |
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I'll do a session for the rest of today in the cage. I'll update tonight. The video is being stupid It basically just shows them sitting, and how they could walk past each other in tighter spaces with no problem. |
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mocha200
Posts: 3541
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| 06/22/2010 01:07 PM |
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were is the update! |
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Petzy
Forum Leader
Northern AB Canada
Posts: 5938
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| 06/24/2010 05:45 PM |
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leyley, I hope you haven't had a bad setback. Would love to read an update too if they had more meetings. |
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| "what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?" |
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 06/24/2010 07:06 PM |
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Sorry! They made it for a while that night but started to make music with their thumps and I didn't want a fight.
I've had them in the hallway with lots of cardboard to explore and they seem to be liking it.
It seems they can hop past each other without tensing easier now.
I'm going to wait until I get back from Italy before I do any overnights!
I've been switching them from cage to cage still and it seems to be helping!
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leyley904
Pluto isn't a planet!?
Posts: 262
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| 07/05/2010 01:02 PM |
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Next week I'm leaving for vacation, soon after I get back I'm going to start cementing. Hopefully all will go well and I can work towards moving them to free range in my room! I just got my carpet cleaned, although they haven't been on the floor in my room in a long time. Hopefully that plus them being out of my room for 2 weeks for cementing will make the transition easier.
I've been basically just doing sessions in the cage or in the hall, both going well. That's why I don't have much to update lately; nothing too interesting.
They are still basically the same when it comes to grooming. They will both groom themselves, and Beans with groom Benny. But they seem much more relaxed when hopping around each other. It used to get really tense when one would hop passed the other.
Also, they ADORE the maze haven! |
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mocha200
Posts: 3541
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| 07/05/2010 02:14 PM |
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i am glade they are doing good. make sure when you go in cementing be calm. i started out in a pen prepared to separate them if any thing went wrong. make sure you don't get your hopes up if they don't cement, sometimes they just need a little bit more time.
((((((((((((((cementing vibes)))))))))))) |
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