Bunny Bonding: Woes/Joys

It took us three weeks to move the baby bunnies out of my kitchen and we were alllllll ready for that shift.  Then it was time to start introducing the new kids on the block to the original kids on the block.  And THAT has been a stressful process that is going to take months before it is over.  More on that in a minute.  First some shots of the last of the babies' kitchen days while we waited for one last killer freezing cold week to pass.

 

 

 

First of many shmooshing sessions that starts orienting the bunnies toward their soon-to-be new roomies.  The baby bunnies are totally fine with the big bunnies.  It is the big bunnies that will be territorial and/or grumpy and bullyish toward the new babies.  We have to help them feel calm around each other and build up trust so they stop reacting in fear to each other's every move.  When they respond in fear, it turns to grunting, biting, chasing, nipping, and fur flying.  We have to be diligent to NOT let them fight it out as that will really hinder them ever getting bonded and thereby safe to leave with each other. 

 

 

Padme, who is the top dog so-to-speak, really surprised us by being totally chill about the babies and not attacking them at all - except for a couple chases here and there.  She even went so far as to start grooming them herself within the first couple get-to-know-you sessions.  That was a really encouraging development after how poorly the introductions with with the babies and Jenny.   Padme, therefore, is now my new favorite.  Bless her!

Jenny, who is a timid and mellow bunny normally, surprised us with her temper and antagonism toward the babies.  She is mean to them and she goes after them just about every chance she gets, so Josh has to realllllllly stay on top of her.  He has resorted to spray bottle treatment to stop her being so aggressive. And we have to keep going back to the basics with more smooshing for her and the babies so they can keep taking baby steps toward bonding. 

 

 

Until they are safe to let loose in the bunny bin with the big bunnies, we have to keep the babies separated in an enclosed area in the bunny bin.  They are in the space under the tree house in the following pic.  The big bunnies have all the rest of that open area as usual, though they do miss being able to get in that covered under treehouse space. 

For now, they only can be around each other with close supervision.  We are praying they will bond soon!  Anna, bless it, has taken to fasting two different meals a week to pray toward this especially. I have given them all a June deadline for getting the bonding done because keeping them separated is more involved than we wanna maintain. Until then, I am working hard to keep my side-eye in Josh's direction to a minimum.  I really wish we didn't have the baby bunnies for this very reason - bonding them is touchy and unpredictble and anxiety-inducing.  Poor Shade has two big wounds on her own body from Valley ... I have no idea why Valley would do that to her except stress?  The stresssssss is killing me.  Pray these dumb things bond ASAP so we can move on with our regularly-scheduled bunny love!