Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Register
 

Forum

BUNNY 911 - If your rabbit hasn't eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!
Don't have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

LEADERS:  Beka27   BinkyBunny   Elrohwen   KokaneeandKahlua   LittlePuffyTail   Peppypoo   RabbitPam   Sarita

You must login to post, reply, and view profiles
BINKYBUNNY FORUMS > DIET & CARE > one bun ok?
Last Post by wendyzski at 01/27/2010 07:14 PM (9 Replies)
You are not authorized to post a reply.
Printer Friendly
Sort:
Author Messages

User is Offline Ashelee
112 posts Send Private Message
01/26/2010 03:09 PM

Ok so I was wondering if having one bun by herself is ok or if they are better when they have a friend?  I know with rats they are much better in pairs or more because they are way too social of creatures and typically people cant give them as much attention as they need.  I was wondering if the same goes for rabbits?

User is Offline The Rabbit
183 posts Send Private Message
01/26/2010 03:56 PM
Bunnies are much better in pairs. The only problem is, once bonded your bunnies can't be separated. It's like they are soul mates. So if you ever need to find a new home for them they would have to go together. If you want two bunnies, or think you will in the future, It might be best just to adopt an already bonded pair. I've never done it, but I hear it takes a lot of time and energy to bond two bunnies.

BUT You don't have to have two. I only have one bunny. In the future, I'm probably going to get another. But right now he seems fine, he has the dog, and he likes her company. Two Bunnies aren't a must, but like I said bunnies do better in pairs.

User is Online jerseygirl
Australia
13184 posts Send Private Message
01/26/2010 09:16 PM
They are social but they can have companionship with you and even with other pets also. They can be entirely happy as a single bun provided they do get that interaction with you.

User is Offline Ashelee
112 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 04:00 AM
ok, thanks guys!

User is Offline hooty22
Pittsburgh
606 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 04:00 AM
I'm the happy slave to one bun and I have been for over 3 years now. Between me and the boyfriend, he gets LOTS of attention and love, and we get ignored. I think he'd be fine if we introduced a new bunny as he is an aggressive player when he's been around my mom's and my boyfriends cats. He chases them around in circles. He also seems very content with being able to roost over his apartment.
I honestly don't think there is a solid answer to this question. I think it depends upon each bunny and that bunny's situation. We have buns here who were the queens' of their castles and were pretty ticked when someone new was introduced (I'm talking to you Maryann), and we have buns here who were much better behaved after finding a mate.

User is Offline Ashelee
112 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 04:02 AM
thanks hooty!

User is Offline RabbitPam
South Florida
Forum Leader
10029 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 07:30 AM
Ditto Hooty.
I had Spockie for 8 years, and did not get him a companion bunny. I was concerned about it on occasion, but he was a very happy little guy, who loved me, and played with my family and friends. When I had reason to be home from work during the day, I learned that he slept most of that time. So I was home when he was active and wanted my company. It was fine.

Samantha is alone so far too. She is such a feisty diva that I am afraid she might be mean to another bunny. Not sure, and when I am ready I might check out dates for her. But there isn't a close place to do that where we live now, so it's just the two of us for the moment. She seems fine also.
photo CarrotCrop100x500BBSiggy_zps0f2147e4.jpg Have your people call my people. We'll do carrots.

User is Online Sarita
(Dallas)
Forum Leader
14873 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 07:35 AM
One bun is absolutely fine. And before you should even consider another rabbit you will want to make sure your current rabbit is altered.

I agree their is no right answer for this. It depends not only on the rabbit but also on the owner if they are willing and financially able to afford a second rabbit and want to take on the responsibility of another rabbit and the stress of bonding.

User is Offline MarkBun
Richmond, CA
2819 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 10:45 AM
I'm the owner of the "Maryann" that Hooty was referring to and she was an absolute terror to bonding her. But I would only see her maybe 4 hours out of the day and I knew she wanted the companionship. Now, she can't stop grooming him.

Meanwhile my girlfriend's rabbit seemed to make itself sick via depression when another bun stayed for a short time in their house. It was a rescue the was rehoming somewhere else and it stayed with her for a week. He first tried to attack it outright, then wound up having to go to the vet because he was so pouty. Now that the rabbit is gone, he's his old self again.

So it depends on the rabbit. After a while, you'll get to know your rabbit and can tell if they're seeming happy or not and then you can think about possibly finding a friend if they seem to be a bit down.
My bonding quest with Maryann - Read about a less than easy bonding with two buns - but they did bond!

User is Offline wendyzski
Chicago, IL
1316 posts Send Private Message
01/27/2010 07:14 PM

In general yes - bunnies are social critters that need companionship and do best in pairs or small groups.

However....

My bun is the one "failure" of the bonding lady at our local shelter.  We brought her in for 3 rounds of bunny-dates and she was agressive to almost all of them.  She had a sunny foster-boy hiding in his litterbox inside of 3 days.  Eventually I even consulted an animal communicator, and she said that Pepper had no interest in other buns.  My personal theory is that as a neglected baby and then a feral dumpee she simply doesn't  "speak rabbit" so she has no idea what to do when other buns approach her.

She likes people, and dogs, but not other rabbits.  Now that she has chronic pasteurella, it's probably best that she is a solo bun.

 
You are not authorized to post a reply.
BINKYBUNNY FORUMS > DIET & CARE > one bun ok?
You agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy by using this website.
Copyright 2006-2012 BinkyBunny.com - All Rights Reserved