Although I have only about 6 months worth of being a bunny Mamma here’s my two cents. We first did tons of research and went by the suggestions that we heard most often, adopt in pairs around 10-12 weeks. That’s what we did. We found and adopted a bonded pair of 11 week old siblings from 4H. We got them spayed and neutered, respected their space, have kept their space very clean, have provided them with ALL manner of toys and chews and boredom busters and while we love Moose and Nutmeg it wasn’t quite the bunny ownership I had been hoping for. There are times I think Nutmeg (Alpha) pretty much hates me and everyone else. They clearly love each other and are bonded but they haven’t bonded with any of their humans. Pretty much, unless we have food, they don’t even like us looking at them!!! They let us pet them sometimes but aren’t friendly and cuddly like I was hoping so, enter Adaggio. The adorable little blue tort Holland lop I found in a local pet store that for some reason, I couldn’t leave the store without. I went to get bedding, food and toys for my other two buns. I brought Adaggio home. He was barely 8 weeks old and M&N wanted nothing to do with him so we made separate housing etc. My theory is, since M&N shunned him, he bonded with us instead. Due to that, he is the bunny experience I really wanted with M&N. He is affectionate….. Even needy at times. He follows me around even when I don’t have food, jumps onto my lap to petted, runs around my feet when I let him out every morning, sits on his hind legs so I will pick him up, loves to be held and cuddled, interacts with any human that comes around especially if they sit on the floor and recently, has even started coming up the stairs to find me in my room if someone lets him out before I come downstairs. We laugh and say he’s a dog in a Holland lop body. He’s awesome and he and I have truly bonded. He actually comes when I call him at least 50% of the time. Maybe that’s pure luck but he turns his head when I say his his name even if he doesn’t come running so I like to think he is responding to me. We always say he’s a 5 in looks and a 10 in personality so he’s a 10 and our other buns are both beautiful bunnies….definitely 9-10 in looks but a 3 in personality so they are a 3!!! Lol!! We love them all but Adaggio is definitely the house favorite. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s a 3rd wheel or just his personality but if I think I learned a lot by adopting a 3rd. Adaggio is now neutered and I’m hoping to bond him with the others at some point but I honestly don’t think that it will break the bond we have developed with him. I also think that having Adaggio around has made our other bunnies a bit more friendly… Well, at least Moose anyways….. He gets a little tired of his sister humping his face so he’s seeking comfort in my lap sometimes. Which doesn’t sit well with Nutmeg and sits there staring at him with one ear up and one down wearing her resting bitc* face from on high atop the bunny playhouse we got them. It’s pretty funny to see.
So, I’m not sure what the answer is other than getting a young 3rd wheel. I think that the sibling pair bond is there to stay and a bond with anyone else just isn’t necessary for them so they won’t. I think that they can and probably will change a little over time but probably not to what you were hoping for. Every day I’m very thankful that I didn’t leave without my little Adaggio. Yeah, it’s meant extra work and more $$$$ but he’s so worth it. I can even take him outside in our backyard and front yard without a leash and harness. He doesn’t run off and hide…. He runs off to do binkies across the grass then back and when it’s time to go in, he follows me into the house where he gets his treat in the kitchen. The other buns get the backyard only and usually find a hiding spot in which we have to coax them out of and catch quickly or they will go hide again. I will continue to love ALL my buns and try with the other two because I don’t have to try with Adaggio, much like with my human children, it’s just there for both of us.
Chrystie