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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A skittish 3 months old bunnies

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    • azaria567
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        So, My husband and I want to adopt a pair of bunnies. This will be our first rabbit so we would like to adopt a pair of rabbits that are already bonded, if possible, to simplify things for us.

        Our local adoption center has two babies that they think were born toward the end of December 2011, they were in a litter of 6-12 bunnies and the are the last two. Currently they are sharing a cage and seem quite cozy together so I would love to adopt them together.

        Here is my main quiestion: they don’t seem to have had much human contact and are quite skittish. I guess someone found an abandoned bunny and took it in and then the bunny had babies not long after, which is how this center has them. They think they are french lops, but I have no idea how they could know that and I thought french lops were pretty big. These babies are still pretty small but the are very young. I will try to post the picture they took at the center and if anyone had any guesses as to what breed they might be and how big they might get, I would appreciate it.

        the black and gray pair on the left are the two left. Sorry for the long post.

        Any advise or comments are very welcome!

        azaria567


      • RabbitPam
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          Welcome!
          Those babies are adorable, but I’m sure they are skittish due to being abandoned. They may not have weaned easily from their mother, or been frightened during the abandonment so it may have impacted their development a bit, though not permanently. Some bunnies are skittish by nature.

          But more importantly, they are not actually bonded. Babies from the same litter have no lasting attachment to siblings, and once they hit puberty their appearance of bonding will be lost – and if opposite genders, could even impregnate each other. There’s no advantage to adopting the 2 at this age.

          I’m really glad you want to get a bonded pair, but if you don’t have your heart set on babies (which will only last for about 6 months max. before you get into their Terrible Teens), may I suggest a visit to your local shelter and rescues?
          A rescue will have several advantages. First, they will have youngsters a year old or younger, and most will have done the spay or neuter before you can adopt. This saves you an average of $2-300 per bunny in a few months. It’s done to prevent cancer and pregnancy in females and aggression etc. in males.
          Next, the personalities are already established by then, plus lop ears have come down, so the rescue staff will know who is skittish, who is a jumper, who is shy, who is adventurous, plus they will look like they will look for the rest of their lives. Full growth is usually achieved by 2 years old, so you can tell from the breed how big they will get.

          But best of all, shelters/rescues will often have already bonded pairs. What a lot of effort and months of work it will save you when 2 bunnies who love each other can find a great home with you. There is no guarantee that 2 siblings will bond, and 2 strangers may not either. Read the bonding section to learn what is involved in bonding. If you do want to try it, I would recommend getting only one bunny now, bond with it yourself, take care of the speuter, get through the teen months, and then introduce it to a potential mate in about a year.

          One, two, baby or adult – bunnies are a decade of love!!!


        • Elrohwen
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            Pam, from her post it sounds like these babies are at a local rescue, but it’s not clear from the post if they have other rabbits available or just those.

            I have to agree with Pam on this – baby bunnies don’t typically have a lasting attachment to their siblings. They love to snuggle while young, but once they hit puberty the urge to either mate or be territorial is too strong and fights break out. At that point you’ll have to separate them, get them fixed, and then reintroduce as you would any pair of strange bunnies. There are stories out there of people who adopted two babies together and never had to separate them, but it’s very rare and is the exception to the rule. I think starting out with two bunnies, only to separate them and re-bond is more stressful than just getting one and eventually finding a buddy for it.

            Does the rescue have any already bonded adult pairs? If you’re set on getting a pair to start, I think that would be the better way to go by far. If you have your heart set on two babies, make sure you have the space for two habitats and time to bond them once they mature.

            They look very young in that picture, so it’s really impossible to tell what breed they might be or how big they might get. If they’re 3 months old now, new pictures would give a better idea, but even then it’s hard to say when they’re so young. My guess it that they think French lop because that’s what the mother was? It’s also possible she was just a large mini lop. Their final adult weight will be the best way to tell which type of lop they probably are. They’re very cute!

            Also, baby bunnies are usually fairly skittish. If they were born at the shelter and had human contact from a young age, then they probably aren’t any more skittish than any other baby bunny. Baby bunny personalities really change and develop as they grow up, and in my experience it’s largely genetic – of course a bunny with no socialization will be very skittish, but one that has been extensively socialized is no guarantee of a laid back lap bunny. It’s kind of a crap shoot when they’re that young, but if you’re willing to accept whatever adult personality they may end up, and be willing to put up with some potentially bad teenage months, it can be really fun to get a baby.


          • tobyluv
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              If the bunnies were born around the end of December, then they would be about 3 months old now. Do they know the gender of these two rabbits? I don’t know if this is a rabbit rescue or just a general shelter, who would normally deal mainly with dogs and cats. If they don’t know much about rabbits, they may not know that some breeds can start reproducing around 3 months. These two rabbits need to be sexed and if it turns out it is a male and female, they should be separated.

              The sanctuary where I volunteer took in a pregnant rabbit last year. She was skittish and passed on her skittishness to her babies. Thankfully, they have been getting more comfortable around people are are losing some of their skittishness. Hopefully the rabbits you are thinking of adopting will soon overcome their skittishness too.


            • azaria567
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                Toby is right, the bunnies are at my local rescue shelter that normally deals with cats and dogs. They think that they are both male. This local shelter also has two adult males and niether of them are neutered. One of the adult rabbits is very sweet and would be wonderful but I would still have to have him neutered…why can’t I have endless money and space so I can bring them all home : p

                The nearest “Rabbit” shelter is 2 hours away and they have bonded pairs. I am considering that as an option as well. My heart just breaks for these babies, the only home they have had is one that doesn’t quite know how to care for them.

                I still think I will adopt both of the babies and have them neutered and if I have to rebond them or seperate them eventually I can. I just can’t bear to seperate them right now. : (
                I know I am venting at this point – sorry.


              • Sam and Lady's Human
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                  There’s nothing wrong with rescuing the babies! You should talk to the rescue and make sure they’Ll be neutered before they come home with you, boys or no it’s something most rescues insist on and they usually have a vet they work with. At 3 months they are ready to be altered now.


                • Sarita
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                    I think you sound like you are committed and this could work as long as you know what your challenges are.

                    As for the vet, can and will the vet be able to neuter the buns? If not, can you find a vet who feels confident to neuter the buns?

                    Being that the rescue is dog and cat, they may not have the resources to neuter your buns, but they may be very willing to help find you a vet in any way they can. Many times dog and cat rescues have very good hearts but they don’t always have those resources, which should not be a reason in my opinion, not to adopt them…you will just have to find your own resources :~)


                  • azaria567
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                      Posted By Sam and Lady’s Human on 03/19/2012 05:36 PM
                      There’s nothing wrong with rescuing the babies! You should talk to the rescue and make sure they’Ll be neutered before they come home with you, boys or no it’s something most rescues insist on and they usually have a vet they work with. At 3 months they are ready to be altered now.

                      Well thats the other sad thing, is that they don’t insist on neutering and they don’t seem to be working with a vet for the rabbits either. They really don’t seem to know what to do with them. So I am on my own to find a bunny vet to have them neutered and I know that won’t be cheap. So any tips on finding a great bunny vet are welcome too. : )

                       


                    • Sarita
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                        I would contact that rabbit shelter that is 2 hours away and see if they have some vets closer or even consider using one of the vets that recommend even though for that it might be further away. Email them and let them know the situation – they should be happy to help you with some options.


                      • Monkeybun
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                          If they don’t know much about bunnies, I would separate the babies immediately. Chances are they didn’t sex them correctly. Even bunny vets can get it mixed up! You don’t want to end up with a bunch of babies


                        • Sam and Lady's Human
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                            ^ I agree. If they don’t ever have bunnies nor know what to do with them, chances are they actually didn’t sex them correctly. Its really irresponsible for a rescue, they should be reaching out to the other one, not you >.<

                            I second Sarita too, call them up and see what they can do, it might be too much financially for you (?) to neuter both boys at the same time but if you have any hope of bonding/litter training thats the best course. Unbonded un-neutered boys are going to mark poo everywhere and also likely do their marking “scent/stink”.


                          • RabbitPam
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                              If you look at the top of the Forums, there’s a red pin in one section (probably here) with a post on how to find a rabbit savvy vet. It links to other sites where you can put in your zip code and find the nearest one listed, etc.

                              I have a crazy idea that would really be putting you out, but I thought I’d throw it out there. If this shelter isn’t good with bunnies, perhaps you could offer to drive these babies together to the rescue that’s 2 hours away. They know how to care for them, they wouldn’t be separated, and you could then take a look at all the bunnies, included their bonded pairs, while you’re there. You will know you’re putting them in good hands and can start fresh with a new selection of bunnies to meet. If you still love these 2, they could examine them for you.

                              Otherwise, as long as you know the work and costs involved, you could just take them home. But MB is right – the nearby rescue people are clueless when it comes to determining their gender. Treat them as if they are the opposite sex, and separate them sooner than they show signs of puberty. One could possibly get pregnant within a month.

                              You will make a great bunny slave whatever you do!


                            • azaria567
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                                Thank you everyone for all of your support! I emailed the other shelter last night and I will see if they have any advice to offer me.

                                Pam that is actually a great idea and something for me to think about.You all are so helpful, Thank you!! I will let you know what happens.


                              • azaria567
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                                  Update:

                                  A lot has happened in our home since the website update….

                                  We adopted Sully and Drake (they 2 bunnies from my original post) at the end of March. They were quite happy bunnies once they got comfortable at home and were allowed to run around. Drake was the more curious rabbit and Sully pretty much was content to loaf around in her comfortable zone. It is pretty much the two of them against the world and they are not real trusting of humans, but who can blame them. After having them for two weeks Sully hit puberty and we found out our boys are actually girls. We had to separate them bc Sully got real territorial and they started to fight. After they were 4 months old we took them to be spayed. Unfortunately Drake could not recover from the surgery and died. ; ( We think she had a liver problem we didn’t know about (we had a different vet do a necropsy.) Sully recovered well and mellowed back out but she seems lonely.

                                  She likes to go into Drake’s cage and sit in the corner and I am not sure if it is bc she misses her or if she just likes that spot.

                                  Tomorrow we are going to the rabbit shelter to see if she would be receptive to a new friend. She was spayed on April 21 and Drake passed on April 26, so I am hoping she has had enough time to grieve.

                                  Any thoughts or tips for tomorrows speed date are welcome! : )

                                  (Drake is black and Sully is grey)

                                   

                                   


                                • Elrohwen
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                                    I’m so sorry to hear about your loss! It sounds like Sully has a wonderful home and hopefully she will be ready to accept a new bunny friend. Have you been able to bond with her more while she’s been solo? You might want to try bonding with her now and see if she will learn to trust you more, as she will probably go back to only being social with the new bunny if you get one.

                                    Shelter people should be helpful during the dating and know what to look for. In general, ignoring is good! Bunnies who ignore each other aren’t fighting and don’t hate each other, they’re just trying to show that they’re no threat. The next best thing to look for is self-grooming or eating hay – bunnies who do this are generally pretty comfortable and definitely trying to show that they’re not a threat. Grooming each other is the holy grail of bonding, so most people don’t see this until well into the bonding process, but if you see it on a bunny date it’s a great sign.


                                  • azaria567
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                                      Thank you, She was being really anti social so I made the appt for this speed date bc I would rather her bond with another rabbit then no one at all. And since then she is starting to open up a little. She is still a bit skittish and does not like to be touched but she is doing better. She is playing and she doesn’t jump up every time someone moves so thats good. I am hoping to find her a bunny that is her opposite, maybe a bit more outgoing, so maybe she will come out of her shell a bit more. I dunno, We will see if she likes anyone tomorrow.


                                    • bmt87
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                                        I’m so sorry for your loss! Keep us updated on your bonding process – I can’t offer any suggestions but might be going through the process later in the summer and could use some first-hand experience suggestions!


                                      • RabbitPam
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                                          I’m so sorry to hear about Drake.
                                          Sounds like you are proceeding carefully with the dating, and are trying to do what’s best for Sully’s happiness. I think she will bond with you in time after she is over her grief, but if it brings you both comfort to have a second bunny, then it’s a nice move. Don’t be in a hurry and let her indicate what/who she wants. You have plenty of time now that she’s spayed.


                                        • azaria567
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                                            So Sully had a date with a mini lop named Beau today and it went really well! He just got neutered a little over a week ago so he is still really excited but she let him mount her no problem so we think they will be good together. The shelter is going to bring him over next week for a home visit and as long as that goes well, he gets to stay with us!

                                            >fingers crossed<


                                          • Beka27
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                                              I’m so sorry to hear your baby bun passed. That’s heart-breaking.

                                              Good luck with the new friend, keep us posted.


                                            • LittlePuffyTail
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                                                My condolences on the loss of your beautiful bunny.

                                                Wishing you lots of luck with the bonding trial.

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                                            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A skittish 3 months old bunnies