I wrote a bit about Table Bonding in the previous month, and in the first video, Kim Cooney (the director of The Rabbit Sanctuary) mentions that bonding bunnies in a basket also works. I was thinking about trying that with Buttons and Nova, because of Nova’s sight problems. I think if we try any other method of bonding, it will be far too stressful for her.
I also thought table bonding may not work because I don’t have access to an indoor table – other than the dining room table – which won’t go down well with my family.
Each time I go shopping I look at baskets, and they are either not the right size, or they are like a washing basket (oval shape). Just not the right thing. I want a rectangle basket that is large enough for Buttons to lay in.
I finally found a good basket in a nick-knack shop, it is about 45 x 37cm. I will put a blanket in the bottom to make it more comfortable.
In the Basket
If you’re table/basket bonding, you should do it a minimum of 3 times a day. Initially, I’m not, I’ll do it twice a day for a few days, then increase it.
The first session was on the 12th June. I put the basket on the coffee table. I put Buttons I first. My family member patted him to keep him calm. While I went to get Nova. I put Nova in there and they snuggled each other. Nova pressed herself against Buttons really tightly. All she wanted was a friend. She loved having bunny contact. She is so gentle and sweet. I just hope Buttons ends up liking it.
Buttons nipped Nova a little, and we had to make sure his head was no where near hers. Our hands weren’t grasping them tightly. She still snuggled into him.
I continually patted them for about 10 minutes before Buttons decided to lunge at her and bite her. I had hold of him, yet he somehow slipped under my hand. She jumped out of the way and didn’t want to go near him again. She even squeaked. I think she was asleep, and he woke her up. I left them in the basket for another few minutes, so that Buttons doesn’t start learning that if he does that it will be the end of the session. Nova did not react to Buttons at all, but I think Buttons was emotional, so I’m going to focus on patting his head a lot more. I feel that having a rolled up blanket near Buttons’ head might be the answer, so he lunges at that first, rather than Nova. But then, they have to learn to be together, it’s a shame he is nippy.
I decided to remove Nova from the basket before Buttons started to feel uncomfortable. This time it was only about 5 minutes. I caught it just in time and I picked her up just before Buttons started moving around. He moved around the basket looking for her.
Basket bonding wasn’t working. At least I tried. Buttons was getting fed up really quickly and that wasn’t fair for Nova, especially because she cannot see.
I felt sick for a few days, so bonding stopped. But that’s ok, because the bunnies are getting on better in their pens. Buttons isn’t trying to bite Nova through the fence any more, because she nipped him back (on the bum). They booped each other on the nose when they came in from a long day outside on the 16th. I think they are amicable at the moment. She isn’t putting up with his shenanigans any more. They are most happy to lay next to each other, as close as possible, but with a fence between.
