Bunny Breakout

[MiniLopHop]

This morning I discovered that Becky (2 year old, mini lop, female, spayed) broke out of her side of the room and into Cinderella's side (4 year old, mixed mini, female, spayed). I have been working on bonding them and interactions have been positive over all. I have them in my bunny proofed office with a fence down the middle. They change sides each day. There have been a few boxing moments or nips at the fence, but nothing major other than a poop war. When they go on dates in the bath tub they sit huddled together. I just got Cinderella last weekend, so it has been a short courtship. Becky picked her over the 4 boys we tried.

My question is, since they were together last night, how do I proceed with the bonding? I had to go to work this morning, so I just checked for injuries (none that I could tell) and put Becky back on her side. Do you think it would be safe to let them be together in their room with supervision? Or should I just go back to the dates?

Thanks. This is my first bonding situation.

 

[MiniLopHop]

I tried a date in the hall. It is neutral but not as slippery as the bathtub. Not a good idea. They went into a full blown fight. I tried squirting them with water, but they weren't breaking up. I had to pull them apart. Cindarella missed and bit me.

On the bright side, the only blood was mine. On the down side, it did not go well. I'm going to give them a break before any more dates. Do you think a week would be enough? Then back to the tub since that was working.

 

[elrohwen]

I'm not sure you need a break. I think you should go back to the tub and do stressing as well to get them past the fight. A couple days break might help you, but they need to get back together and get over it and I don't think a week's break will help. Being forced to be together, on the other hand, will help them get over it.

 

[MiniLopHop]

Thanks for the advice. I will try the tub again tomorrow then.

I think your right that I could use a bit of a break though. It was the first bunny fight I have seen, it was terrible. I tried explaining to my husband and he laughed thinking they are too cute and sweet to be frightning. It's hard to believe until you see it. I'm just glad neither one of them were hurt.

 

[Flash Gordon]

bunny fights are downright scary!..its amazing to see such a cute fluffy wittle bunny go into INSANE KILL MODE.!..my boyfriend laughed at me also ...til our two flemish giants went at it and i wasnt home...when i got home my boyfriends hair was stickin up and he had a beer in his hand and he was shaken up ..hehe..he said ive never seen anything so barbaric ...told him but he didnt listen...

im thinkin if they just went a full blown round ..they will keep goin straight into a fight unless u do the scare method...(drive em around in the car or sit them on top of a running dryer..)

 

[Flash Gordon]

heads up be careful when u pull them apart..i saw someone yank two bunnies apart that were latched and one of them still had the others cheek in its mouth...about the size of a 1/2 dollar gone from his little face...
when they go onto their sides and kick with their back hoppers is when it gets dangerous and can be life threatening to the other bun...their trying to cut open the others belly..
ive never heard of any casualties during a bonding session but ive heard of some serious injuries...well ok now that i scared the poop outta ya..go on back in there and start bonding!!,..

 

[MiniLopHop]

It is amazing to me that my little "baby" is the aggressor. She's smaller, but more dominant. I think Cinderella is just terrified, of everything.

They are both shedding now, so I was brushing them out. Poor Cinderella has two scratches on her belly I missed before. They are about 1/2 an inch that broke the skin. They aren't deep or bleeding so I put antibiotic ointment on them.

Bonding is not for cowards. I will try driving around with them and see if that helps.

 

[Flash Gordon]

driving with them in the same carrier....make sure u have another person to go with ya.

when i tried bonding a couple of my buns.i was convinced that my mentally slow and splay leg bunny needed a bond mate...so i really tried a couple of my buns with her..and she HATED everybody..she was mean and nasty and aggressive...imagine that from my precious little "slow' bun..i never woulda guessed shed be mean ...

 

[Nela]

Yeah, Flashy is right. Once they fight, they seem to only remember the fighting and automatically are very aggressive/defensive. I'd give them a very short break, like a day, and then use the stress methods. Then again, I never got it to work with Maybelle and Smores. Lol. I figured their personalities clashed and that's how I ended up with Giggles. Bunny bonding is no fun. :expressionlessHehehe. Best of luck!