Day 31, Day 32, Day 33, Day 37, Day 39, Last Days…
Day 31 – Tuesday 1st
Nova and Buttons spent a total of 36 hours together non-stop. They spent all of yesterday, the night, and today together without separation. When I set their pen up for the night, I decided to put them in separate pens. It’s good to break it up a bit. They still aren’t quite ready for permanently living together.
Day 32 – Wednesday 2nd
Normal bunny day, although we rescued a sad looking Sulphur Crested Cockatoo from the nature strip. It must have been someone’s pet, because it couldn’t fly and was very weak from walking everywhere. We captured it in Buttons’ old crate, which it didn’t really want to hop in, but it did with gentle coaxing. I didn’t know what to do so I called the vet. They put me in contact with the Wildlife Victoria, which were absolutely useless. They told me to put it up on Facebook to see if anyone had lost it. They didn’t want to waste time on it.
We ended up calling him/her Charlie. We thought Charlie was a good unisex name, because we weren’t sure if the bird was male or female.
We brought Charlie inside for the night because it was warmer. We covered hi/her with bunny blankets, and tried to keep everything quiet and calm.
Charlie was entertained with the Bunnies, watching them from a distance. The bunnies didn’t see him/her staring at them. Buttons could smell an awful smell though and thumped a couple of times to let us know something was strange. It was about an hour later that Buttons and Nova saw Charlie staring at them. Nova sat staring at the bird, ears up and wary. Buttons went up as close as he could to the bird (which was about 3 meters away), and stare at it. He would then thump really loudly and run away, then go back to the staring-point, thump and run away again. He repeated that 4 times.
After a while Charlie gave up and went to sleep in the total darkness.
Day 33 – Thursday 3rd
Charlie died at about 10:30am in the morning. We buried him/her in the garden near Cotton. Goodbye, Charlie. I’m glad your final night was warm and loving, rather than out there in the cold.
This helped Buttons bond with Nova a bit more, because he had to protect her against the intruder. I’d nearly recommend that if bonding is lengthy, and roughly at the same stage Buttons and Nova were at, bring in a strange pet – like Charlie – that they can take notice of. I wouldn’t bring in a dog or cat, they are too active and inquisitive. But a stationary animal like a bird or something that can be kept at a distance in a separate pen, something that minds its own business is good.
Day 37 – Monday 7th
Buttons likes being with Nova, and chooses to lay near her. She comes up to him and he boops her on the nose and she jumps away because she doesn’t want him to nip her. After all, that’s all he has done in the past. Although, now he is stopping it more and more.
Day 39 – Wednesday 9th
It has been lovely weather each day, so the bunnies have been going outside. I purchased them a new 10m length of beige coloured shade cloth, which was rated to be 50% light blockage – the other green one I have is 90% light blockage – so during winter, at least they get some sun, but still feel protected. They love running through it when it’s on the ground, because it’s like a tunnel but they can see through it.
I call it their wedding veil, because it looks like a brides veil.
As for their bonding, they are perfect outside. Just like an old couple sitting together in the sun. But inside, Buttons still has a toothy-issue and like to pull Nova’s hair out. He has also started to rattle the enclosure fence so much that the clips undo. He licks her head, and then he nips her too hard and she jumps away. He confuses Nova.
Nova has been putting on weight, which is great. She loves her tea at night of grass, and a random mix of parsley, milk thistle, dandelion leaves, plantain and other yummies I could find. She has started to get opinions, and would rather just eat the yummies and leave the grass behind. The other day she went on a hunger strike because I ony gave her grass. So we call her Opinionated Nova. She is full of opinions.
Last Days…
Day 40 – Thursday 10th
Nova started to groom Buttons. Slow progress, but it’s happening.
Day 44 – Monday 14th
Nova and Buttons chose to eat out of the same food bowl at the same time.
Day 45 – Tuesday 15th
Nova started to groom me as I cuddled her. She is really happy now.
Day 45 – Saturday 19th
This will be my final bonding note. I would say the bunnies are just under fully bonded. The reason I say that is because they are not always together, they still like their space. But at night, they cuddle up with each other and lick each other’s foreheads. They have been together now for 5 days straight without any issues. Their bond is getting stronger by the minute.
Here’s some pics to show their progress.
Nova licking Buttons’ back, because that black spot needs to be licked, a lot and often.
