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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 BEHAVIOR Bunny grief

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    • Gina.Jenny
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        Pippi lost his bonded bunny friend, Rusty 10 days ago. He is now bonded to one of our two rescue girls, Jenny, who was desperate to be with the boys.

        But although he seems ok with Jenny, he is still not himself. I guess bunny grief runs deep, even when there is another bun to step in and keep a grieving bun company. 


      • Bam
        Moderator
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          That’s so sad and so sweet at the same time. Under the circumstances he’s lucky to have Jenny though even if she’s not a replacement for Rusty.
          Rabbits are so very intriguing creatures. Mine often behave in ways I don’t fully understand. Being a bunny owner never gets boring!


        • Gina.Jenny
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            It seems that re-arranging the dining room last night, to give Gina more space, has helped Pippi accept that Rusty isn’t coming back. For the first time in 11 days, Pippi has finally settled down in a hay box to eat a decent amount of hay, instead of nibbling on one or two strands, then hopping around in a distracted kind of way, and maybe eventually nibbling a tiny bit more.


          • Bam
            Moderator
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              I’m so glad. Bunny grief is not good for bunny health. Maybe changing the environment made him not expect to see Rusty in familiar places and situations. Kind of like the opposite of a conditioned reflex. I don’t know =/

              I hope he and the girls will be tremendously happy when Gina has figured out that it’s better to be friends than enemies.


            • Gina.Jenny
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                I think you’ve described it well there, the adjustment in the set up helped adjust his expectation of seeing Rusty. It’s such a relief to see him tucking into some hay after so many days of just picking at it.

                Both Pippi and Jenny are inviting Gina to groom their noses through the run extension, which has wider gaps than the cage. Last night, she responded by nipping, 24 hours later, she is ignoring their noses, which I guess is progress. If only she could have given a quick groom, or even responded by asking for a groom too, we’d be well on the way to a three way bond.

                Meanwhile, I have placed food throughout the day, starting with their breakfast pellets, followed later by some greens, some fresh cut grass, some fresh cut dandelions and finally their supper pellets, so they become very accustomed to eating together.

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            Forum BEHAVIOR Bunny grief