Help with an almost cemented trio.

[Eto]

My trio of bunnies need help.

All are fixed and have been for over two weeks.

The two females are the issue here.  The older of the two(Chester) is somewhat of a bully and exhibits somewhat annoyance and distaste of having the younger of the two girls(Eva) around. Chester has nipped her and chased her off enough that Eva is apprehensive whenever around each other. My only boy(Thatcher) seems totally fine with being in the presence of both females and the feeling is mutual for both females. They’ve been in there new enclosure for over two days after our last bonding session Eva groomed both Chester and Thatcher and all did the same to her. But the issue now is since they are now in an enclosure toghther Chester wants nothing to do with Eva and is somewhat annoyed/hostile toward her.

Any advice  would be greatly appreciated/

[Azerane]

I don’t really have any experience, but given that it’s only been two weeks since they were fixed I would suspect that there are still some latent hormones coming into play. It’s possible that Chester will settle down with a bit more time once the hormones have worked their way out the system more (up to four weeks I’ve read).

Then again, re-reading your post, perhaps only one of your rabbits was only fixed that recently and the others were done some time ago?

[vanessa]

A few questions – have they always been a trio? How long have you been bonding them for? What is the time line? For example – November got fixed, December introduced the three. Or November introduced them, December separated them to be fixed, then after two weeks recovery brought them back together? This will give us an idea of where you are at and where they are at with their bonding.
Two weeks is probably a bit too short of a recovery time. There may still be hormones raging for up to 4 weeks after being spayed.

[Eto]

Chester was fixed roughly a month ago.

Eva and Thatcher were fixed two weeks ago.

Chester is about a year and 1/2 while the other two are roughly 6 months old.

Started dates and such about a week ago.

Currently working on getting them at a better bonding place.

[vanessa]

OK cool.
Firstly, I’d give Eva and Thatcher another 2 weeks to get over their hormones. 1 week after surgery is a short recovery time or so much handling.
You are still early in the bonding phase, so I wouldnt get too concerned. After 2 more weeks for the hormones to die down, I’d start the bonding. Int he mean time, I’d let them live in adjoinign enclosures. If you cant’ house them separately for the next two, weeks, then continue what you’re doing, but 4 weeks is generally the recommended recovery time before attemtping bonding. I’m not sure I would put all three in a common living area just yet. I’d still separate them over night, while you can’t watch them. It will be good for Eva to get a break from chester. I’d go back to yoru previous living arrangement, and keep up witht he bonding sessions. Once there is no more hostility at all, I’d put them in a common living area. 1 week of bonding is very soon for that. Although it does sound like you have made a HUGE amount of progress. I take bonding extremely slowly with my bunnies. I don’t get nearly that much progress that soon.
SO when things aren’t going well – Chester’s behavior – The options are to go back to what worked last and sick to it for another week, or try somethign different. The most important thing is to stick with what is woking for you. If yoru previous arangement was good, keep it up for a little longer.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Love your avatar Eto ! We’re used to seeing bunnies’ pics in there !!! LOL
Good luck with the bonding…. gently gently…. one week extra here and there won’t make a dent in a bunny’s lifetime worth of happiness…

[Eto]

Thank you Vanessa for all the lovely support and advice.

And as for the compliment on my avatar from Vienna thank you.I haven’t gotten around to a decent picture of my hopeful trio but I was sick of looking like a grey blob.

As for progress on the buns bonding I have good news. The only boy Thatcher is very comfortable with both girls and pretty much super laid back and has shown zero signs of aggression. But on the subject of asserting dominance he’s humped the older of the two females Chester and only humped Eva once and since then has stopped and is so comfortable with the two he flops down completely relaxed when hes in the bonding tub I’m usin, still no grooming on his part. Eva the younger of the two is the grooming master and while I’m typing is grooming Chester the older of the two females like its her job and has groomed Thatcher multiple times as well.Chester has calmed down in her hostility towards Eva. theres the occasional nip her and there with light chasing nothing major more just from what I’m asserting from her body language uncertainty about Eva.Chester seems to also enjoy Thatchers company more and from what I’ve seen during bonding hasn’t showed any signs of aggression of dominance towards him either. 

To explain why the sudden jump into the bonding process is due to the fact that the setup I had before had some complications during our regular cleaning chores of there once separate pens which resulted in me the clumsy human falling over and smashing said separates pens only able to salvage enough of the wreck to make a super pen(currently extremely poor and have very little extra cash).We’ve left them alone for the past week and so far no bloody bite wounds or new bumps or scuffs over any of there bodys. 

I understand that I’m taking a risk in “bonding” them this way but I’d like advice in knowing if it sounds like I’m making progress or I’m hurting rather then helping them.

On a side note yesterday I caught Eva sprawled out next to Chester in there hide/tunnel while chester assumed the Rabbit bun pose ears slight pitched forward in a relaxed motion. It only dispersed because Chester AGAIN nipped at Eva for whatever reason I know not.

Advice or shared experience would be grateful and for the current advice thank you.

[vanessa]

It soudns like they are honestly doing great. There are many ways of bonding bunnies that I woudln’t try – like binding so soon and living together so soon after a surgery, but It sounds liuke yoru group is doing really well. Have they known eachother through visual sight before the bonding? My first 2 pairs were so easy to bond. I just put the females in the male enclosures and called it a day. I would NEVER try that now. After seeing Guin attack Lancelot, I take bonding very very slowly. But hey – sometimes the rabbits just click. And that is the best scenario.
It sounds like Chester and Eva still have things to work out, and that you are at the phase where a little time might help as in time for them to just work it out. Nipping is part of bunny communication. As long as it doesn’t turn into chasing and fighting, there is something to be said for letting them work it out. Guin nips Lancelot for attention, to demand that he groom her. She nips my feet if I am in her way. They both nip me when they are exited and want petting. Some bunnies nip during communication more than others. Lancelot nips me more than Guin does, and Guin nips Lancelot. Still. But only to demand attention. I’d watch them for another week, keep their living habitats the same, not smash anymore enclosures (lol). However – when Guin nips Lancelot, I feel it detracts from his affection towards her. I haven’t figured out how to convince her to communicate differently.
It sounds like you are doing good. I’d keep the status quo.

[Eto]

First of thank you for the reassurance and encouragement on my hopeful trio. I think your right Vanessa they are doing fine but still need time to work out the clear and cemented pecking order. While watching them it’s very obvious they don’t mind each other’s company but everyone is clearly trying to be the top rabbit. I think Chester is nipping to tell Eva she is the top bun but Eva is taking it as her being attacked by Chester. As of right ow everyone seems to be figuring out the exact order of how they are going to go about there hierarchy. Hopefully like you said with time this will cement itself out.

To help with this process I’m still conducting bonding session outside of there shared living space daily in hopes this helps them figure out there hierarchy.

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