ajohal
Member
I got my first rabbit ironically called Rabby (i know, i know!) and she's now 2 years old . She's a sandy coloured Netherland dwarf who will chase me for treats! When she turned one she became really depressed. She wouldn't leave the hutch or play in the garden. She didn't want to interact with me either.
I realised that she was lonely and it was breaking my heart to see her so depressed.
So I got a male rabbit called Nemo from a rescue shelter. He was really shy when he first came as he had been abandoned but now he's a little explorer!
At first the bonding experience went well. I admit I made a few mistakes - I rushed it. As they were getting on so well I started to put them out unsupervised and one day they had a nasty fight.
After that I read all I could on bonding and ever since then i've been swapping their hutches every night, only put them in neutral places and NEVER unsupervised.
I feel they have reached a rut. When I put them together they will ignore each other for a while and then Nemo will groom Rabby. She may become a little aggressive as she likes to be groomed by him a lot and he gets fed up but if I tell her no, she usually eases off.
The problem is that Rabby will never groom Nemo and I think he resents that. Sometimes she looks like she is but really she's softly nipping his forehead.
I can now put them both in the garden (not neutral grounds) and they wont fight- but they will also ignore each other, or Nemo will run behind Rabby and copy her!
I'm not sure how to strengthen the bond. They haven't had a fight for 3 months and I have been bonding them for 6 months.
I love my rabbits a lot and I just want them to love each other!!!
I realised that she was lonely and it was breaking my heart to see her so depressed.
So I got a male rabbit called Nemo from a rescue shelter. He was really shy when he first came as he had been abandoned but now he's a little explorer!
At first the bonding experience went well. I admit I made a few mistakes - I rushed it. As they were getting on so well I started to put them out unsupervised and one day they had a nasty fight.
After that I read all I could on bonding and ever since then i've been swapping their hutches every night, only put them in neutral places and NEVER unsupervised.
I feel they have reached a rut. When I put them together they will ignore each other for a while and then Nemo will groom Rabby. She may become a little aggressive as she likes to be groomed by him a lot and he gets fed up but if I tell her no, she usually eases off.
The problem is that Rabby will never groom Nemo and I think he resents that. Sometimes she looks like she is but really she's softly nipping his forehead.
I can now put them both in the garden (not neutral grounds) and they wont fight- but they will also ignore each other, or Nemo will run behind Rabby and copy her!
I'm not sure how to strengthen the bond. They haven't had a fight for 3 months and I have been bonding them for 6 months.
I love my rabbits a lot and I just want them to love each other!!!