Adding a Rabbit/Bonding Questions

[Troller]

Hi folks. So it seems my situation has changed and my wife has relented to having a second rabbit. Now for those who don't know, I live in a 2 bedroom apartment where one room is given over to my rabbit Conan the Bunbarian and our two cockatiels. Space isn't too big an issue as I can eke out a temporary 4ft by 5ft pen for a new rabbit while Conan chills in his two story 4ft by 6ft cage.

A minor issue however is that our landlord, well rather her father who actually lives in the building in the apartment below us, doesn't know we have a rabbit and we're not allowed pets except for our birds. So far for the near 6 months we've had Conan he doesn't suspect anything, though does wonder at a few strange noises occasionally. Now if they were to discover our rabbit we'd just move, and we are planning on doing so in the next few years anyway, but why rock the boat now plus we do a lot of little favors for the landlords father so I'm pretty sure if it came to it some slack would be given.

Why I bring this all up is that adoption isn't possible since so many shelters require notice to the landlord in their contracts. I could lie and use my mom's place instead but I don't want to add even more deception. Plus, I really want another Flemish Giant and those are rarer, so I'm going the breeder route again. Also, I like knowing the history of my rabbit and what to expect and breeders have been tremendously helpful on that point. This of course means I'm automatically putting myself in the negative column when it comes to bonding but I have read extensively that it's still doable.

I'm prepared in that I might end up raising two seperate rabbits, even if my wife is not. I figure if the rabbits hate each other or just can't even coexist then either my mother or a good friend of mine would be willing to care for the new addition as long as I pay for the food and vet costs. Food isn't an issue, I buy in bulk and always have extra and while vet is inconveniant it means I can still be a part of the rabbits life (tentativelly calling her Xena Bunnier Princess) and own up to my responsibility.

So now we come to the nitty gritty. I have a near five months old fawn Flemish doe lined up to be picked up next week. The breeder knows what I have in mind and is comfortable with me buying Xena. By then Conan will have been 3 weeks neutered and I'm planning on making an appointment the day of or next day after pick up to check Xena and schedule spaying. So of course I'll have to wait for the spay and the healing process, about a month, and then I can start bonding. I plan to contact a rabbit rescue in my area that offers advice and help even with owners of existing pairs just in case I'm overwhelmed. All in all I think I'm being responsible in my irresponsibility.

I got some questions though and I'm sure I'll have plenty more. Can a bathtub be used as neutral area for large rabbits? Can an area that Conan hardly visits (first month, only bristly and never since then) like the kitchen be used as neutral territory? Now before Xena gets spayed and during recovery, is a cage right next to Conan with about an inch seperation okay for an eventual slow process bonding?

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

A bath tub should be fine as a neutral area. Putting down a towel or something is good for traction. The neutral area really just needs to be somewhere neither rabbit has made a claim of and considers their territory, so even if he has been there before it can be ok as long as he doesn't go there much.
Having the cages close by shoudl be ok while she heals. You may want to be prepared to separate them more if needed. I would leave a bit more space until she is spayed just to make sure there is no breeding going on since bucks can still be fertile for a little while after neutering and it's better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Nancy McClelland]

:yeahthat:

 

[agnesthelion]

How exciting! I keep seeing your comments about getting a second bun and I could tell how much you've wanted one. I'm happy that your wife has come aboard I think you have thought things through very well, so kudos on that. I'm very much like that as well....thinking out all my steps. So I think you've covered most everything.
The only random and rare thing I can think of is sometimes buns housed next to each other that aren't allowed to bond (which obviously you'd have no other choice here) is that if they begin to develop a distaste for each other, sometimes resentment can build up over time. So "that bunny" that has annoyed them all those weeks, when they finally meet face to face, things go awry. However, I think with ad much research as you have done and as well as you know Conan I think you'll be able to pick up on those signs. And even if they start to resent each other, all hope is not yet lost as sometimes a temporary separation and restart is all that is needed. But of course this is waAay down the road if even that.

As far as the bathtub, you'll just have to try it. With my two, even with a rub, they were both so freaked out my gut instinct kicked in and I knew it was a no go from there. But instead i just used a corner of the bathroom. So, like Kate said it can be any area that Conan doesn't think of as his own. Closets, kitchens, even trunks of cars!, there are random options like that to consider too.

Love the name Xena too. Very creative. I shove this article down alot of people's throats but it really does have alot good info. If you haven't read it, check it out

http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml

Congrats and of course you will have to keep us all updated!

 

[Troller]

The only random and rare thing I can think of is sometimes buns housed next to each other that aren't allowed to bond (which obviously you'd have no other choice here) is that if they begin to develop a distaste for each other, sometimes resentment can build up over time. So "that bunny" that has annoyed them all those weeks, when they finally meet face to face, things go awry

Yes I worry about that too, but I don't have another space completely free so little choice in the matter. But yeah that's been on my mind.

Thanks Lisa, and everyone for all the suggestions. I've read House Rabbit, Cottontail and so many websites and videos on the matter that at one point some of the advice is starting to contradict so its almost scary. I'm gonna start a blog soon so I won't bore the general RO website with my trials but more importantly craving the know how people have who have done this before.

 

[agnesthelion]

Ill follow your blog for sure!

 

[Troller]

Another question. When briniging home a new rabbit to an existing rabbit, do folks quarantine? Is it possible in a 2 bedroom aprartment to do so? If not possible can a vet visit on the day or day after be enough?

 

[HolyHandGrenade]

If they're coming from a good place, I don't see why they'd need much of a quarantine. I can see the need for it if they were previously stray and coming from a shelter, but coming from the breeder it seems like they should be fine. Maybe just make sure to wash your hands in between bunnies.

(I do not profess to be an expert, but the stuff I've run across only suggested a quarantine with shelter buns)

I'm so excited you're getting another Flemish! What color is Xena?

 

[agnesthelion]

When I adopted Archie I asked the shelter about that. They actually quarantine there and give a vet visit before making them available to adopt. So I was in the clear.

If from a breeder, hmm, I guess I probably would try to do a vet visit soon to make sure. I mean, a good breeder yes the chances are low but if baby bunny is around alot of other buns at the breeder things could transfer.

As far as quarantine at home, can you just keep them in different rooms initially? Wash hands in between? If not, i really wouldn't stress too bad. They will be in seperate cages, wash between handling, no switching of food bowls/blankets at first. The chances are low to begin with im sure things will be fine.

 

[Troller]

The lady potential Xena is coming from is a credited breeder so I trust that, but I'm still paranoid. My wife makes me more so, as a nurse she's worried about contagions and says a different room won't make a difference. I'll have to figure it out, just the breeder is a 3 hour drive, the vet is a usually busy and me and my wife's schedules are odd so it's a plethora of tricky details. I plugged in a pic, I hope it works.

 

[agnesthelion]

Awww shes a beauty! Conan and Xena will make a fabulous Flemmie husbun and wife

Yeah I'm neither a nurse or an expert on quarantine so maybe someone else can weigh in.

 

[Troller]

So I managed to coral a vet visit tomorrow right after I pick up Xena so while I can't quarantine at least I can get a clean bill of health before bringing her home to Conan. Now the jitters set in and the second thoughts. Oh well, whatever happens Im sure there will be some excitement...

 

[agnesthelion]

So I managed to coral a vet visit tomorrow right after I pick up Xena so while I can't quarantine at least I can get a clean bill of health before bringing her home to Conan. Now the jitters set in and the second thoughts. Oh well, whatever happens Im sure there will be some excitement...

I was just like that too! I had second thoughts when I was driving Archie home, haha, because i was so worried things wouldn't go well.

But you'll never know if you don't try. You seem to have a great understanding of bonding so i think you will handle things fine

How exciting to be getting your new girl today! Good luck and let us know how things go!