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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 6, 2014 18:35:25 GMT
Hello my dear friends, not very good news on the bun front after such a good start. We had a friend for lunch on Friday and as soon as she came in the buns started fighting, it was awful. The friend who came also has a bunny and we think that maybe the smell of her bun which started them off. Ever since Binky has been attacking Holly and that lovely relaxed and happy bun atmosphere has gone. As I told you before, luckily Binks won’t venture into my bedroom so she has somewhere to go but I am gutted. I thought it was too good to be true. However it is now Monday and there is little or no improvement. All we can do is monitor the situation and just hope it turns out to be OK and do all the things which assist bonding. Holly is a gorgeous people bun and loves a fuss, however I was stroking her nose this morning which she loves and stroked her left side and she bit me. Now I don’t know if he has actually hurt her on her side, there is certainly nothing visible but that doesn’t mean she isn't bruised, or similar. It wasn’t a break the skin bite but enough to make me jump. I did scream as you are supposed to but I think she is frightened, confused and feeling a bit defensive and who can blame her? They were lying down together, binkyng and lying on their sides, I just cannot understand what has happened. I will keep you all posted and please send lots of bonding vibes. Thank you for listening.
Hugs
JO xxx
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Post by margaret6 on Jan 6, 2014 21:53:59 GMT
8-|Little buns....wonder if they can live side by side but not together. I don't know about rabbits. I just remember that years ah I had a young baby and bought a male friend for company. They really fought and I ended up with toe hutches and two runs. I really hope yours work it out, if anyone can sort it out, you can Jo. Xxx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 7, 2014 1:31:13 GMT
Perhaps a buddy bath would help, or at least baths, so they don't smell of the visitor or her buns anymore. It will also give you a chance to gently feel her and make sure she's okay. Also, perhaps giving her a good veggie treat before you try to check her would help take her mind off it.
I don't think they are necessarily totally off each other. Bonding buns takes a lot of time, and can have many set backs. The point is to undo the set backs as well as possible, and get them back on track. So don't give up. They may need to be separated, then reintroduced. Might also be good not to have them out when people come by to visit, as it may seem like an intrusion on their territory. Once they are totally settled in together, it should be all right. Hugs, and good luck!
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Post by Bean on Jan 7, 2014 11:17:58 GMT
Oh no, sorry there has been fighting, Jo - it must be really upsetting to see. As the others have said, as you can identify what started it off, perhaps there's a chance things will calm down again with a bit of time. It's good Holly has her little safe haven so you know she can get away of she needs to. Lots of good bonding vibes being sent your way, keep up the good work and fingers crossed xx
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 12, 2014 16:55:53 GMT
Thank you my darlings for your lovely replies and thank you Margaret for the sweet thing you said. I really hope I can get them back on track.
I will take your advice Bean and 3piggles love, actually we did have them separated for a while so that they could still see each and there was no untoward aggressiion, just sniffs. They were together briefly when Paul and I were standing very close and Binky put hs head down to be groomed. Holly rightly so, had not forgiven him and thought attack was the best form of defence and bit him. I think you are right 3piggles, as much as I love to have my buns around when anyone visits, it maybe prudent in the future to leave them in the bedroom. It does happen Margaret love, some bunnies never bond and you end up keeping them separated for life, I just hope that for their own sakes, they find comfort in each other again.
Thank you for the bondng vibes, they are really apppreciated.
Hugs Jo xxx
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Post by margaret6 on Jan 12, 2014 18:10:07 GMT
Oh yes Jo keep trying and take piggies and beans advice. It was years and years ago that I had little buns and when I think about it I feel bad, I didn't try hard enough (well I didn't know really at that time)and I bet they had a lonely life really and it was my ignorance! I didn't cuddle or fuss with them, just fed and cleaned them.....bad me!
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Post by critter on Jan 13, 2014 7:52:18 GMT
Good luck Jo, sending Holly and Binky some relaxed vibes xx
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 17, 2014 17:08:43 GMT
Oh Margaret love, we have all made mistakes in the past so please do not feel bad about it. Thank you so much for the vibes Critter hun, I think I can feel them coming through LOL!!
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 19, 2014 1:32:04 GMT
How are your bun ones doing now? Have they decided to give each other another try?
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Post by margaret6 on Jan 22, 2014 20:51:37 GMT
:'(Yes Jo, you need to update us!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 24, 2014 18:38:22 GMT
Hello my loves, I wish I could say we are making progress but it isn't the case. There hasnt been an all out scrap for a few days but Holly keeps on going up to Binky and nippinig him. He did start the trouble initially and Holly used to run away into my bedrom as I have mentioned, but I am worried in case she doesn't get out of nippinig him.
Holly is adorable though, I have never known such an affectionate bunny. She will sit on the sofa with her little head on my lap and at bed time she will snuggle into my arm and go over on her side, which is a really positive sign of a happy bunny. Binky iis getting lots of fuss too and I am really worried in case I am making him unhappy but I do make sure they have equal fuss, is it just the she is more extrovert than he and will sit on the chairs with us. It is all a shame because we bought her for him with the best intentons.
Thank you ladies for your interest and concern. I will keep you posted.
Love
Jo xx
Hugs
JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 25, 2014 0:52:54 GMT
Perhaps a bit of extra fuss for Binky so he knows he's still THE bunny in the family, and he will start to be his old self again. It may be like bringing home the new baby, who takes so much time and effort, there just isn't the time or energy to devote to the original child. They definitely are children, too
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 26, 2014 17:35:31 GMT
Thank you 3piggles lovoe and you are right, they are chldren. Things seem to have calmed down a little; there hasn't been any fighting for two days and I have seen Holly grooming Binky so that has got be a good sign, When he goes up to her or she comes to him, he just puts his head down and she gives him a little groom instead of biting him which she has been doing. However, I haven't seen him groom her and I have explained to him that it is give and take, but I don't know if he was listening or not LOL!!
She however is more like a cat. She follows us around and at night time when she is in the crook of my arm having a fuss, she will turn over and bend her head back to look at me, I have neer heard of a bun doing this before. She is a joy to have around, she really is but I am still making sure that Binky knows he is top bun as you kindnly suggested 3piggles love. I have never come across such a loving bunny.
Thank you my darlings for your continued interest, I will keep you updated.
Love and hugs
Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 26, 2014 18:55:11 GMT
Maybe Binky thinks it's best to just show her he's on her side, rather than make any demands. I think animals are such individuals, they will show their desires first, then back off and make compromises later. It sounds as if they are slowly rekindling their relationship. I hope it continues. Definitely go out of your way to show him you love him. He may be feeling replaced
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Post by margaret6 on Jan 26, 2014 21:51:06 GMT
Sounds all good advice from Piggles, just shows how much personality that little buns have.....hope it all works Jo xx
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 28, 2014 17:33:39 GMT
Many thanks for your kind words my friends, it looks as if we are making progress I am glad to say. They are all rght when they are together but when either Paul or I are fussing them both, that is when Binky gets bitten by Holly. It si pure jealousy and I hope it will cease too. Last night I had to put Holly in the sitting room because she kept running over my face. She is so loving but I think she gets confused. We have also found out that she hasn;t been spayed and also, I wonder if she is a little girl or not. We tried to look but she went crazy so we couldn't find out. We are going to the vet on Frday mornng to check clawsies and establish gendre.
May we please have some coupling vibes? Many thanks.
Jo
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 29, 2014 0:42:41 GMT
Oh, wow! If she is a doe, you have been really lucky she wasn't pregnant. Glad you found out she's not spayed. So I guess your other choices are in tact female or neutered male. Could explain why she gets touchy about some of Binky's actions. Good luck at the vet!
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Post by Bean on Jan 29, 2014 9:39:03 GMT
Blimey that's quite a shock about her not being spayed - unless Binky has been fixed so you didn't need to worry about that when you were adopting Holly? If Binky's not 'safe', it's probably best to keep them separate until your vet can give you a definitive answer. It's much more unusual for rescues to mis-sex animals as they have so much experience of what happens when it goes wrong.
The lady at Camp Nibble, where we got out pigs from, says you get so many lovely families who have been give mis-sexed rabbits - they only find out when babies appear and by that time the female is almost always pregnant again. So it means lots and lots of little buns needing homes. I don't think she adopts out a single rabbit that isn't neutered for that reason, and I think there are more health/behavioural issues with intact rabbits too.
Anyway, I will keep on sending bonding vibes. The jealousy must be hard to see, but it sounds like they are both being spoiled rotten and let's just hope that in time, things settle down. Good luck, Jo and let us know what happens at the vets.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 30, 2014 19:28:09 GMT
Many thanks Bean and 3piggles for yor kind answers and I think we are getting somewhere as they have been lying together today.
Thank you for the advice re the unknown sex of Holly. It was silly of me to take it for granted that she/he had been done for as you say Bean love, most rescues have them inocculated and spayed/neutered when they arrive. What confuses me is that the lady at the sanctuary, when me that Holly hadn't been done, says that she only spayes ladies as she cannt afford to do the little boys also. Fine, but if Holly is a girl, surely she would have been spayed.
Binky is safe love, we had him neutered as soon as we could and if Holly had turned out to be pregnant, we would not have sent her back, we would have to find a way to look after she and the babies otherwise she could end up anywhere.
I will let you know how we get on at the vets tomorrow.
Hugs
Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Jan 30, 2014 19:53:22 GMT
Glad Binky is 'safe' so you don't have to worry about babies - you and hub would have to move into the shed to make room for them all taking over your home!
Great to hear that Binky and Holly have been lying together today too - it certainly sounds like there is a good chance of harmony if they can still do that. Patience is a virtue eh?
All the best at the vets tomorrow.
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