single rabbit or more than one????

[Margarita]

I am curious to see how many people have single rabbits and more than one. I have a single but am thinking maybe i should get her a friend. Not sure how she will react to another bunny. she is used to getting all the attention and likes her room a certain way. Not sure if she would be happier.

Thanks
:rabbithop:rabbithop:rabbithop

 

[ldoerr]

I have 2. They were bonded for a period of a few months and now are not bonded. I have been trying to rebond them for over a month now. Good luck if you get a new one and please POST PICTURES!!! I am sure that you know this by now but just incase, all bunnies involved in a bond need to be spayed/neutered before you start.

EDIT- You should have done a pol with this.

 

[Blue eyes]

I have kept both singles and pairs. Some of those singles I felt were in need of a companion and I bonded them with another rabbit. Other singles seemed to me to be content and were getting lots of attention.

Is your girl spayed? If you are considering a 2nd, she should be spayed and then it's best to let her choose her new buddy by way of bunny dates from a local rescue. This makes the bond more likely to succeed.

 

[agnesthelion]

I started with Agnes and then got her husbun Archie.

I do believe that bunnies enjoy having a friend. Just do some research on bonding before hand. It can be a tedious process that involves bunny playdates to get them used to each other. You will need to house them separately for at least initially. It took me 30 days to bond my two. Also, both buns should be spayed/neutered prior. Bunny dates at a rescue to let your girl pick out her mate is a good thing to look into as well.

Good luck amd let us know!! Like I said it was tedious but I'm so glad to have gotten Agnes a friend and it is very sweet to see them enjoy each other

 

[Margarita]

Yes she is spayed and will be a year Jan 31st. Ive been reading up on it for months now. I know a fixed male would be the best. I would also like to get a rescue. I am worried she will not take to the bunny and I will have to rehome him and she will be upset with me. I also was not sure if you cuold have two bunnies that were not bonded live in the same house and how that goes?

Sorry im new to the site, not sure how to do polls. :bunny24

 

[Blue eyes]

If you go through a rescue and do bunny dates, you won't have to rehome him. They will let you exchange him for one that she does like.

I have had to do this 3 different times (with different rabbits) where I had to exchange one potential mate for another. So long as yours ends up with a mate in the end, she will not be upset with you -- quite the contrary!

 

[agnesthelion]

She is sooo adorable!!

Yes you can have two unbonded buns in the same house. They would just need two seperate cages and then seperate free run time as they wouldn't be able (generally speaking) to casually play together.

I actually went into the adoption of Archie with the agreement with the shelter that I would bring him back if they didn't bond. That of course was going to be a last resort, but I still had to be realistic. The shelter was actually very understanding and they know how tedious a rabbit bond can be so completely were fine with taking him back if need be. If you do end up having to rehome, she won't be upset with you. If it gets to that point then they won't be getting alone anyway.

This is my favorite article on bonding. I followed it almost to a T and had a very successful bond. Here is the article:

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

I also blogged about my bonding experience every step of the way. If younare ever interested in reading about it, here is my blog and the bonding starts in early oct:

http://www.rabbitsonline.net/f18/antics-agnes-archie-67470/

I did alot of research on bonding and just went through it not too long ago I would love to help you in any way I can

 

[whitelop]

I had one bun for a long period of time, she was fine on her own. I think she probably preferred to be on her own with no other rabbits.
The baby bunny I have now though, I don't know how she'll turn out and if she'll be as happy without a friend. I feel like she may need a friend later, but I'm not sure.

I agree with everyone else, you should research it a lot and call local shelters to see if they allow bunny dates. That male that you were talking about, see if maybe you can set up a date with him in neutral territory and see if they like each other!

 

[Troller]

I have a single rabbit. I think he's quite happy being so, but that doesn't stop me from desiring another one or wondering if he would like a friend. Everyone's advice here is spot on so on that I got nothing to add.

 

[kirbyultra]

If you go through a rescue and do bunny dates, you won't have to rehome him. They will let you exchange him for one that she does like.

^^^ I recommend this as well. Find your local rabbit rescue and they'll more than likely ask you to bring your bunny and they'll put the bun together with a suitable friend to see if they hit it off. That way, the buns choose and you don't have to go guessing whether your bunny will like the new bun. If it doesn't work out, the rescues will let you know what your recourse is, but most are very willing to work with you through the whole bonding process.

I have one single grump and a bonded pair. varies from rabbit to rabbit but generally I would agree that bunnies like having companionship. My single one likes being with people, while the pair like each other and their humans as well. You don't necessarily have to get a second bun if you cannot afford or have room for one, or if your bunny ends up not getting along with other rabbits. Sometimes human companionship is quite nice :group2: Bonded pairs however, do have a connection that humans will probably never be able to provide. When I moved, for example, the bonded pair comforted each other - they adjusted and got over the stress of a new environment fairly quickly. My single was stressed and cautious for 5 weeks before he ate normally!

 

[missyscove]

I have had singles and bonded pairs in the past. I'm currently in the process of bonding Cricket to Watson after Watson lost his bond-mate, Sherlock. I took him in for bunny speed dating at a rescue and let him pick his new friend.
When adopting a second rabbit you do have to be prepared for the possibility that the two will never bond and you have to house them separately. Most bunnies can at the very least live harmoniously in a cage next to another rabbit, should they not bond. I have also seen rabbits that really don't seem to want a friend. For example, one rabbit I considered adopting would lunge towards any rabbit put into a neutral pen with her. If you took your bun to a rescue you would be able to observe her reaction to other rabbits.

That said, she doesn't necessarily "need" another bunny. If she's getting plenty of interaction from you, she may be perfectly happy.

 

[Margarita]

Thanks for all the feedback. It helps. I go back and forth with it. I want what's best for her and what will make her happiest. Eventually I'll just have to let her date and see how she does. She may like being a single spoiled bunny.