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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 Is the first bunny jealous?

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    • Sunnybunny
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        Maybe I’m flattering myself but I think my bunny’s jealous of my attention. He’s in a funk sometimes, normal for bunny or human. Today I got into his xpen with him while the other bunny was out. He was in a mood so I annoyed him by covering his food, and wadding up some papers and putting them on his bed area. He cleaned everything up and started pepping up. Then he came over to me and sat next to me, like right against me. I’ve had him for a year he did this only one other time, right after his first date with the new bunny, which went well. He loves being pet and grooming me or pillows, toys, blankets… But he never just sits close to me when There is no grooming. The first date at the shelter went really well, but the first date at home didnt (I posted under bonding in tiny apartment).

        I’m wondering if maybe he’s just jealous or insecure about sharing his humans? Is that a thing? He was adopted at 3, lived in a hutch outside before. though for all I know his previous owner was interactive, I just doubt it. It kind of seems like the first child kind of jealousy…

        Regardless, could me always being around interfere with the bonding?


      • Mikey
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          Being jealous or insecure is a thing some bunnies go through! We got my Blue first, and eventually got another(Bombur), then another(Badger).. Blue claimed me as his human. He likes my boyfriend, but he much prefers to be around me. Blue took very easily to Bombur because Bombur much preferred my boyfriend over me. It took a bit to bond them together, but there was no jealousy or insecurity between either of them. When we added Badger, who likes my boyfriend and i equally but prefers to be around Blue or Bombur rather than humans, that was a different story. Blue needed so much more attention or he would refuse to bond as a trio. He was getting getting attention every few minutes or he would pout or nip at the other two. Even now, months after theyre all bonded and happy, if Badger or Bombur gets too much attention, Blue will get nippy with my boyfriend and i, and will mount the other two to ‘put them in their place’ so to speak. So yes, it is possible for buns to be a bit insecure and jealous I would give your buns more attention than normal to see if that helps at all


        • Sunnybunny
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            Thanks! That’s adorable and high maintenance lol. I’ll make sure to give a bit more attention and see if it helps him. I was surprised today he fell asleep for a few hours under the table then I woke him up and told him to go home, fully expecting a coraling battle before it would happen and he went start to his pen. Lol I guess bunnies are full of surprises still.


          • bpash89
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              Bunny jealousy is very much real. My little girl, Min, has peed on my bed almost every single day since I brought the new bun home. We haven’t even started bonding yet (new little one was recently spayed) but Min gets soooooo mad at me any time I sit with the new bunny. In her mind, any attention the new bunny gets is too much. She was a single child up until this point and i think it went to her head….


            • Mikey
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                Lol that is so cute that he listened! It is a bit high maintenance but its just so darn cute, how can you stay upset? 


              • Sunnybunny
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                  It is cute! And who wouldn’t be flattered by some bun jealousy? I definately am I’m just worried about it effecting bonding.

                  Their initial date went pretty well, and when I got her home both stayed interested, they sniffed at each other, there was some attempted nips but not many, they ate together, relaxed easily around each . The first date at home didn’t go very well, it ended with a small tornado, after which I took them back to their pens, should have done some bunny magic while they were tuckerd out from the tussle but I didn’t didn’t think about it. But now, almost a week later, Sunday is the next date, he chases her when she goes by and tries to nip her when she tries to sniff at him or when she lowers her head asking for grooms. I have it so nipping cant actually happen but even she sees it and is getting annoyed. When I pet him, then pet her, then go to pet him, before at least he’d smell my hand and accept her smells, today he gave me the cold shoulder … I started clapping and saying no when he’d chase or nip, so now he watches and waits till it seems like I’m not paying attention.

                  I’m getting frustrated. I can’t completely ignore her and I’ve been giving him more attention since I realized he was jealous but today he’s worse then ever…

                  I plan on doing their next date Sunday, Ill set up one of the rooms with fresh blanket to disguise the space. Also drive them around a few blocks to help him get out of his head…. Ugh. I need to get out of my head!


                • Mikey
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                    It sounds like its going well, actually Bonding is much more stressful on the bunnies humans than it is on the bunnies themselves. I think your stress bonding idea with driving them around is a very good idea. Its one many people do and its helped them out. Another thing you can try is putting them in a box together and wiggling it whenever they try to start a fight. Wiggle it enough to spook them, but not enough to make them fall over and slide around. This is the tactic i used for my trio and it worked wonderfully for me so it might be worth a try for you as well


                  • Sunnybunny
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                      lol so unintentionally I was gone pretty much all day and after that mr. M was a lot more affectionate towards Maxine. So I took the opposite approach and half ignored him more. Of course I’d still pet him and stuff but I made myself busy to give them some more space. Maybe stress bonding of a more subtle variety. Anyway 8 days after the last date we finally felt ready for the next one and it went really well. There were two nips, both from him. But one he was defending a space he seemed to decide was his and the other was after the first groom-off. After that I pet them both after a few seconds of a groom off and that seemed to placate both of them. 30 min and no fur went flying!

                      I’m mentally preparing for the next one to go poorly but I’m really hoping things are turning around


                    • Sunnybunny
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                      21 posts Send Private Message

                        lol so unintentionally I was gone pretty much all day and after that mr. M was a lot more affectionate towards Maxine. So I took the opposite approach and half ignored him more. Of course I’d still pet him and stuff but I made myself busy to give them some more space. Maybe stress bonding of a more subtle variety. Anyway 8 days after the last date we finally felt ready for the next one and it went really well. There were two nips, both from him. But one he was defending a space he seemed to decide was his and the other was after the first groom-off. After that I pet them both after a few seconds of a groom off and that seemed to placate both of them. 30 min and no fur went flying!

                        I’m mentally preparing for the next one to go poorly but I’m really hoping things are turning around

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                    Forum BONDING Is the first bunny jealous?