Simple Question?

[Trendy454]

So I have a question. It may be a simple one
So in my introduction I said I had purchased 2 Netherland Dwarf bunnys.
I've had them about 3 days now, the female seems to be adjusting a little better, the male well he
seems ok. But my question is how long should I let them run about? I have a designated room for them. I usually let them out for about a 1/2 hour. The male seems to not want to come out of the hutch he always runs back. The female loves to be out. I'm not sure if hes just a "home-bunny" or he's just unsure. Also they aren't bonded. She picks on him so could that be causing him to not want to be out? I feel bad about him just wanting to sit in his hutch while she running around.

 

[dragynflye]

my two aren't bonded yet (waiting to get them fixed), but i split the day between them. rue comes out first thing in the morning, until about 3 or 4, and puppet comes out in the afternoon, until i go to bed at night. so, depending on how much we are out of the house on a given day, they both get around 6 hours "out" time, about half of which they spend reclining in their cages anyway.

it sounds like your male is just a little more cautious. you've only had him for a few days, and he is still learning that his new home is safe. you say they are not bonded, and that the female picks on him? do you let them out together? if so, i'd suggest stopping. not only are you going to end up with a bajillion babies if they are not spayed/neutered, but if they are not bonded, then it is very likely a fight is going to break out and someone's going to get hurt.

 

[Trendy454]

Oh they are fixed. She's just more dominate and hes submissive. he WANTS to cuddle she will for a minute then she'll push him around.

 

[dragynflye]

lol ok. do you plan on actually bonding them? part of me can't wait to start working with my two, and part of me is terrified! lol

 

[Trendy454]

I'm hoping to. I'd really love for kody to have a snuggle friend. They came together. and I think from the same breeder. From what the lady said when i took them from her. I'm just not sure how to bond them, i'm doing reading and such.

 

[elrohwen]

For now, I would let him have run time on his own when she's not allowed out. He needs time to settle in and it sounds like he's just very unsure.

Bonding them would be a great idea. Since you just got them any area of your house is neutral. Typically bathtubs are a good place to start because they're small and neither bunny has ever been there. Start with short sessions every day and work your way up to a few hours together. If she's very dominant and he's submissive, they shouldn't have a problem working out eventually, but it might be too soon for them to be out together all the time.

 

[Trendy454]

From what the lady told me, they came together as a pair from the breeder. I don't think the same litter She is a tad bit bigger, He is very submissive. I'm not sure he understands "bunny language" because he does keep wanting to just be near her even after she grunts and nips his underside. I kinda just push her off when she does it.And say no. The little hallway I put them in they had never been there before, it was a lot less nipping in there. How do i make an insecure bunny be more confident?

 

[Trendy454]

BREAK THROUGH!! Freeze is letting Kody groom her!!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

Everything takes time. Ours aren't bonded so they get 4 hours out each day and one night a week.

 

[Trendy454]

:biggrin: I think we're having a breakthrough!

 

[Must_Love_Pets]

OOOOOO Good stuff!!!!! I hope it continues to get better and better.

I WISH I could bond my 2 Lionheads. They seems to dig each other when I let one out and they can sniff each other out through the cage. I alternate them for play time. They always seem to stick by each others cage though and it appears that they would love to be out together but they are both intact males. Kramer is too young to neuter and Harvey is my Show Lionhead so no neutering there. So I have to wait until Kramer is neutered. :-(

I am considering getting a another Flemish for Thor though. He just loooves all bunnies so maybe I could get another lovie flemmie that will bond with Thor.

Uggggg this is killing me!!! I want all nmy bunnies to love each other so they all have buddies and don't become lonely.


Keep us posted and keep the bonding pics coming. I can live through your bunnies for now. LOL
They are adorable!!!!

 

[dragynflye]

yay!

 

[elrohwen]

Congrats!

It really just takes time. It takes time for an unsure bunny to be more comfortable, and it takes time for a bond to form.

My girl is very dominant and she spent the first couple weeks nipping at my boy (actually, she still chases and nips him occasionally). He was very submissive, but started to be afraid of her always trying to hump him and nipping his bum. They both eventually got over it and they're best buddies. It often just takes rabbits time to learn how to behave in their new relationship and communicate appropriately.

 

[Trendy454]

Well I think I may have bonded them in 5 days.. i'm quite proud of myself, considering I haven't ever done it before.
Before she wouldn't let him near her cage, Now he can run in there and she doesn't freak out. So I guess my Question is. Is it too soon to put the ramp down so they have run of both cages??

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:clapping:

 

[dragynflye]

i'm glad the bonding is going so smoothly! i don't know if it's too soon for them to be housed together, i guess that's up to you. you can see how they are behaving together and decide if you think it's safe for them to be left alone together.