Introducing a new bun

[Blue eyes]

Here is an interesting and informative site I just recently stumbled across:
http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/matchups.asp

I appreciate that it includes videos showing buns where the bonding doesn't work, that is difficult, and that works. It's good to see some of the subtle differences.

If you scroll down almost to the bottom, there's a topic "possible combinations" that is also loaded with info. Sounds like this section might answer some of your concerns.

 

[cassnessxox]

Thanks, that was pretty helpful. They seem to be showing signs of a good match, sitting together and eating together. Cleo just gets a little pushy now and again rubbing herself all over Bambi. But they are running and jumping around together and they both seem relaxed and no sign of fear from either party.

One thing they mentioned on that site was that if you keep one in a cage and the other running free the one running free could get arrogant and act like the winner unless you swap them around. I have Bambi in the cage because she is so much smaller than Cleo and I don't think Cleo would have enough room in there. What do you guys think? Should I give Cleo some cage time?

Also, I think I may have enough money to get Cleo spayed. Should I get her done right away and get Bambi done as soon as she is old enough? The vet said they will spay rabbits from 5-6 months or older so it will be a few months

 

[Imbrium]

I would get them done now - if Bambi isn't hormonal yet and Cleo is spayed/the hormones subside, you can get some quality bonding time where neither one is hormonal... plus Cleo's the pushy one right now anyway and it should settle her down

 

[cassnessxox]

Ok I might take them both in for a check (and a sexing) and book in Cleos surgery asap :nerves1

I feel so silly having so many questions but Cleo has started sort of...flinging pee? Well she sort of runs around Bambi and jumps and flicks her bum and a stream of liquid comes out. Not sure if it's pee because it doesn't smell that bad but I'm not sure what else it could be. Again, I am PRETTY damn sure that Cleo is a girl. That's what I was told and I have also had a look myself...

Also, did anyone have any suggestions for this one? I'm just worried that I'll create some undoable bad attitudes.
cassnessxox wrote:

One thing they mentioned on that site was that if you keep one in a cage and the other running free the one running free could get arrogant and act like the winner unless you swap them around. I have Bambi in the cage because she is so much smaller than Cleo and I don't think Cleo would have enough room in there. What do you guys think? Should I give Cleo some cage time?

 

[agnesthelion]

Hmm, that does sound like spraying? Which is more common in males but females can do it too. It most obviously is a response to the new bun.

As far as cage time, i would not put Cleo in with Bambi yet. Do you have two cages? If so i would give Cleo some cage time in a separate cage. I saw the part in that article you are talking about. And remember all these bonding scenarios are with adults. Once bambi reaches sexual maturity things could all change. Bambi is being submissive now because she is a baby but her hormones could change things.

That's a great idea to get them to the vet and get them sexes. Let us know what the outcome is!

 

[cassnessxox]

Oh no I mean like let Bambi have the room and put Cleo in the smaller cage for a bit. At the moment Bambi is in the smaller cage and Cleo in the room.

 

[agnesthelion]

Ohh, does Cleo have free run all night then too?

But yes, i would give bambi some free run alone sometimes too.

 

[cassnessxox]

Cleo is in her room at night. She gets the whole house when we are home during the day. We have put my old guinea pig cage in her room for now.

At the moment when we can't supervise Cleo is outside the room upstairs and Bambi is inside the room, or Bambi is in the cage with Cleo in the room. I'm sure Cleo will be huffy but we best put her in the cage for a bit while Bambi gets the room and runs around going 'na nana na na'

DEFINATELY not thinking about putting them in a confined space together yet. I may be confident it is going well but I'm way to much of a worrier to take any chances!

 

[Blue eyes]

Good idea to take them both to the vet and not just one. That site I referenced also has specific suggestions on how to handle it when one is neutered and the other not.
It explains about vet rides and when to keep them together before, during and after the surgery.

The territory thing she mentions concerning one having more free time in an area than the other is important - or so I've found.

I'm dealing with that issue now. My girl lost her mate and I'm having a very difficult time bonding her with a male. She has had free run of the entire downstairs, so she is very territorial with the male. (Both are spayed/neutered) It looks like with her I am going to have to find a neutral territory and keep them there for at least a week to be sure I get a good bond before I can put them in "her" territory.

 

[cassnessxox]

Just wish we had a bigger cage for Cleo, I feel bad enough putting Bambi in there let alone my bigger bun. The only other thing I have is a pen but my guinea pigs live in there lol

I had a few dead bunny flops by Cleo this morning. She would run around Bambi a few times and rub her chin on her then flop down next to her.

I just wish I could see their behaviour when Im not around, I think Cleo is more protective of me than anything else.

 

[cassnessxox]

Cleo has started returning the licks, and Bambi is flopping as well. This was after about 2 hours of Cleo being in the cage so maybe it did her good.

I take that it won't be safe to leave them alone together until Cleo is fixed?

 

[Imbrium]

yeah, until she's fixed (and assuming bambi isn't hormonal by the time cleo's hormones subside) and they've bonded, I wouldn't leave them together unsupervised .

 

[cassnessxox]

How long does it take after the surgery? Ive only found one vet that does rabbits so far so I hope it isn't too booked.

 

[Imbrium]

hmm... I know it's normally around 4-6 weeks for males, but I can't remember what it is for females >

 

[cassnessxox]

No worries Im sure Ill find the answer somewhere on the forum.

Cleo was almost perfectly litter trained before Bambi, now she is scattering droppings but still weeing in the litter tray. Will this stop once she is fixed? Or is this gonna be an ongoing territory thing? Its no big deal just a little annoying seeings we have carpet lol

Also, Cleo seems to be a little spoilt. She goes up to Bambi and licks her ears a few times before lowering her head under Bambis face. If Bambi doesn't lick her she licks Bambi a few more times and lowers her head again. After a few tries and Bambi still doesn't lick her she digs at Bambis side. I push Cleo away as I'm not sure if it will hurt Bambi. It's only happened twice where she digs at Bambi but is there anything that will stop her doing it?

Gah I must be so annoying with all these questions lol

 

[Imbrium]

nah, lol, questions are good! we've all had to ask plenty of 'em.

the nudging under the chin is how bunnies demand to be groomed, which is an assertion of dominance (and one of the reasons many bunns dislike being pet under the chin, they see it as being bossy)... not sure how to stop the digging behavior, but the demands themselves will probably go away after spaying.

there's no guarantee, but the marking with poop *should* either diminish or cease with spaying

 

[cassnessxox]

Well that's all good enough news then, my our Cleo is bossy lol

I'm going away this weekend for my sisters wedding, only for a day and a night, but I was wondering if I should keep Bambis cage in or out of Cleos room? I thought maybe being in a small cage wont seem so bad if you don't have enother rabbit circling your cage, but you shouldn't seperate bonded rabbits. I'm not sure if they are bonded enough to not seperate yet?