Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

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.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

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.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING Bonding Jack and Molly~

Viewing 9 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Talindra
      Participant
      9 posts Send Private Message

        Hello! So I’ve got two buns. First is Jack. He was a rescue…sort of. Not from a shelter. I was starting to look into getting a rabbit. I sort of fell inlove with them through youtube. Then I saw this woman trying to give away her rabbit. I asked if I could see it, and next morning she turned up at my doorstep, she couldn’t speak english or french (I live in a french town) only spanish, and she left the bunny there. She ran for her car and I’m just staring like, did you forget something in your car? And she drove away before I even could react. I don’t even know his name at this point. Nor do I know anything about rabbits. But quickly I realized the poor guy was malnourished, living in a guinea pig cage and only had carrot for food. Once I got him out of his cage, it became apparent it was not something he was used to doing…he immediately tried to do a binky and it would probably go down in history as the smallest hight ever… was pretty sad to watch. Anyway…Now he’s doing much better. After owning him for one week I got him an appointment with the vet, built him a condo and the next month after that, he got neutered. He does not seem to be a normal rabbit how ever. He does not play with things. he eats and runs and binky. So I made toys that are food oriented, like a paper bag filled with hay. Nothing. not even trying to push it around. I started to worry. So in time I figured hey.. Jack jack needs a friend. So naturally I tried with what I had on hand. and that’s 3 cats. Jack LOOoooves my cats.. Unfortunately, they find him rude and way too upfront about being friends. And they have little patience for someone to be in their face that much. So then I gave in. Time to bring in an other bunny. I was hoping to do some dates for  Jack. But the humane society here had no rabbits. And for some reason the rabbit shelter in the next town has been ignoring my email for months so. I got tired and found someone with an add trying to sale their rabbits.

        That brings us to Molly. Molly is two year old female rabbit already spayed. Living happily with her human and has a great personality. Her human loved her too much and over fed her. And lottttss of junk food. So what should be a tiny rabbit is more like a fluffy pear shaped animal. Now since moving here her behavior has changed, unless her owner lied.. She bit me quite a few times. But I don’t mind. I understand that I’m new in her world and she’s not trusting me yet. Unfortunately changing her water bowl requires me to use my hands so…Sometimes she retaliates. no matter how slow I go or if I try to distract her with other things. But it’s ok. She’ll eventually see that I  mean her no harm..I hope. 

        But I figured hey, Molly has some spunk. When I begin bonding she’ll prolly dominate. Nope.

        Now it’s been a week of bonding time. Jack is more than happy to try to be the dominant one. It’s rather surprising to me, he knows everything he needs to do. For a rabbit who didn’t know how to jump and things. He knows how to dominate than wait to be cleaned by the other rabbit. But she does not acknowledge…

        When ever I put them in the neutral area for bonding time, she just lays there, with her head pressed against the bars of the pen and I was actually worried for a minute that she was over stressed and passed out. It was not like that at first. At first she was trying to escape, trying to mount him. But not anymore. she just lays there. Now he’s all patient, I put them in the space and he just sits there next to her, cleaning himself. then putting his head down in front of her for her to clean. Nothing, she does not react. It’s like she gave up. IDK if I am doing something wrong. Or if this is normal? I mean I’m happy they are not fighting or chasing… but this almost feels worse, like she gave up on life or something…

        Has anyone observe this kind of behavior before? Should I worry?


      • HerculesandMolasses
        Participant
        133 posts Send Private Message

          i think you should try to make Molly bond with you. Then she will be relaxed around you. She may be over stressed with a new home, new rabbit, new owner, no more junk food. Maybe leave her be for a couple days then try again.


        • Talindra
          Participant
          9 posts Send Private Message

            Right. You make a good point. I do spend time with her. When I let her out in the safe play area after like 10 minutes of chinning everything she flops on her side and tries to roll on her back. I gotta admit it’s the cutest thing ever. And as for the junk food she still receiving some. I didn’t want to shock her little system by completely changing her food, so I’m mixing it with the healthy food, and eventually will remove it completely. But I will try your advice. Thank you~


          • vanessa
            Participant
            2212 posts Send Private Message

              How is it going with them?


            • Talindra
              Participant
              9 posts Send Private Message

                Actually not too bad! They are both living in the same place. And they seem to get along great. He still mounts her a bit too much and she does get annoyed but she has places to avoid it. But there is this weird thing that has been happening and I am not quite sure what to think of it. He …sleeps on her. She’ll be laying down and he sleeps on her neck. Honestly I can’t tell if this bothers her or not. It could be the cutest thing or he could be trying to suffocate her …who knows. I cannot seem to find info om that one.
                But for the most part it’s good. She cleans him, he cleans her. They eat together, sleep next to one an other. they use the same litter boxes. not paradise yet, but it’s good.
                Now if she could master the art of the litter box all would be well.


              • vanessa
                Participant
                2212 posts Send Private Message

                  That sounds good. Sleeping on her is bunny-snuggling. It’s a good sign. How did you work the space arrangement – from going from the small bonding area to the larger living area? And at what point did you have them live together? Did they live together in the bonding area?


                • Talindra
                  Participant
                  9 posts Send Private Message

                    So I started the session by just putting their cages side by side so they get to know each other’s sent. After that I bought a play pen for doggies and made a small square with it, and put that in my bathroom. I didn’t want to try to put them in the bathtub just because I fear they could try to jump and slip and dislocate a disk or something. I was pretty concerned about that. So instead I just used the floor. It was going as it should be for awhile, but then when I stopped seeing progress I decided to create a new neutral area. Molly was pretty much just laying down and not moving and i worried. So I made a new neutered area and I would put her in there first, and spend about 1 hour with her, just relaxing and getting to know one an other, after that I’d bring in jack. And every night after that I’d swap houses. I would put her in his enclosure and him in hers. This angered Jack haha.. His house is just that much better because it’s not store bought. It’s one of those hand built condo you can find videos on DIY type thing. He would Stump for 30 mins for about 1 week. Eventually it was just routine.

                    I could tell right away that he really liked her. But she’s more reserved, wants to be left alone. At this point she was still not cleaning him. But they would eat together. So I knew we were getting close. I read somewhere someone smushing fruits on top of the bunny so the other washes it off.. tried that. Didn’t work.

                    I was surprised to find that what needed to happen was me… One evening in a bonding session, (by this time I’ve double the space. given her a little hut to get away if she didn’t want to be humped.) I got in the enclosure to pluck a tuff of hair off of Jack’s leg (it was hanging out and he looked like a bum, he’s almost done shedding) and he turned around and licked my hand, and she came over like hey what you doing with that bunny? Why would you touch it!? and I’m ignoring her a little and just petting Jack’s head, when ever i scratch between his ears he puts his head down and just lays there for as long as I continue.
                    She moved in closer and demanded some petting too, so i started alternating and eventually it just happen. She was like , hey guess he’s cool after all and just like that the cleaning began!

                    I made sure they were still friends after two more play session and after that I put them both in Jack’s house and observed for about 4 hours. Then to give her a little rest I put her back in her own home for the night. Next day tried again and it seemed fine so I let her move in.

                    And then I kept finding him sleeping on her neck, bunny-snuggling, she looked so squished I really didn’t know what to do about that but otherwise all is well. This took about a month. I was surprised it didn’t take longer. The previous owner is super happy that Molly is enjoying life.

                    I haven’t been able to bunny proof my entire house and because I have cats I do want to control where the bunnies are so when they are out, they are in my bedroom. at first I gave them half the bedroom. Jack previously had the entire room but since we’re starting over… Now it’s everywhere in my room except for under my bed. I close that area off with the play pen.

                    Now it’s a matter of time until she learned to use the litter box. She goes in and eat but she’s not understanding yet that peeing everywhere and pooping everywhere is unpleasant.

                    He still humps her a little too much in my opinion. But I gave her little area for some alone time if she needs it. But he never leaves her along for long, he’ll go lay down next to her and just sleep. I’m not sure if she likes him yet, but she’s allowing his presence. He adores her however so.. let’s hope that she’ll learn to accept his sillyness.


                  • vanessa
                    Participant
                    2212 posts Send Private Message

                      Wow there are so many similarities with my 2. Except it’s the other way around. As long as they are in a small area, she adores him, and he seems to enjoy her company. They groom and eat together, but I had to first put fruit on her head for him to lick off. It’s the larger areas that are a problem, and he seems stressed, stamping and all. I can’t handle hearing him stamp. I want to go in and rescue him. She seems lonely without him. So I think I’ll give them a few weeks rest from each other, then try it like you did. Maybe after a break instead of making them live in the bonding area I’ll only put them there during the day when they sleep, so he can stretch his legs at night without stamping. And if he stamps during the day – I’ll have to ignore it. Like yours was routine… I also spend an hour or so calming them down and stroking them before I leave them alone. I’m just having trouble getting them to get along in larger areas. She nips him once the space exceeds 4 square feet. And as soon as that happens, he ends the truce and ignores her, which makes her angry. She demands grooming but because she nipped him, he won’t groom, so she nips him, so he won’t groom, etc. Thanks for sharing your story.


                    • Talindra
                      Participant
                      9 posts Send Private Message

                        I think what matters is not giving them too much space too soon. and when I had no progress in a neutral zone, I declared that space no longer neutral. So I made a new one. I’ve never given my rabbit free rein of my house so any space other than my bedroom was new.
                        I hear the stressing method works also, but honestly I can’t bring myself to scare my creatures.
                        I forgot to mention also I always kept a blanket on hand. Some use dust bins or tennis shoes. I just used a blanket and when they were humping for too long i’d push one away and quarantine the other one, to give her that breather and not feel like it was an assault. so basically what was a square space became two triangles.
                        Having done this for the first time really I conclude that you go with what feels right.
                        You don’t want enough space for them to chase, can;t let one hump for longer than 5 seconds. and no biting.
                        OH
                        god i can’t believe I forgot lol..
                        Lavander
                        So much freakin lavander oil.
                        I was burning that thing like there was no tomorrow. Also because Molly is not litter trained yet, where ever I put them on the floor I first cover it up with linens and fleas. I sprinkled like 6 drops all around and I’d also rub a little bit of it on their ears. I’m told this helps calm them down. I might went over board. But since this took less than a full month, I’m not gonna deny it probably helped.

                        Good luck!


                      • vanessa
                        Participant
                        2212 posts Send Private Message

                          Lavender – cool. Good point about the neutral space no longer being neutral. Perhaps that is when Guin is declaring it hers. She seems really comfortable in every small bonding area. I’ve done the stress thing – rode with them in the car for 2 hours, turned on the vacuum, she hates the vacuum. Neither of them really mind the car but being in the carrier is a good snuggling exercise. He doesn’t seem phased by much – except her… At the moment I am going to give them a week or two of a break, so he can get all happy and buzzy again. He makes the cutest buzzing sound 🙂
                          Oh… She was bonded before, and her and her pal were the snuggliest bunnies EVER. He died. She definitely tries to be snuggly with Lancelot in the bonding area. Her first husbun was the dominant one. Perhaps she expects that from Lancelot, but he hasn’t tried to hump her once. Neither of them have done any humping.

                      Viewing 9 reply threads
                      • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

                      Forum BONDING Bonding Jack and Molly~