(title is a Bob Marley quote)
Well, I must confess this is a very old post. I took these pictures while studying for finals fall semester, but never managed to get them into a post.
Another disclaimer: The empty bowl in the photos below is from the previous night's dinner. Nobun is starving. Breakfast gets a different bowl.
This may not seem so novel to some of you who have rabbits with very active ears (a certain west coast earometer comes to mind ;) )
I rarely listen to music without headphones because I'm afraid it'll scare the bunnies. But I figured, if a particularly loud song came on, or somebunny seemed scared, I'd just skip that song. (I always listen to my iPod on random. Always.)
I checked on Biffy, over in his usual spot for that part of the day, and his ears were doing something I've never seen before. The openings were facing all the way forward.
Groovin' Slowly- John Butler Trio
Is this Normal? I've never seen anything like it?
All Along the Watchtower - I have versions by three different musicians (can anyone guess who?) but this one happens to be the Hendrix version
Is Biffy a rockstar?
Concrete Jungle - Bob Marley
Does he love it, or is her terrified?
On a more disconcerting note: Biff and Sogna had a scuffle the other night after Jon and I got home (late) from spending the Super Bowl with my family. While I was petting Biff (unusual for that time of night), Sogna mounted him. It's unusual for Sogna to mount these days, but Biff mounts her at least once a day. We used to interfere but the vet told me not to, because she said interfering makes it worse. So you can imagine the effrontery endured when she mounted while I scratched his head.
A "ying-yang" chase ensued, but all the while Sogna maintained her grip on the fur on his back. Afterwards, I found a big bald spot on Biff's back. As you can imagine I was upset and taking a picture wasn't the first thing on my mind. The best way I can describe the size of the bald patch? You know at touristy places they have those machines that flatten out your penny and imprint a design on it? It's about the size of the flattened out penny. So pretty big.
I didn't separate them. There was no broken skin, and they were grooming each other later that night.
I'm distraught. They haven't fought since late May or Early June of 2009, several weeks after we first adopted the Sogna. Should I be so upset? I know it could be so much worse, but it's sad because I know they really do love each other. Should I separate them if it happens again? I feel terrible even thinking about it.
Does this look like the face of a killer to you??
(Apologies for the blurriness. Sometimes she just doesn't like to sit still, although blurriness aside these tend to be the best pics of her!)Watch out, she's dangerous!!!
Lop bunny ears are so funny, I think they have a mind of their own!
ReplyDeleteWhen bunnies mount they often grab a mouth full of fur on the back of the other bunnies neck. It sounds like Sogna just didn't let go in the excitement.
I would say if they are circling rather than just normal mounting then go ahead and separate them, and distract them with something. I don't think you'll upset anything doing that as it doesn't sound like a regular thing anyway.
I'm guessing that Sogna did not approve of Biff getting attention at an unexpected time and decided to let him know it. (Either that or she decided to get a little revenge for him mounting her all the time while he was otherwise distracted.) I'd keep an eye on them for a couple of days, separate only if necessary; it's very possible that it was a one-time deal.
ReplyDeleteAs to Biff's ears, lop ears facing forward indicates interest; if he didn't like what he was hearing, they'd be tilted back and there might be a thump or more of disapproval. Mickey seems to be more or less indifferent to music so far, although to be fair, he doesn't get to hear much except for when we're in the car going to the vet's (and he's usually got other things on his mind then).
A little scuffle is bound to happen every now and then, even with the most bonded of bunnies. I wouldn't worry too much unless it keeps happening often.
ReplyDeleteYour bun pics sure do make me miss my big Monster Bun, Patches. :(
Dont worry a bit. We still have minor dust up's after being bonded for almost 4 years. Mojo is a stinker and will still mount and chase Tango on occasion. She pulls fur once in a while too. As long as nobun is being really injured or terrorized we dont worry. We have couples at the rescue that have been together for many years and still get a little hostile once in a while.
ReplyDeleteDidn't something like this happen last spring, or was that another bunny couple? My bun Bandit loved Bob Marley, she'd come running whenever she heard him.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry about it. If they were grooming each other later, it was just a thing to show who was in charge and who was upset they were not getting attention.
ReplyDeleteEverybun loves music!
xx, shell
It's that Biff. He's a hotty! Plus a stuck-up, always trying to hear what people are saying about him!
ReplyDeleteWesley has done that with his ear (single one at a time depending on what side I'm near). I was rather amazed the first time I saw it happen! Biffy is a pro doing it I see though!
ReplyDeletelots of advice about the lovers tiff I see, maybe the valentine hints have been falling on backward turned ears?
I don't have any advice on the scuffle. As for the music, I think they get used to it. Ginny and Weasley don't even flinch at the tuba being played in their room anymore!
ReplyDeleteOh and my guess for other versions are Dylan and U2, but I could be projecting. Have you heard Stevie Ray Vaughn's version of "Little Wing" OMG so awesome, Ok that's IMHO.....
ReplyDeleteSogna looks so sweet and innocent, but then bunnies can be so unpredictable.
ReplyDeleteAll Along the Watch Tower - have you got the Indigo Girls version?
OK the Dave Matthews version is pretty hot, but what about this Indigo Girls one that CGP is talking about? I did like the U2, but maybe it's just my roots showing.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me chuckle & I had to read it out loud to my honey (also named Jon:D). Sogna & Biffy are adorable.
ReplyDeleteOur boy Jaks looks SOOO much like your Biffy & he turns his ears forward all the time. It usually just means they are tuned into the noise....both of our lops do this. When they are afraid, usually the ears go backwards & tight against the body.
Don't worry about the scuffle. If it's an uncommon thing & no skin was broken, it was just a lovers spat. I understand why your upset & concerned but you don't have to be, we've had 6 couples ourselves & occasionally something like this happens, espeacially if the bonding is fairly new. If the female is doing the mounting, she's marking herself as the dominant figure in the pairing. Our rabbits do the yin/yang chase alot because often the girls just aren't in the mood, and often our Ella will take big clumps of fur off her Roo boy...but they never hurt one another (If this is a major concern just watch them carefully & don't leave them alone until your sure you can trust the bonding). But if they went back to grooming one another, that should me all is fine. Rabbits can seriously harm one another, but from what you describe, I don't think you have to worry. I think singular bunnies are so sad...oncce you've seen them with a partner...and yours are adorable:D
Hope this helps. Sending pets to your duo. XO Mandy & Ella Luna, Roo, Jinny & Jaks.
You already got some good advice, I have nothing to add.
ReplyDelete