how many is too many

[Angel]

hey all!! I haven’t been on in awhile but we got a netherland dwarf as a first bunny and have since rescued a mini lop that is getting neutered tuesday. I had already planned on adding another lop and am supposed to pick up a lion head, holland lop mix bunny baby on Friday. the lady messaged me and asked of I wanted the three that were left, 2 males and a female because it was an accidental litter and she can’t find homes for them!!! I have the room and money and time but for real though…..how many house bunnies is too many?

[Azerane]

Too many is a very relative term. I think if you honestly have the time, money, space and ability to care for those additional rabbits, then it’s not too many. For me personally, six would probably be too many unless they were bonded into two trios.

You could also take them on if you feel able but also look towards finding them permanent forever homes. It certainly sounds like the lady who has them may not be able to take care of them much longer. But it really is up to you. It also depends how many spare rooms you have in your house

[Boston's Mama]

Do you plan to bond them ?
If they are being housed seperately / pairs and you have the room and money to house all completely seperately if bonding doesn’t work or bonds break then it’s totally up to you how many is right for you financially , time wise etc
I would think that many at once coming in would be very soon and difficult to know your own limit since you have only had one and she is your first bunny – I just got my second ( it’s my 9th over the years in all but I only have two now )
And personally for that reason I would go slower until you see how much more work and expense two is … then 3 …

If you plan to bond I wouldn’t all I wouldn’t get that many. I would personally get one and get a bonded pair from new one and your current one established first – or at most get 3 more and have 2pairs from them bonding but be aware that would mean you may have 4 cages if it fails and you will have a lot of expense with 4 – and what if they all have medical problems later ??

In short – I would get one ( the rescue you have planned as he will be ready to start bonding in 6 weeks since he is being neutered this week – and his personality will already be established)

I wouldn’t let guilt over the young ones not having homes be a decider myself as they are babies so will find homes.

[Boston's Mama]

I agree if you have the time and money that taking the babies in to find them suitable homes is a wonderful way to ensure they get homes – and try to encourage the breeder to desex her breeders so she doesn’t create more babies she can’t home would be great too

[Angel]

our bunny that is getting neutered we have had for about a week. I plan to bond him eventually with a neutered male or a spayed female. the other 2 males would hopefully be a bonded pair and then my netherland alone or a friend his size later maybe? I’m just not sure how playtime would go, smell, etc

[Boston's Mama]

A few things to consider – the babies would all need separated until 6 weeks after neuter or you may get a fight which caused irreparable grudge and mean you can never successfully bond. So eac would need own cage until at least 5-6 months ( and that’s if they reach maturity and can be neutered at 4months – some don’t and can take up to a year)

[Boston's Mama]

Also size has nothing to do with a bonded pair – you can have a giant bonded with a mini , it’s about personality meshing.

If you don’t plan to bond your current boy to your current
bunny and you want a bunny to bond to your boy then maybe get one more as his bond – making 3 total.., but again you’ll need to seperate until 6weeks after the last time one is fixed.

So 3 seperate bunnies until that time. it may not work bonding either so may result in 3 seperate bunnies permanently .

If you have the time and money for worse case 6 seperate bunnies that need seperate play areas ( or they will constantly mark the play area as they will have each other’s markings and scents in it ) then go for it if it is what you are wanting

For me 6 would be too many if problems arose health wise – cage space ability wise – and on going cost involvement
Not to mention cage cleaning time and bonding with me time
But that is my situation only you know yours and if it will work for you

[Yoyo]

Wow,.. talk about a whole bunch of bunnies!  xD  sounds fun!  lol,… I don’t know a skit about breeding them, and, don’t ever want to know, to be honest.. to me, ” how many is too many ” ?  – your question, would depend strictly on this – how many, are you willing to pay to have neutered or spayed lol

Good luck in your bunny family tho,. sounds like a lot of work,.. and a lot of fun  

( bunny shedding times x 10  – wheeee! lols  xD ) – seriously- good luck, in what ever you decide, just.. yea.. don’t rose color glasses the extra time and care that will be needed, is all!

[Gina.Jenny]

I have six, three boy/girl pairs, five of whom are rescues. I’d have more if I had the space and the money, but as it is, six is the max. they live in the dining room, which is divided into 3 pens, and all get garden time in 3 outdoor runs, and plenty of daily floor time, a pair at a time

[sarahthegemini]

If you have the time, space, finances and commitment then have as many as you want. But do keep in mind the as they are not bonded they’ll need their own separate space.

[Yoyo]

My daughter told me earlier today,.. well,.. yesterday now,.. when shes out of college, she wants a house full of rabbits, so… line up your homeless buns, in the next 10 yrs lol,.. ( shes still 9th grade now ) lol

[Limit]

To put it lightly, I wouldn’t take on more just like that. I’ve been stuck before when guilt takes over and I’ve now managed to control that and stick to my guns before I end up with any other animal.

My two have a space of 12 by 5 feet and that still is not enough for them to let loose in my eyes, so I think space is certainly an important factor to bare in mind, especially when you have separate pairs/groups.

Money wise is pretty much what everyone’s said, but if they all fall ill and they have no insurance can you pay a bill of 2000+ (I’ve known people that have had to pay a 6000 figure for their bun)? Can you afford the yearly vaccinations for all bunnies? The spays and neuters will also be an expense as none of them are done.

I might sound harsh and I know you’ve answered that you’ve got the space and money but do you really? I could say I have the space (spare room and space in the garden) but I couldn’t add that many into my house without a compromise of space still as they need so much room to just be rabbits.

Not trying to put you off or persuade you to not have them I’m just trying to know if you are certain to take on that many without regretting the outcome. Good luck with your buns though and your many others if you decide to take them on

[Angel]

I am going to have 4…. I decided two pairs is enough….well hopefully 2 pairs…if they get along

[Boston's Mama]

That sounds good that way if they it’s 4 housed seperately until spay and neuter – and if they don’t for any reason bond then it’s 4 cages not 6 cages

You can always get more later but better to not over commit yourself early on

[Angel]

I did it. i have 5 currently. my last comes home in April

[Boston's Mama]

You went for all 6 in the end??

[Author]

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