blondiesmommie
Well-Known Member
Here's a poll for your mix of sexes of your bonded rabbits::big wink:
Cotton Tails Rabbit Rescue, in the UK, thinks it's very difficult to introduce a 3rd bun to an already bonded pair. However, I believe there may be some on this forum who have done just that.Btw - my m/f are not getting on tonight. He absolutely worships her but she's SO bossy. She keeps chasing him away and trying to fight if he doesn't move fast enough. Is this normal? They had their first sniff of our newly spayed female, perhaps she's just reasserting her authority over him.
I am VERY nervous about letting them meet. Harriet gave Jessie an ear piercing last time. We've put their crates right up against each other but they can't see each other, is it useless unless they can see? I thought the smell would be a good enough start point, but not one of the three have shown ANY interest at all. Don't know if that's good or bad.bethepoet wrote:Cotton Tails Rabbit Rescue, in the UK, thinks it's very difficult to introduce a 3rd bun to an already bonded pair. However, I believe there may be some on this forum who have done just that.Btw - my m/f are not getting on tonight. He absolutely worships her but she's SO bossy. She keeps chasing him away and trying to fight if he doesn't move fast enough. Is this normal? They had their first sniff of our newly spayed female, perhaps she's just reasserting her authority over him.
I think it's great that minilops pairs can all play together.
I'm currently bonding 3 bunnies together. I had a spayed female who lost her mate and, at the rescue, she took a great liking to 2 neutered brothers who had NOT been housed together. It's been one and a half weeks, and I think they are doing very well. They share a 4x6' temporary x-pen and are in it together. I'm going to give them lots more time before bringing them downstairs to Sapphire's "territory."
Yes, they are all 3 together. They rode in the carrier together on the way home and have been together in the x-pen ever since I brought them home.Blue Eyes, I hope that the bonding goes good for them all. Could you clarify for me. Are all 3 of them in the xpen or is it just the 2 boys? Sorry if this seems like a stuped question.
Here's that site I referred to:Blue eyes wrote:I am VERY nervous about letting them meet. Harriet gave Jessie an ear piercing last time. We've put their crates right up against each other but they can't see each other, is it useless unless they can see? I thought the smell would be a good enough start point, but not one of the three have shown ANY interest at all. Don't know if that's good or bad..
I'm currently bonding 3 bunnies together. I had a spayed female who lost her mate and, at the rescue, she took a great liking to 2 neutered brothers who had NOT been housed together. It's been one and a half weeks, and I think they are doing very well. They share a 4x6' temporary x-pen and are in it together. I'm going to give them lots more time before bringing them downstairs to Sapphire's "territory."
Also, are the boys quite laid back? I ask because it's not the fact that there's three of them to bond, it's more that the female in my bonded pair is a very strong character and even if she were to accept the new female, I don't know if she'd allow her boyfriend to, haha. If she were more laid back I wouldn't be so worried, but she's predictably high strung.
I read your post and felt quite uplifted, then clicked on the link and now feel very pessimistic, haha.bethepoet wrote:Here's that site I referred to:Blue eyes wrote:I am VERY nervous about letting them meet. Harriet gave Jessie an ear piercing last time. We've put their crates right up against each other but they can't see each other, is it useless unless they can see? I thought the smell would be a good enough start point, but not one of the three have shown ANY interest at all. Don't know if that's good or bad..
I'm currently bonding 3 bunnies together. I had a spayed female who lost her mate and, at the rescue, she took a great liking to 2 neutered brothers who had NOT been housed together. It's been one and a half weeks, and I think they are doing very well. They share a 4x6' temporary x-pen and are in it together. I'm going to give them lots more time before bringing them downstairs to Sapphire's "territory."
Also, are the boys quite laid back? I ask because it's not the fact that there's three of them to bond, it's more that the female in my bonded pair is a very strong character and even if she were to accept the new female, I don't know if she'd allow her boyfriend to, haha. If she were more laid back I wouldn't be so worried, but she's predictably high strung.
http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/matchups.asp
But regarding your question, your Harriet sounds like my Sapphire. (I joke that I should've named her Spitfire.) She is very bossy and territorial. I first tried her with a different boy from the rescue and she wouldn't have him. I even have the scars on my wrist from stopping her from attacking him. (And this after she allowed him to groom her at the rescue!)
Yours ignoring each other is a good sign. The site details possible scenarios that one can expect at first meeting.
The brothers are very laid back. I think that's what put her so at ease with them at the rescue. I also realized I'd be sabotaging the bond process if I put the 3 together anywhere that she's already been. She's just too territorial. That's why I have them upstairs in an x-pen. My plan is to let them bond strongly before bringing them downstairs.
Ironically, though, their first week was one of changing hierarchy. While Sapphire started out as top bun, chasing the other 2 from the "prized" area of the pen, that has all changed. It's looking like she will be the bottom bun! I am so surprised.
I totally agree with Minilop. Sometimes they have grumpy days (or times of day), but it's important to try to end on a positive note - even if that positive note is nothing more than them ignoring each other for awhile.d we should just cut our losses and get our lone girl a baby to bond with.