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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 session gone wrong…

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    • bashfulbunny
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      34 posts Send Private Message

        Back in July I got a little girlfriend for Bashful, and she has been living in my room with him but in a separate cage… I let them out one at a time, and each time they either flop by the others cage, or sniff each other, or Bashful will hop around her cage and she will chase him from the inside…

        As it’s been a month since Binky’s spaying, and they seemingly get along through bars, I decided that today was the day I was finally going to bond them

        I’d done a ton of research, I’ve been reading about it for months, as well as watching YouTube videos, and had everything at the ready – glove, spray bottle, dustpan brush and treats! Although I was almost certain that I wasn’t going to need it as they always seemed desperate to be together when out in my room…

        It was dinner time and I’d heard food helped distract them, so I placed a plate of veggies either side of the bath tub, but as expected the bunnies were more interested in scoping their new surroundings and ignored each other for at least a minute, but when they finally took notice of each other, it went completely downhill and very quickly! It started with a little nip and chase, Binky being the one to start it, but it quickly escalated to a very vicious fight and even the spraying of water didn’t stop them, which is when I had to separate them myself, which ended with Binky biting through the glove and into my hand! There was a lot of chasing, circling, jumping on, biting, kicking, and I wasn’t sure when to/when not to intervene but when it looked like too much I would pull them apart… Binky even managed to pull out a lot of Bashfuls fur, there was one particularly big amount of hair that was clumped at one end, which I assume is because it was pulled from the roots!! They settled for a few seconds and I gave them both a treat, Binky snatching it from my hand and Bashful attacking my hand (clearly upset with me, as he has never ever attacked me before) but as soon as Binky finished, she went for Bashful again and I was back to having to pull them apart…

        I ended the bonding session as soon as I noticed Binky’s nose had a little blood on it… She allowed me to carry her back to her cage and stroke her, which is rare from Binky as she isn’t as friendly, she usually only allows me to stroke her for a minute or so before turning her back on me and running away… but Bashful would attack my hand every time I went near him afterwards and I had to give him a little time before he would even give me the time of day (He’s back to giving me kisses and cuddles but it took a while… They’re even eating from the same hay rack now that there’s bars between them again)

        Am I doing something wrong? Do I wait another month to make sure her hormones are completely calmed down before trying again? Do I just keep at it? Or is this just a pair that will never ever get along?


      • Jadeo09
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        217 posts Send Private Message

          I would take them to the vet to make sure they didn’t do serious damage to each other especially as there was blood.
          D take it more slowly next time and separate them when you sense it or at them nipping and chasing each other.

          http://www.rabbit.org/journal/4-4/tough-bonding.html
          Maybe that will help?
          Can you contact RWAF or another charity for advice.like a shelter perhaps?
          Do you want me to find you some email addresses?
          Jade

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      Forum BONDING Bonding session gone wrong…