Redid the cage

[ldoerr]

I just redid Shiny Things and Beauty's cage. I took the devidor out (it can go back on in an instant). I added a shelf. I added stuff to the bottom of the cage to provide traction. I did a DEEP clean. I rearanged the cage. I think that it looks nice. Shiny Things and Beauty are in there right now together with no problem. I will NOT be leaving them together over night yet. Here are some pictures. First an overall view. (could not fit the whole cage in 1 picture completely)

Left view. The fabric is a shelf.

Right view.

The cage is a 3.5x2x2. If the rabbits decide that they like to climb I will add another shelf.

 

[Blue eyes]

It usually took my buns up to a week or more before deciding to venture up to the upper levels. Be sure to give them time.

 

[ldoerr]

Beauty has already gone on the upper level. I put a litter box filled with hay right by the shelf. Beauty will jump in there and then up onto the shelf. To get down she jumps into the box.

I ended up having to put the devidor back in. They got into a little bit too sereouse of a fight. I will take it down tomorrow for more bonding.

 

[Imbrium]

you know that for every fight they manage to get into, it's going to be that much harder to bond them for real after they finally get fixed, right?

you really shouldn't push the issue - just keep them 100% out-of-contact with each other. being able to smell and/or see each other is fine and can potentially ease the bonding process later... but anything where they can actually get into a fight is a bad idea.

 

[Blue eyes]

Imbrium wrote:

you know that for every fight they manage to get into, it's going to be that much harder to bond them for real after they finally get fixed, right?

you really shouldn't push the issue - just keep them 100% out-of-contact with each other. being able to smell and/or see each other is fine and can potentially ease the bonding process later... but anything where they can actually get into a fight is a bad idea.

:yeahthat: absolutely.

 

[MiniLopHop]

or, you can keep pushing the issue and end up with just one killer rabbit :banghead:sosad:

 

[Hyatt101]

Just a hint of advice: you might want to cut those cable zip tie thingys before the rabbits chew them cage looks awesome though!! Your bunnies should be very happy!

 

[Blue eyes]

Hyatt101 wrote:

Just a hint of advice: you might want to cut those cable zip tie thingys before the rabbits chew them cage looks awesome though!! Your bunnies should be very happy!

Before cutting, twist them to the outside of the cage so that the cut end (which is sharp) is on the outside. Otherwise, they might get scratched.

 

[ldoerr]

I will try to do that soon.
The reason why I took the devidor down is because they are getting along GREAT when they are out to run. They keep making progress with the bonding. Beauty will groum Shiny Things face whenever they come close to eachother. I am not sure but this seems like a good sign. Is it? The grunting is getting less and less. So is the chasing. Beauty was grouming Shiny Things through the cage bars today after they ran around.

Is their any way to make their current cage a neutral teritory? Shiny Things is cage aggressive which I think is the biggest problem we are having. She does not even let me clean the cage when she is in there.

 

[Imbrium]

cages, by definition, can't be "neutral territory" - it's the bunny's home-base, the ONE place that's completely theirs.

you can't make actual progress with bonding unfixed bunnies. they will get along great sometimes, then in the blink of an eye there will be a fight... then they'll get along great again, and then another fight. there's a reason we ALL keep telling you to stop trying to bond them right now :S

I'm sorry if I come off kind of harsh - I only do it because I have the best interests of your bunnies in mind.

You can not bond unfixed bunnies. It simply doesn't work that way. No matter how cute and cozy they are sometimes, they will never become so close that they don't get into vicious fights now and then... and if you continue to push the issue, one of these days a fight will be bad enough for one or both to get seriously injured.

no one here wants you to have to rush your bunnies to the vet after a bad fight, that's why we're so insistent about this.

 

[Blue eyes]

The point everyone is trying to make here is that you are not making progress by trying to bond them now. Once they are fixed that will all change. In other words, there is no benefit whatsoever in trying to bond them now. There is, however, potential harm in trying to do so. Those moments of contention now may reduce or eliminate their chance of a bond after they are fixed. Remember - there is no guarantee that they will ever bond. You can only reduce (not help) your chances by forcing it now.

 

[Hyatt101]

Sorry, but its true. If you can get your bunnies fixed, they'll be fine!