bonded death, quick friend available..good or bad idea?

[hodor85]

Hi, 

We have had a Neatherland bonded with a Mini Lop since they were both 8 weeks old.
They were exactly the same age (born on same day, chances of that?)

Our Lop got ill suddenly last night, took her to emergency vets and they kept her in as she appeared to have statis, unfortunately they called a couple of hours later to tell us she had passed away. 

They both lived in our garage attached to the house, with the double 7ft hutch doors opened all day for them to go out and about, then the back garage door left open so they go in and out as they please. 

The Lop was clearly the boss, who did chase the smaller one around when food was concerned but they got on fine, the remaining one being the one who did most of the grooming. 

We put the body of the Lop in with her today, she thumped around a bit probably due to vet smells and then started trying to wake her up. She then covered the body with the bit of sheet the vet wrapped her in to bury, each time we unwrapped so she could see her friend, she did the same and covered her back up. 

I hope this means she has accepted the death and is ready to move on.
Our Netherland is only 2 years 2 months old, so I would like her to have company again. 

A rabbit has appeared available today, she is the same age and spayed, as were our two.

She is a Netherland so the same breed and as she’s already spayed, this seems like the perfect solution to a heartbreaking problem.
Is this too soon to get her a friend?

Bonding the original two was quite easy.
With our remaining one not being the dominant rabbit, I presume it will make it easier?
Worst case is the new rabbit is dominant and back to how it was? 

Or they both just aren’t in charge and get on fine? 

Best to just have one rabbit after death? 

It will be roughly 48 hours since the Lop left for the vets and 36 hours or so since she was put in the cage lifeless. 

They didn’t spend all day together, as the Netherland liked to sit behind the hutch on the carpet and the lop just chilled in front of it or in it.
The lop also didn’t like the Netherland eating grass outside sometimes..and would chase her in but I expect just because she was greedy.

 I need to decide on this one in the next day, seems like a great opportunity to me though. 

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[sarahthegemini]

You need to give her time to properly grieve. Getting another bun less than a week after her bonded friend has passed is not a good move imo.

[hodor85]

Thanks for the reply, perhaps I can get her (she’s a bargain rabbit honestly) and then just separate the hutch for a while?
When we first got them both, during the first few days of bonding, they were kept on different layers with more than enough room due to size of hutch.
The ramp can be blocked off at the top, with the new one in and I can just leave the bottom doors open so the one we already have can go in and out as usual.
Don’t want to cause distress for her, don’t want to “replace” our beloved lop but this one available is literally a few miles away and is a perfect match. (other than she isn’t a he)

[Gina.Jenny]

Not all buns need time to grieve. when Pippi lost his bonded bun friend, he was quite happy to cuddle up with a little girl we had just rescued, who was struggling with hypothermia, and they bonded together pretty much instantly.

[hodor85]

this is how I’m hoping it’ll go, will pick her up tomorrow and start from there
as our remaining one is so young and loved to groom the lop, I’m hoping she’ll soon start to do the same with the new one

[Author]

Messages