Question for rabbit socialization experts?
Hello rabbit experts!
I currently have four rabbits: three females and one male. They live outdoors in a total of 13 square meters. Half of them are in a walk-in hutch, the other half is in a covered outdoor enclosure with two open sides.
At the beginning of the year I introduced the three females to my older male (9), but he always isolates himself and runs away from the females, is sometimes chased, but has rest periods and eats normally.
As unsatisfactory as this situation was for me, it has now become even worse since one of the females, Lolo, became ill. I had to separate her for a week to check whether she was eating and defecating (suspected hairballs in her stomach).
After a week of feeding and medication, I wanted to release her back today. Unfortunately, she became so attached to one of the other girls, or rather, both of them to each other, that I had to separate them again. As a temporary solution, Lolo is now with the older male, who is chased, but it's much quieter than with the female. Separated from the other two by the door between the two enclosures.
How would you organize the reunion? The only neutral room was the basement, where Lolo was kept due to illness. Should you wait two weeks until Lolo forgets about the room and then socialize all four of them back in the basement? Should you leave them two by two, with some outside and the others inside? That's not ideal in winter…
I would be happy to receive advice!
Best regards
Christina
(2 votes)
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You can wait two weeks and then you can get them back to the basement, but she won’t forget the room.
That’s why you should take a new facility as much as possible and spread a lot of food so that they are distracted.
Good evening Christina,
It often happens that older/sick rabbits are carved by the younger. In addition, females are characteristically often zigig. So the trouble in your group has reasons.
A new socialization would not be wrong. Since you lack the premises for separation, you could consider whether someone in your environment could take the rabbits for at least two weeks. This could be a neighbor, a friend, or someone from your family. It is appropriate that the person concerned has a garden or balcony that the rabbits can be outside. It would also be practical if the distance to you is not too great that you can care for your rabbits yourself.
A change in the area would be the tensions between the Rammler and Lolo possibly possible so that they understand each other better. Should it not be better between the two, you should also separate them to create a good basis for a socialization.
Are your rabbits E.C carriers?
Greetings, I hope I could help 🙂
Good Morning!
Thank you for your answer! I've already shattered my head, who could take the rabbits for two weeks, but in my close environment there are hardly any cannon-affine people who would have the right place.
I can no longer contact the animal aid from which I have the older rabbit, as they have now specialized and reduced in birds. The space that might be available there would also be too small for a 4-person socialization.
In our garden quickly build a cradle will be difficult because it must be absolutely dense – marten, fox and wildcat are regular visitors with us…
To get crazy!
According to my knowledge, they are not EC rabbits, but without testing you never know. They don't show signs…
LG
Hey, maybe you can ask a neighbor? That would have the advantage that you can take care completely.
Symptoms of E.c can occur in stress situations (death of the partner animal, veterinarian visits, socialization, …). Before that the disease is latent. Ideally, you will learn about the symptoms to treat the disease as quickly as possible.
Much success for socialisation