Pros & Cons of Second Bunny?

[dogmom]

Fairly new bunny owner here.  We got an 8 month old female, spayed Rex back in June at  my 10 yo daughters request.  (I was the one that posted about a non-stop barking Basset Hound.  He finally chilled out after 3 solid weeks of barking.  Which probably translated to: “It’s a rabbit! It’s a rabbit!  LOOK, it’s a rabbit!)  

So of course my daughter is now lobbying me for a second Bun, preferably Lop Eared.  I would definitely get another rescue bunny.  The current living situation for the Bunny is a 5 foot, 3 story bunny condo, with about 15 sq ft.  An ex-pen she gets to spend about 45 minutes a day in.  An hour a day free range in large family room with the dog shut up.  (Can’t trust the dog.  He would grab her by instinct, her only hope is he is slow.)  I’ve checked into the bonding forum several times and I have to say I’m not convinced the second bunny is a good idea.  She seems a well adjusted, friendly bunny.  She does not love to be picked up, I’ve the only one that seems to manage it. She isn’t afraid of the dog barking at her.  (Still happens occasionally, usually if she is getting attention and he isn’t.) The only reason that I’m considering a second rabbit is having dogs I think most dogs do better with a second, even when you don’t think they will.  In fact we are getting a lab puppy this spring.  I wouldn’t get a second rabbit until next year at the earliest.  But I’m starting to investigate now.  

So I guess I’m looking for experiences, pros and cons, of how your rabbit fared with a companion.  Did any of you have a single rabbit you felt like was deprived with no social friends?  

[Lucybunz]

I got a second and it was the best thing I’ve done!
I was one of the lucky ones who got bunnies that bonded right away. I went slow for the first week and saw how well they got along. My advice is to read HOW to bond bunnies ALOT. I read for weeks before I took in thumper. They have someone to play with, groom them, and she is just happier. He has made her more playful and I think she’s calmed him down a bit. Really really look into how to bond then, the whole process.

Down side- more hay, more lett.etc. it’s not a crazy lot, but I am going thru more food. The cleaning isn’t that much worse, of course there’s more poop to clean, but it’s easy enough.
But having two is amazing. Their personalities will shine threw!
Good luck

[BrunosMama]

We currently have 3 bonded pairs and have had others in the past. Bunnies are social by nature, so many of them appreciate the company of their own kind. That being said, some bunnies will not bond, no matter with who or with what. We also have a single male, and two single females. The male we got for one of the girls because they had each lost their mates. But it turns out, both of them hate him and just beat him up every time we have dates. We haven’t given up all hope, but still. Some bunnies only seem to enjoy human friendship.

My advice would be to check out a rabbit rescue or shelter that would let you bring your current bunny to meet any prospective bunnies. You can usually tell pretty quick how bonding will go.

[kirstyol]

I had a single bun for a little over a year. We got Bramble when he was only six weeks old so he didn’t really know any different and honestly for a while he was quite happy as a single bun. He had lots of human companionship and honestly seemed to be ok on his own. However things changed after we had a slight change in work circumstances that meant he was alone at home for a bit longer than he was used to and we noticed a massive change in Bramble, he became so frustrated and generally just not the same bun. We got Ron a while later and its been the best thing we have ever done.

Pros:
generally bunnies are happier in bonded pairs
buns can be left without human companionship for a few hours without getting bored
seeing two buns snuggle and groom each other is super cute

The only con really is the expense, the cost of everything doubles: Food costs, vet costs, insurance, litter everything you needed one of before you now need two of. Bonding can sometimes be tricky but I’m not the best one to advise here as my two bonded in an hour!

[LittlePuffyTail]

The biggest con imo of getting a second bunny is there is no guarantee they will bond. My last two buns I was unable to bond and my current two, are unbonded. If you are able to get someone with experience to help you with bonding, that will up your chances, as will letting your current bunny pick out her future mate. Obviously, the cons with unbonded buns are double pens which takes up a lot of space, double everything and letting them out for separate play time.

[sarahthegemini]

As LPT said, the main con really is that bonding might not work out so you’d have two single buns rather than a pair. Financially speaking, two rabbits obviously get through double the amount of food than a single and then of course there’s vet bills, insurance etc.

I have no experience with having one bun as I got two siblings together when they were babies (I separated them at a certain age, neutered and spayed them and then bonded them) but I can say watching two bunnies snuggle and groom each other’s faces is possibly one of the greatest sights. As well as them binky-ing together! My girl bun is also even more affectionate since being bonded to her brother/friend.

[bunnytowne]

Its nice you can even consider it.  Rules where I live and Cotton.  He fights to draw blood.  He tolerates no others.  And he attacks me to kill too.  Feet hands neck face I am a bloody pulp when he gets done.  He has always been unusual.  He tolerated Ruby then they started fighting.  Had to seperate them.  After that when I had to give her up he would attack me.  He attacked me with any other bunny before and after her too.  After her it was females as well before that mostly males.  

[Barrett]

Posted By dogmom on 2/01/2017 7:35 PM
In fact we are getting a lab puppy this spring.  I wouldn’t get a second rabbit until next year at the earliest.  But I’m starting to investigate now.  

So I guess I’m looking for experiences, pros and cons, of how your rabbit fared with a companion.  Did any of you have a single rabbit you felt like was deprived with no social friends?  

You may also want to think about getting a new rabbit AND a new puppy around the same time. I would think having 2 new animals within a couple years could be a headache as both will require a lot of attention and monitoring. Puppies understand no rules after all. And puppies take quite a while to settle down.

I just see the puppy possibly dominating everything (and everyONE) in sight until he/she becomes an adolescent.

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