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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A 1 rabbit versus 2

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    • Amys Animals
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        So I really want to get Rascal a friend. Whether or not that is possible right now I do not know. It’s costly with just one bun. How much more would it cost to add on another bun? I am buying bedding in bulk now so I don’t think that would be a problem. Hay is a little pricey and I don’t have room for a huge 50lb bale of hay. I just buy my hay from rescues or dealers that have hay in smaller quantities. Veggies aren’t that much, but with two buns eating I don’t know may be costly then? Pellets last a while with one bun since I get a big bag so I am assuming it would last a little less but still a good while with two buns? My current bunny gets 1/3 cup a day of pellets, so that is not a lot. I don’t know the size of my next bun soooo yeah haha. As for chews and stuff, that could be costly. I just bought two exercise pens for outside to put together for Rascal to play outside in. I have Rascal in a 4×4 x-pen, though it looks smaller than it said. That would be good for two buns right? If not Rascals going to have to be a solo bun till I can move out. That is the biggest I can go for x-pens. I don’t have any more room in my room for anything. lol, it’s over run by Rascal. xD 



        Anyways, how much more costly is it for two buns? I mean Im already buying bulk bedding and a big bag of pellets. 


      • Stickerbunny
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          The cost of having two didn’t increase much against just one, except vet costs, those doubled. Food I give mine 1/4 cup of pellets a day and their veggies are about $5 a week. Hay isn’t that bad cause I just have a cardboard box I separate and put a 50lb bale of hay in, if you can’t buy a whole bale, you could try buying a flake or two off a bale or go in half with someone who has a bunny or a horse and doesn’t want a whole bale either to cut down on costs. You would need TWO cages for two buns though, as you would need to bond them and that takes time. If you can’t fit a second cage in, I would wait.

          Another thing to consider is that when you add a second litter habits on the buns can go out the window. When I bonded mine, it took 8 months to get semi-good litter habits back from perfect habits when they were solo. And there is no guarantee two bunnies will bond at all, or some can take a very long time to bond, are you prepared to have two solo buns if needed?


        • LittlePuffyTail
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            Its reasonable to expect double the costs for everything if you add a second bunny. Buying things in bulk with save you some money but youll have to double the amount of veggies and hay (more if you get a bigger bunny). And you have double the risk of emergency vet visits. IMO that is the most expensive thing about having multiple bunnies.

            Ditto, what Stickers said. You will need two of everything (cages, water dishes, etc) until you can bond them, which can take anywhere from weeks to months and in some rare cases, certain bunnies can never bond safely. Having 2 separate bunnies takes up a lot of space and is double the work (pen clean-up, out of cage exercise time, etc). Bonding takes a considerable amount of time and dedication.

            If you have considered all of this and still think a second bunny is right for you, then it would be best to let Rascal pick his new mate. The bonding process is usually much easier when the bunny picks his friend. Most rescues will do bunny dates.

            Do you and Rascal have a good bond? And how much time do you spend with him a day? If you spend a good amount of quality time with him and he gets lots of out-time, he is probably quite content.

            Bringing home a second bunny can be a great experience but you have to make certain its the right choice for you both. Carefully weigh out all the pros and cons (for example, what will you do with the new bunny if you cant bond them?)

            Hope this was helpful.


          • Elrohwen
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              I pay double to have two bunnies. Mine only eat 1/4c pellets per day between them, so pellets are a minimal expense. I buy the 50lb box of hay from Oxbow and that’s $60 maybe every 9 months. I spend a lot on veggies – $10-15 a week, depending on the time of year, which is a significant increase over buying veggies for one bun. If you find one bunny to be expensive and stretching your budget, I’d hold off on two.


            • Beka27
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                I would definitely wait until you move out. Splitting the space with another rabbit when it is already so limited isn’t the ideal situation. You have to assume they will not bond, and will always need to be kept separate, and if you only have 4×4 feet available, that’s not large enough for two long-term. It can be more rewarding for you to work on developing your bond with the bun. Do fun stuff, build things, maybe try clicker training…


              • Amys Animals
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                  Well, I’ve managed to make Rascals pen larger. See here: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/120653/Default.aspx

                  He has a lot more space now, I think it would be perfect for two bunnies, I can make it larger too if needed. The rescue I go through has a bonding program so I could go through that to help with the bonding. I am going to get pet insurance for Rascal (though it doesn’t cover preexisting conditions which sucks). I’m not getting another bunny for the sake of me, I am getting one for Rascal. I know he loves other bunnies and I know he would love to have a friend.

                  Thanks for your input! I know how much it will be to add another bunny now but I honestly don’t think it will be too much more considering I am buying things in bulk. (except for veggies).

                  I’ve actually had bunnies in the past and know how much they are I just forgot for a second. =P Needed to refresh my memory.

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              Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A 1 rabbit versus 2