good or bad idea?

[Fashy]

Do you think it would be a good or bad idea of getting an olderrabbitwith Toby? His not neutered but he is very old (16years). I was thinking if I did it would have to be an older, sprayedfemale (vaccinated). Toby has always been single, and he doesn’t mindit that way at all. However, I would like him to see another rabbitbefore he dies and I would like another anyway. I was thinking that ifi did I would have to try it out first before deciding. Its hard toknow how he would react, his always been lovely with everyone andeverybun, but then I wouldn't want him to get hormonal (if that’spossible at his age).

 

[Flashy]

That is hugely old for a rabbit, and I wonder if upheavel might upset him and have tragic consequences.

We had a bunny that was nearly 10 when we tried to mate him, or ratherhe tried to mate a doe, and he was increidbly horny from there on in.It gave him a new lease of life, but he did break his leg in theprocess (but it did heal and he lived for about 22 months after that).

We considered getting company for Tubby (our bun) but decided not toincase it did unsettle him, stress him, or something like that. We alsoknew that he would get horny over a doe and wouldn't him running aroundfull of the joys of spring, just to damage his leg again.

But all you can really do is go with your bun and how you think your bun will react.

 

[Fashy]

Well of course we wouldn't mate the rabbits(poor Toby is probably has dry as a digestive now haha), but I wasthinking more along the lines as company. Like two elderly people hehe.Toby isn't lonely, and this is why he has been single. But i thought itwould be nice to try. His not frail how you would think, his quitebouncy for his age.

 

[HoneyPot]

Hmm... I would leave things as they are to behonest. My boy Cookie was never 'horny' until we got afemale.. then at 2 years old he discovered the joys of ... well..joys.. and now he does that most of the day.

I think Flashy was not so much implying you would try to mate themrather than Toby may discover his inner passion and become a littlehornball - and in his older age, maybe a bit unsafe.

If he's not lonely, I say leave things as is - or if you get anotherbun and they take to each other right away - great, otherwise maybe heis happy as is?

__________
Nadia

 

[Flashy]

No, I wasn't suggesting you mate him, more that he might get that bunny urge, even if the doe is spayed, that's all.

But you know your rabbit and mobile/frail/interested/lively/sociable, etc, he is.

What do you think he would like the best? That's really all you can askyourself and go from there. Also bear in mind that he might not take tothe female if you choose one and bring her home, which might leave himstressed, and her stressed.

 

[Flashy]

HoneyPot wrote:

I think Flashy was not so much implying you would try to mate themrather than Toby may discover his inner passion and become a littlehornball -
__________
Nadia

what an excellent phrase!

 

[Fashy]

Flashy wrote:

What do you think he would like the best? That's really allyou can ask yourself and go from there. Also bear in mind that he mightnot take to the female if you choose one and bring her home, whichmight leave him stressed, and her stressed.

I am not sure really, as I have no idea how he would react. If Iknewhe was going to pester the doe then I probably wouldn’t.But as I said on my forum today, he was never really randy when"mating" he would give up after 5 minutes and lay by her side hehe. Soits hard to tell.

 

[Flashy]

If you're not really sure whether or not hewould want a mate, yet know that he is ok by himself, maybe it's bestnot to rock the boat?

 

[bluebird]

Wow he really is a senior citizen.I woulddefinitly try another older bunny.and see if they can have a play dateor trial period before you adopt.i just want all your secrets forgetting a rabbit to that age.bluebird

 

[Fashy]

bluebird wrote:

Wow he really is a senior citizen.I would definitly tryanother older bunny.and see if they can have a play date or trialperiod before you adopt.i just want all your secrets for getting arabbit to that age.bluebird

Haha I always say cross breeds are the best placeto start (regarding life span) however some may disagree. But in myexperience a healthy cross breed and slim rabbit is a good start for along life. You can’t say how long a cross breed will live unlike mostpure breeds and giants. But thats just my opinion.