addeytrix wrote:
it was jusy yo ask if lucy was to get a brother or sister would it not be to late now
i cant understand the pet shop owner where we got lucy from he is is still saying
rabbits should not be together
Many "experienced" bunny fanciers believe rabbits cannot be bondedtogether and an attempt to do so will result in terrible fights, evento the death, so they consul owners to keep buns separated.Rabbits can be and are very territorial, so I understand why thesepeople suggest not keeping rabbits together in a habitat.
In truth, rabbits are social animals and do enjoy the companyof other rabbits, but in nature they arrive at their "position" withinthe group over time and experience with one another in a lengthyprocess.
When we attempt to "force" that relationship in our own environment andtime frame, we call it "bonding" bunnies. The bonding ofbunnies occurs most successfully between buck and doe, doe and doe, andbuck and buck, in that diminishing order of relative success.
Some people claim that all bunnies can be bonded, provided one followsproper technique and is patient enough to make the effort no matter howlong it may take. Others claim there are some bunnies whosimply will not bond no matter the technique, effort and patienceexpended. We tend tosupport the latter position,but I will be the first to admit that we rarely have had the patienceto maintain a bonding effort for more than three or four weeks beforewe either experienced success or gave up.
We currently have two bonded heterosexual pairs, but gave uptrying to bond two does unsuccessfully after about three weekseffort. Over the past eight years we have had a succession ofbonded heterosexual pairs and one pair of does, who were siblings andhad never been separated during their natural lives. My pointis, we know from experience that rabbits can be bonded and it is awonderful thing to behold their interactions with one another as lovingpairs.
If one is considering bonding two rabbits one must be prepared to dealwith them individually in case they will not accept one another forwhatever reason. We have been fortunate in some instances asa local shelter has permitted us to "foster" rabbits with theunderstanding that if they successfully bonded to our rabbits, the"fosters" would become ours. Conversely, if the bondingattempt was unsuccessful, the "fosters" would be returned to theshelter. Perhaps, you could enter into a similar agreementwith a local institution.
We've bonded rabbits of various ages successfully, so I don't think ageneeds be a factor to dissuade you from getting a partner for Lucy.
In any case, link to these sites for some very good informationregarding how to bond rabbits. The important thing is tofollow the instructions very closely and to have patience.
http://www.mybunnies.com/bonding.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/behavior/index.html
I'm pleased that you have made a real live, lasting friendship with Janas a result of participating on the Forum. The Missus and Ihave done the same thing and have made some close and wonderful friendsof people met here and on similar forums.
Buck
