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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.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BONDING Should I get my bunny a friend?

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    • Ayten
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        Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on getting another rabbit? Are rabbits really happier, when they have another with them?
        I’ve had Casper since he was a baby, he got given to me. I’ve been working on my bond with him and he’s started to get really close with me. But for the times that i’m not around, i feel bad that he’s alone. At the same time i’m worried if i get another rabbit, it will ruin the relationship i’ve built with him, he might not be as close to me anymore etc. He turns 1 in July and i’m getting him neutered within the next couple of months. If i do get another rabbit, i’d be desexing them also.
        If i were to get one, i really would have loved to get another boy but i’ve read so many times, how hard it is to bond two males, they both fight and so on.
        With females i’ve read how they can be abit distant and diva-ish but male/female bond easier.

        I really don’t know what to do. Are some of your rabbits happier with just being with you or do they enjoy the company of another bun?

        Also, he’s not my only pet. I have 2 dogs, a cat and a bird aswell. But when i’m home and we have our floor time, my dogs and cat are around him aswell.


      • Love4Bunny
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          Hi! I’ve found my male rabbit to be equally as needy of my affection after bonding him with another rabbit, as he ever was! He has that personality, so bonding him with a female did not change the dynamic. In fact, she is more independant, so I think he knows I will always give him extra love when she’s off exploring and binkying. I could’ve kept him as a single rabbit because it looked impossible that he would get along with anyone else, but I’m glad I found him a girlfriend. My motivation to get a companion for him was because he started presenting to my chihuahua for grooming, and I realised he was wanting someone who “speak his language”. I don’t think it matters so much about the sex of both, but rather, their personalities and if they click. You can have a male and female pairing that just plain hate each other, but my cousin adopted two males separately that became buddies instantly. Her first rabbit was very amicable, so when she inherited the second boy (who presented for grooming), the first submitted straightaway, and they still seem tight.

          I’d suggest doing bunny dates at a shelter with your current rabbit. Or you could foster, like I did. I’d also advise you to ensure any new rabbit you bring your current one into contact with doesn’t have ear mites, white gunk seeping from their eyes, or patchy fur. If so, they will need treatment before you introduce them to your rabbit. You can’t protect them from everything but rabbits can pass diseases along. My intent is not to scare you (because every rabbit deserves a chance), but rather, to help you make informed choices. A vet visit is never goes astray in these instances.


        • Ayten
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            Thanks for answering


          • Gina.Jenny
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              I’ve currently four buns, two boys and two girls.

              Pippi was originally bonded to another boy, who sadly had to be put to sleep.

              Pippi was bonded straight away with a little rescue girl, Jenny, who was struggling to recover from her spay, and needed keeping warm, which snuggling into Pippi did nicely.

              We think Gina is Jenny’s sister, but Gina wanted to fight everyone and everybun. After 8 months, she finally let me stroke her, then she made it clear she wanted to snuggle into Pippi, but Jenny wouldn’t share. So we’ve adopted Podge, and he was marathon bonded to Gina in four days..Gina is now a little love bug, always cuddling and grooming Podge, Podge and Pippi got on fine from the start, but Jenny didn’t want to share still. 

              I’m now working on bonding them as a quartet. I would say most buns like a bunny friend, but there are a few who are hard, even impossible to bond. A buuny date is a good way to see if a potential bond might work out. If you check in the bonding section, you can read the story of bonding Gina to Podge, and in another thread, the quartet bonding saga!


            • Ayten
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                Yeah, i’ll definitely read them, thanks


              • Abby1987
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                  I have a male rabbit who is crazy about me! He’s a right old terror if he doesn’t have my full attention.i decided to get another rabbit so he would have some rabbit company. Went to a centre but they wanted to pretty much meet my entire family. I was also worried that the other rabbit wouldn’t like me. So after much deliberation I decided to get a little bunny. My male isn’t aggressive at all with any of the bunnys he met. So I’m rearing the female upstairs. And your right she is a right old moody madam got a right old princess and Very friendly I’ve managed to house train her too and she’s getting neutered on Friday. So hopefully soon they can meet and we will see how it goes exciting times


                • Beka27
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                    If you have the space, time, and money, you certainly can get him a friend! (Also, if you have the desire for a second rabbit!) Getting him neutered and giving him gone to heal is your first step. Once that’s done, you can take him in bunny dates at local shelters/rescues. You might be able to find a bunny that is already neutered that he gets along with! If not, you can get a baby bunny, but you’d have to wait awhile to bond until he or she is fixed, so take that into account as well!


                  • Ayten
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                      If i get a baby, will they not bond properly untill i get it desexed?


                    • Abby1987
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                        I wouldn’t risk it. everything I have read suggests it’s a bad idea. Plus I know that rabbits are stubborn little critters who know how to hold a grudge. My young rabbit is 4 months old and is getting neutered today Fter she recovers I’m going to intriduce them. I wouldn’t be too quick to jump into it. Rescue centers are a good shout they let you do bunny speed dating. Your rabbit can pick who he likes then.


                      • Love4Bunny
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                          Ayten, I’ve read the bond can break once hormones kick in, and you’d have to start bonding over again. Since Casper is 1 year old, you could adopt a rabbit that is closer in age, or at least 6 months. For the record, I don’t ever recall having as much support for adopting an animal in Australia, as I do here in the U.S. Back home, I used to go through the Trading Post if I was looking to buy an animal (usually from a breeder or owner). Here, I just walk into my local Pet store, and I have so many resources to adopt. Not sure what it’s like nowadays in Oz.


                        • Ayten
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                            Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ll get him neutered first and then i’ll go on from there

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                        Forum BONDING Should I get my bunny a friend?