Concerns about spaying/neutering/bonding

[ubrch]

Hello, So I have a male and a femaleflemish giant. Some months ago the male begam to act like a maleand began trying to mount the female. We (girlfriend and I)expected this, and set up separate cages, hoping that when they weremature enough for neutering/spaying, we would do it and then they couldhang out together again. The male, pre-neutering,began to do increasingly dangerous things to get to the female(clearing barriers by jumping so high he could not control his landing,etc), so we were relieved when he was finally ready to go under theknife. He was neutered on Friday, and he is still 'going after'the female. He stomps his foot (which is suprisingly loud),andchases her. I do not believe she likes this, because she runsaway. I'm beginning to become concerned that we won'tbe able to re-bond them, or otherwise keep them together. We gottwo bunnies on the philosophy that we would rather not keep an animalalone for most of the day. We have an appointment to spay thefemale this coming Friday. The vet has told us that we can putthem together 14 days after the female is spayed. Have we made amistake in getting a male and female? Will the agressive behavioreventually go away?On an unrelated note...We also can'tfigure out what a good chew toy should be. We've given them:store toys, maple, poplar, and red oak. They want: cardboard, andpine baseboards. We finally gave up and threw them some pine 2x4chunks, figuring that was better than baseboards and cardboard.They nibble them occasionally. Any suggestions?Thanks.

 

[Pipp]

The male is still potent for a week or two after neutering, so they really shouldn't be together.

And once both their hormones settle down, they should be fine, althoughbunnies are like humans -- some like each other, and somedon't. However, being extremely sociable creatures, they'llusually pick any friend rather than no friend.

Best to make sure they have lots of space when they're together so thatthey can avoid being harassed when they don't feel like being sociable,but can still cuddle when they do.

And for the record, it's my girl that harasses my boy, so the tables may turn, or at least even out, in the future.

As for the chewing thing, mine just love boxes andbaseboards. The only thing they like better arepesticide-free apple tree branches. Those will keep themhappily chewing for hours. I try and keep thosearound, and get creative with the cardboard boxes, which make greattoys. Bulid them a for and they'll be entertained forhours. (And when they eat it, build them anotherone!). Of course with Flemmies, they have to be prettylarge,solid boxes.

I also have diggers, so I keep a cardboard box filled with hay around, too. Never too much hay!

Hope this helps. (And welcome to the forum!) :wave:



sas and the warren :bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance::bunnydance:


PS: I find that putting stategically placed NIC cube panels and/or planks of wood around the baseboards really helps!

 

[cheryl]

If the boy was just neutered on friday,he stillneeds time for his hormones to settle and sperm can still be presentand you could end up with little baby bunnies,he should be kept awayfrom the girl for about2-4 weeks so the sperm can fullydiminish,if i was you i would just wait until you get the girl spayedalso, then give her time to heal and everything and then slowley try toreintroduce them again,you just need time and patience



No i don't think you have made a mistake on getting a female andmale,actually most times it is a better match,but you will just have towork on bonding them after the girl is spayed



The toy thing..i have found that my bunnies would rather have liketoilet rolls and paper towel rolls,untreatd wood,mine love applebranches,how about an untreated wicker basket,i find mine love to sitin there and eat hay,you could put hay in a paper bag and they willjust munch on it



ps..hehe i was posting my message when you posted yours sas



cheryl

 

[cheryl]

Pipp wrote:

Andonce both their hormones settle down, they should be fine, althoughbunnies are like humans -- some like each other, and somedon't.

Ha tell me about it,i have been trying to get Strawberry andMarshmallow back together,but with no luck..they just wanna grunt andfight with each other



cheryl

 

[ubrch]

This is reassuring.Anyhow, we'vebeen hoarding cardboard boxes for a while now. They all go into abig pile in the corner, and the bunnies simply like to be... amongthem. It's like an extremely rectilinear underbrush. I tellthem that it is underbrush from the future, and they believeme.As for bonding, I do hope it works out. I believethey were bonded beforehand, and I was hoping to get them through thisphase without un-bonding by putting them in cages that are in closeproximity. They can see, and smell one another, but they neverget to come out at the same time.What is the properprocedure in this case? When the surgical healing is done forboth buns, should I just start letting them out together, and separatethem if there is chasing or unhappiness?ubrch

 

[cheryl]

Yes i would put the cages where they can both see each other,this will help

also when you are trying to rebond them again take them in a room thatneither has been in you can offer them treats for being good,and juststart slowly,if things are good between them,than leave them longerwith each other and just keep doing this until you are satisfied withthe way things are,no fighting or anything,and if they do start tofight seperate them immediately and try again later.



good luck and i hope everything turns out for you and the buns



cheryl