myheart
Well-Known Member
So I knew that things would change for my girls without Patrick being here anymore. It's not as though the bond between Callie and Zappa is done/gone, but it does seem 'broken'.
It is easy to say that pair-bonds are done when one of the bunnies pass away. There just no bond left unless a new companion is brought into the home.
A trio-bond is different. If one member passes away, there is still a pair-bond to some degree. That is the problem, I think, that Callie and Zappa are having. Zappa was very bonded with Patrick because she had the benefit of being with him for a longer time than Callie. Zappa seemed to hang-out with him more often than with Callie as a pair or as a trio. Zappa had a choice about who to hang with and she had her definite position as top-bunny in the trio.
Now, she only has Callie to hang-out with, and I've caught Callie humping on Zappa's head. Zappa's status as top-bun is now in question.... When I see them together, for the most part, they are not 'together'. They sit about three feet apart or across the room from each other. On occasion they do sit together, but Callie is always asking for grooming and Zappa has the look on her face like it's not her job. Zappa just seems so lonely without Patrick.
So, my question is, am I reading into Callie and Zappa's behaviors, or is there the possible need of bringing in a very submissive male to form another trio for Zappa? If I do bring a male in, should I be more aggressive with getting Zappa and the boy bonded first before bonding Callie with him?
Little did I know what a great guy Patrick really was for all of my girls. I would be so hard-pressed to find another boy like him. Maybe a senior bun would be better to accept a submissive role than a youngster.... Any thoughts?
myheart
It is easy to say that pair-bonds are done when one of the bunnies pass away. There just no bond left unless a new companion is brought into the home.
A trio-bond is different. If one member passes away, there is still a pair-bond to some degree. That is the problem, I think, that Callie and Zappa are having. Zappa was very bonded with Patrick because she had the benefit of being with him for a longer time than Callie. Zappa seemed to hang-out with him more often than with Callie as a pair or as a trio. Zappa had a choice about who to hang with and she had her definite position as top-bunny in the trio.
Now, she only has Callie to hang-out with, and I've caught Callie humping on Zappa's head. Zappa's status as top-bun is now in question.... When I see them together, for the most part, they are not 'together'. They sit about three feet apart or across the room from each other. On occasion they do sit together, but Callie is always asking for grooming and Zappa has the look on her face like it's not her job. Zappa just seems so lonely without Patrick.
So, my question is, am I reading into Callie and Zappa's behaviors, or is there the possible need of bringing in a very submissive male to form another trio for Zappa? If I do bring a male in, should I be more aggressive with getting Zappa and the boy bonded first before bonding Callie with him?
Little did I know what a great guy Patrick really was for all of my girls. I would be so hard-pressed to find another boy like him. Maybe a senior bun would be better to accept a submissive role than a youngster.... Any thoughts?
myheart
I really think that you know your bunnies best and my opinion would be that you're probably reading them right. Trust your heart, and theirs, as they'll tell you what they need. Poor girls... Patrick's paw prints are hard to fill. I wish you best of luck.
