Hey all! I had my spring break last week, unfortunately it wasn't very much of a break as it was busy, but I have a moment now so I wanted to discuss my new bunny, Sofia, and Erik!
Erik has been a solitary bunny most of his life; for a while he got along ok with Ivory but that didn't work, and then got along with Holly, but he died. Throughout the months since then I've tried to find a suitable match; this summer I had thought that Pancakes, a lop from the rescue, would be the right girl but he quit eating so I stopped pursuring that.
After his hairball problems requiring hospitalization in November I brought home an entirely new bunny- Erik was active, hyper, happy, eating and pooping as though he were born to do it, and it was obvious he was lonely. I have long hours at school sometimes and don't live very close to campus, and therefore don't have time to drive home most days. I actually left some time in the morning and in the afternoon on alternating days so he wouldn't be alone completely the whole day.
Erik loves me with all of his little bunny heart. I have been deemed by the others at the rescue as his one and only love. But when he starts grooming my stuffed animals and acting really sad when I walk out the door, it's obvious to me that he would be happy with a friend. I know that he would be such a happier bun if only he could remember some etiquette...of course he's a rabbit and that doesn't always work...
At any rate, enter Sofia. I've actually considered Sofia adopted. She is a Mini-Rex and she's beautiful, and she's sweet, and uses her box perfectly. She doesn't enjoy being held but that's ok, I don't really pick them up much (I sit on the ground to pet and play with.)
Erik and Sofia have been courting informally for about the last month, "Formally" for the last week (meaning living in the same house) and it's been either good or not so good.
When they're outside on completely neutral ground, they do wonderfully. I brought them to my parent's house for spring break and they did very well when put in the yard together or in the carrier while driving. They lie next to one another and chillax.
But the second you get them inside- namely, Erik's territory- he turns into a freak. He does not want her there. At all. They have been living close to one another for the last few nights and don't fight through the bars of the cage, but when I get them out, he chases her like crazy. He wants to be groomed. If she would groom him, he would probably accept her. But he is very overzealous in his demands, absolutely shoving his head under her to be licked on, and she gets annoyed with him or scared of him so she doesn't do it. He gets mad when she doesn't groom, so he starts nipping, which irritated her, and it turns into biting, then she runs off and he chases her until she slows down, he sticks his head under her mouth, and it all starts again.
I don't have the room in my apartment for two separate rabbit cages. They would have to either be right next to one another, which is currently stressing Sofia out to no end, or they have to live together. I don't want to bring her back to the rescue because they do great when in neutral ground- She has actually groomed him and they've laid together.
But...how do I stop him from being so...overzealous? Maybe try the bathtub? The only place in the apartment that is neutral is my wash room, which isn't exactly suitable for bunnies. I can't bring them outside as dogs poop in the grass.
Any ideas from the bonding veterans?
Erik has been a solitary bunny most of his life; for a while he got along ok with Ivory but that didn't work, and then got along with Holly, but he died. Throughout the months since then I've tried to find a suitable match; this summer I had thought that Pancakes, a lop from the rescue, would be the right girl but he quit eating so I stopped pursuring that.
After his hairball problems requiring hospitalization in November I brought home an entirely new bunny- Erik was active, hyper, happy, eating and pooping as though he were born to do it, and it was obvious he was lonely. I have long hours at school sometimes and don't live very close to campus, and therefore don't have time to drive home most days. I actually left some time in the morning and in the afternoon on alternating days so he wouldn't be alone completely the whole day.
Erik loves me with all of his little bunny heart. I have been deemed by the others at the rescue as his one and only love. But when he starts grooming my stuffed animals and acting really sad when I walk out the door, it's obvious to me that he would be happy with a friend. I know that he would be such a happier bun if only he could remember some etiquette...of course he's a rabbit and that doesn't always work...
At any rate, enter Sofia. I've actually considered Sofia adopted. She is a Mini-Rex and she's beautiful, and she's sweet, and uses her box perfectly. She doesn't enjoy being held but that's ok, I don't really pick them up much (I sit on the ground to pet and play with.)
Erik and Sofia have been courting informally for about the last month, "Formally" for the last week (meaning living in the same house) and it's been either good or not so good.
When they're outside on completely neutral ground, they do wonderfully. I brought them to my parent's house for spring break and they did very well when put in the yard together or in the carrier while driving. They lie next to one another and chillax.
But the second you get them inside- namely, Erik's territory- he turns into a freak. He does not want her there. At all. They have been living close to one another for the last few nights and don't fight through the bars of the cage, but when I get them out, he chases her like crazy. He wants to be groomed. If she would groom him, he would probably accept her. But he is very overzealous in his demands, absolutely shoving his head under her to be licked on, and she gets annoyed with him or scared of him so she doesn't do it. He gets mad when she doesn't groom, so he starts nipping, which irritated her, and it turns into biting, then she runs off and he chases her until she slows down, he sticks his head under her mouth, and it all starts again.
I don't have the room in my apartment for two separate rabbit cages. They would have to either be right next to one another, which is currently stressing Sofia out to no end, or they have to live together. I don't want to bring her back to the rescue because they do great when in neutral ground- She has actually groomed him and they've laid together.
But...how do I stop him from being so...overzealous? Maybe try the bathtub? The only place in the apartment that is neutral is my wash room, which isn't exactly suitable for bunnies. I can't bring them outside as dogs poop in the grass.
Any ideas from the bonding veterans?
