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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.

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Forum BONDING More Questions for Bonding with a Very Nervous Bunny

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    • Erin
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        Hi! I posted the other night about my one very submissive bun that I’m bonding with my male. This might be a long post. Feel free to skim through it, it’s just a bunch of details that might help you understand why I’m having a hard time figuring out how to proceed? So, it turns out my new female bun is very, very shy. The issue I’m having now is that she is currently in a kennel in my kitchen with my male in the other room. It’s been about three days since she came home with me and she hasn’t yet ventured out further than a foot from her cage and she doesn’t leave the cage at all when there’s anyone in the room. I’m having a problem trying to get her and my male in the same space. I feel awful trying to grab her out of her cage when she’s still clearly very scared about the whole new situation. I’ve only done this twice so far but I’m sure it’s already made her that much more wary of her new home.

        I think it will be much easier to get her used to the new home once she’s bonded with my male. But they’ve only had two meetings at this point because I feel so bad trying to take her out of her cage! I’ve tried some little tricks like leaving some treats just out of her reach so that she has to hop out of the cage to grab them, but she hasn’t been inspired to explore any further than that. And she’ll eat treats out of my hand if I put my hand in the cage, but she won’t take them from me when my hand is just outside the cage. Her previous owner said she was very cuddly and likes human attention but that she was very shy at first. And when I have successfully gotten her out of her cage she doesn’t seem to be too scared of me. 

        In the two meetings that the rabbits have had, however, my male has been extremely dominant and she’s been extremely submissive. Lots of mounting on his part and lots of flattening on her part, although I did see significantly less of this on their second meeting. But when I moved them to a slightly less neutral space the male was repeatedly mounting her again, so I think I may have jumped the gun on that move. I’m wondering what my next move should be and I think that decision should be based off of why my female is so unwilling to come out of her cage. I can’t tell if she’s scared of me or if she’s scared of my male. Their first meeting was right when I brought her home and it was actually in the kitchen, where I ended up setting up her cage after that first meeting. The second meeting was held in the bathroom. I’m wondering if she may be afraid to come out of her cage in the kitchen because she knows my male rabbit has sort of claimed that space. If that’s the case, it may be best for me to push through with the bonding process. But if she’s just scared of the new situation, maybe I should just leave her alone in her cage until she’s gained a little more confidence to explore and maybe until she trusts me a little more. So, what comes first, the bond with the male or her comfort in the new space? Do I wait for her to get comfortable or do I just push through with the bonding process?


      • Mikey
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        3186 posts Send Private Message

          You mention she is in the kitchen; is the floor carpeted or do you have a rug? Some rabbits refuse to step on tile as it can be slippery. If there is no rug/carpet where you have her, i would move her crate to where there is carpet or buy a larger rug for her

          Usually its the opposite. You want them to get used to the home they will be living in before bonding them, or it can cause stress which could make her hide more often. To get her used to you, keep doing what you are doing. Keep trying to feed her from your hand, pet her gently, and talk to her with a soft voice so she knows you are safe

          Keep them in a fully neutral place until your female is more comfortable. you have to go at her pace since she is the obvious submissive bun. Right now you need her to get used to the room(s) she will be staying in, as well as get used to you. Once she is comfortable, start bonding them in a neutral place. Once she isnt as stressed about bonding (laying flat is stress related) and when your boy stops mounting as much, then move them to a slightly less neutral area and restart from there, continuing at her pace. The more you allow your male to stress her out, the less likely she will feel comfortable coming out of her cage and the less likely the bond will be successful

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      Forum BONDING More Questions for Bonding with a Very Nervous Bunny