Possible new family member

[stargazerLily]

Apparently I have become the "small animal" person at work. Or maybe I have a "willing to take small furry animals" sign on my back. Today at work, the HR person brought one of the new girls up to me(they hired two while I was on vacation) and introduced me as "she might be willing to take your rabbit, she has one of her own". While that slightly irked me, I must give them kudos for trying.

The new girl has a netherland dwarf, not very old (only a few months old I think), that her husband is horribly allergic to. They think it's a girl (the petstore told them it was girl, I think she said it came from a pet store), but the rabbit is not fixed. And it's gray, but as to what shade, I don't know.

So now I am trying to figure out if, and how, I can bring another member home to add to the family.

Rabbits are social creatures, right? How long does it usually take before two rabbits can live together? Is taking care of two much harder than taking care of just one? Would Orion benefit from a friend?

The girl is worried that if she advertising in the paper, that rabbit will go as snake food (the bunny is only a pound or so big), and I can understand her fears.

 

[Korr_and_Sophie]

If you think you can handle it, go for it. The new girl will need to be separated from Orion to make sure she is healthy. Then she will need to be fixed and heal. So you would need to be able to house the separately for at least a few months and possibly forever if they don't bond.

Taking care of 2 bonded bunnies is easier than 2 separate ones. Only one cage to clean. The vet and food costs are more. Many rabbits enjoy a friend to groom,play with and to have company when you are away.

 

[seniorcats]

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=12072&forum_id=17

Here are some really good links on bunny bonding. I've never found it a difficult processand I tend to use car rides as my bonding method of choice. Also, my bonded bunnies have all been spayed/neutered.

 

[Haley]

Another idea would be to ask the girl to have the rabbit spayed first and then after she heals try and introduce them. If bonding goes well, you'll have a girl for your boy. If not, she'll have an easier time rehoming a spayed female (and its healthier for her too).

 

[TK Bunnies]

Having 2 buns is about as much work as having one. The only difference is the cages need to be changed more offten.

I think you should take him. That way you know that the rabbit is going to a new home, that's good and that it won't be snake food.

About bonding it, if it's a girl it shouldn't be that hard, but if it's a boy it might be harder. But make sure to fix it first.

-TK

 

[stargazerLily]

The new bun would be a girl, smaller than my male (who is neutered, I witnessed it being done ) and younger than my male. I do have a seperate cage I can put the girl in. It was my boy's cage, but I built him a new, bigger, cage where he has more room to move and stand.

I think I may ask to see the bunny before I agree to take her, and have her checked outby my vet first.

 

[bat42072]

i know how you feel about the sign on your back... mine says that i am a SUCKER..lo lmost of my pets are other peoples throw aways... their loss is my gain.... they are all great pets...

if you takre the bunny good luck.... i know you can find a way for it to work... I always do...

 

[stargazerLily]

Looks like they found a new home for her. My new coworker was supposed to bring the rabbit in for me to meet today and instead it went to a new home last night (not sure why the coworker didn't tell me she had someone interested yesterday).

Now that I'm not getting the 2nd bunny and I had actually started looking forward to getting a friend for Orion, I'm disappointed.

 

[bat42072]

I am sorry that it didn't work out... but there are other bunnies that need homes...

 

[missyscove]

You can certainly still look for a bunny in need of a home. Many rescues and some shelters will let you bring your current bunny in for bbunny "dates" to pick out another bunny who is more likely to be compatible with yours.

Watching two bunnies interact is totally worth it, but you really must be prepared should they not bond. My two finally bonded then randomly had a fight 4 months later and I haven't caged them together since. They had joint playtimes, but then had another fight while I was gone and my mom stopped them. I'm trying to rebond with some success, but I don't think I could ever cage them together again. Perhaps free roaming, but not in a small area.

 

[bluebird]

Two rabbits are about the same amount of work as one.its been a while since i had only 2 but usually bonding isnt very difficult.im sure in Ohio you can find another bunny needing a home.bluebird