New Bunny

[Manda]

Hi all, 

I recently got an 8 week old Holland Lop from a breeder- I named her Petunia but am thinking about changing it to Daphney. I have had her 5 days and I cannot wait to get clearance from the vet that she is completely well so I can let her start bonding with Mr Buns who is a 5 year old New Zealand white. I think he might have a crush on her already as he keeps lying side by side at the fence. I have an entire room as bunny headquarters and have double fencing just so they can’t go nose to nose in case she has something I cannot see. I am so nervous and I keep finding myself obsessing about Petunia- is she healthy? What if she has a heart condition? Is she acting normal? Is she breathing too fast? Why does she keep flopping(happy bunny flop) why is she so happy? Is that normal? Is she crazy? Why isnt she scared of me? I keep expecting something to be wrong but honestly can’t find anything. I felt her up this morning and totally freaked myself out is she bloated? Is one side bigger than the other? Enlarged kidneys? I’m losing it. This is the happiest outgoing 8 week old rabbit I think I have ever had. 

I think I might be channeling paranoia due to the fact I had to put my 12 year old Cinni down and for that one week that everything was going downhill I kind of got in the mind frame that something has to be wrong. Has anyone gone through this? Mr Buns(who is Cinni surviving mate) is clearly not grieving as much as I am and seems in love already……

I’m sorry I know I sound crazy but I think grief has a way of affecting us all.

Thank you for letting me vent!

[Bladesmith]

I was never a fan of Daphne. Much more a fan of Velma.

[Harley&Thumper]

Petunia’s behavior sounds normal for an 8 week old bunny. However, you can’t start the bonding process until she has been spayed at around 5 months old. You then need to wait a few months for all of the hormones to go away. Unfortunately for Mr. Buns, this means he is going to have to wait at least another 5 months before he can meet his new friend.

[Vienna Blue in France]

Weeell, if Mr Buns has had the chop…

[Manda]

Great thank you- I am told that I can start the bonding after since Mr Buns is neutered. I will most likely have to seperate them once it is time to have her spayed. Mr Buns was always a gentleman with Cinni. Maybe supervised play time up until the Spay? I just want them both to be able to roam… 

[Manda]

You think she looks like a Velma?????

[Harley&Thumper]

Supervised play time until the hormones kick in should be fine but you never really know when that will happen. Once the hormones kick in a fight is very likely.

[Bladesmith]

Posted By Manda on 2/07/2018 3:20 PM

You think she looks like a Velma?????

Sure!  It’s the old Scooby Doo debate.  Daphne is the popular, tall, blonde, but Velma is smarter and more clever and gets it done.

[Daisy Layne]

I am a first time bunny owner. I have had Daisy Layne since she was 7 weeks, from a breeder, she is now 4 months old and still every morning I go to her cage terrified. Unfortunately my son’s girlfriend’s bun died a few weeks before we got Daisy so it set me off to being scared. Her bunny died several days after an interaction with a cat outside her cage. So fears are normal. But as long as you know you are doing the “right” thing and giving a loving safe environment, she will continue to be a happy bun.

[BB & Tiny]

I’m with Harley & Thumper, it is recommended both bunnies be fixed before bonding. A  fight could potentially cause a bond to never happen, bunnies hold grudges.

[Manda]

He is netuered…

[Manda]

Thank you- I think I am paranoid because I recently put Cinni down after 13 years and it was a long week of trying to stop her going downhill and the feeling has just stuck with me. She is a very happy healthy bun and I hope it stays this way!

[Author]

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