Going to be a First Time Foster Mom (Update)

[Deleted User]

The bf and I want another bun but we’re not sure if we can handle a second one. We decided to foster a rabbit from a local-ish rabbit rescue. We have pretty much everything under control and have all the needed supplies.

I just have one major question. Where should we put the little guy?  We have a fairly large place but we don’t know where would be the best place to put him. We’re thinking of putting him in the kitchen near us and where we spend the majority of our day. He will, also, be encountering Skipper (our current little one) on a daily basis when she comes out for her runs if we put him there. Is that okay? We want him to be around humans and we thought it would be a good idea to put him in an area where Skipper would be since so she gets used to the idea of a new rabbit. However, she claimed the kitchen as “her” area already. Would it be an issue to have the new foster bun in that area and allow him to run around in the same area she plays in?

(Sorry if this is answered in older threads. If it is please point me in the right direction.)

[Muggsy]

I am not sure exactly where you are fostering from, but when I fostered animals from a humaine society they were adamant on the foster animal being separated from any pets that you might have. The risk of a foster animal transmitting a disease to your own pet is high and agression issues could be relevant which would cause stress to both of the bunnies. As far as Skipper claiming the kitchen as her area, I am unsure as to how she will react. I suppose I would try to make her feel comfortable before the bunny you will only have temporarily.

[smileykyleigh]

How exciting!

I was kind of in the same situation, considering getting a 2nd, but not sure. So i submitted my application to be a foster and haven’t heard back. I’m guessing they don’t want me because I have kids, but it would have been nice of them to let me know for sure either way.

That was one of my questions too, though. Where would I put a foster? I didn’t want it to be isolated too much, as I’d worry it wouldn’t get enough attention.
So I guess it’s a good thing I wasn’t approved? I don’t know.

I would ask the shelter people about it. I would think they’d tell you to keep them separated if they want you to-if they know you already have a bunny. Good luck to you!

[Deleted User]

Morgan: It’s a local-ish small rabbit/gpig rescue that is run out of volunteer foster parents’ homes and the VP’s home. They all get vet check ups and spays before they are adopted out to foster homes.

Smiley:Thanks. I’m excited. I don’t see why rescues would reject you because you have kids. I know the rescue I’m talking to is swamped with e-mails and messages from people. So it takes them time to get back to you. I honestly just bugged them till I got their attention. It took about three weeks before they got back to me. =p I don’t mind though. They have jobs and lives outside of the rescue.

[BinkyBunny]

I think that it sounds like really your bunny sort of has a lot of territory that is hers and so I am not sure where you would put the foster that would allow for interaction yet be out of your other bunny’s territory. So you may have to do some things like cover the pen/cage sides to protect them from each other from aggression.

Are you thinking that IF this bunny actually bonds with your bunny and you can handle a second, you would then adopt? if so, then you can try and build the relationship, if not, then I would cover the sides of the foster bunny’s pen so that they could not interact. You have to be careful with this anyway, as bunnies can bite at each other’s faces through an xpen and do real damage to eyes, noses, lips etc. I would recommend getting chicken wire or mesh of some sort and attach it to the bunny’s pens/cages so that they can sniff each other but not hurt each other if they decide to fight. (this is regardless if you foster only or planning on possibly adopting in future. Also IF you are thinking of bonding them, then once the foster has had a chance to safely settle in, then I would take them through a true bonding process and only have them really meet each other in a neutral territory if possible.

Note :They will be able to smell each other regardless if they see each other and so expect some territorial marking and behaviors (even with you). Also if it gets messy and more smelly, just know that is typical behavior with a new rabbit in the house, but once a bunny is bonded, that usually slows down or stops.

Good luck and keep us updated! I know I gave you all the scary icky stuff, but congrats on your new foster. It’s exciting too!

[Deleted User]

The layout of the house is sort of hard to explain. Skipper has the run of one side of the house. Which is the one we predominately live in. The other side of the house is pretty much empty. Since we moved in last Oct. we have pretty much no furniture. =p And the pen is made of NIC cubes. Would the bun still be able to bite through the squares?

We were thinking that if she reacted well to the bun and didn’t show any overt aggression towards him we would adopt him. The bun is an adorable REW that is having trouble being adopted. So we figured if he and Skipper get along well then we would adopt him and try to bond them.

If I need to though. I will put the foster in the “living room”. It’s connected to the kitchen through a small hall. I just feel bad because it makes him a little isolated.

[BinkyBunny]

Posted By Skipper’s Mama on 01/23/2013 05:59 PM

. Since we moved in last Oct. we have pretty much no furniture. =p And the pen is made of NIC cubes. Would the bun still be able to bite through the squares?

I know that some NIC cubes have large grid spaces? How far apart is the spacing?
I had an xpen. I think the bars about an inch apart. And Bailey almost bit Rucy’s bottom lip almost right off! It was just hanging there, Thank goodness a skilled emergency vet sowed it back together, but after that incident, I am always cautioning people. If they can put a nose through it to investigate each other, the nose or lip can get bit. So I recommend putting some finer wire mesh around the first foot or so. (temporary until you see how they react). You can usually find this kind of hardware cloth at home depot or some hardware store. I may be overly cautious but it’s just based on my own experience.

We were thinking that if she reacted well to the bun and didn’t show any overt aggression towards him we would adopt him. The bun is an adorable REW that is having trouble being adopted. So we figured if he and Skipper get along well then we would adopt him and try to bond them.

If I need to though. I will put the foster in the “living room”. It’s connected to the kitchen through a small hall. I just feel bad because it makes him a little isolated.

This sounds like a good plan and for now it’s a good way to get him settled in and see what happens. It’s a lot to take in for a bunny when they are moving from one place to another, sometimes a little isolation allows some adjustment time, and of course, being that he’s new in your house, I very much doubt you won’t be checking on the newbie often. Just a thought to consider!
Anyway, I so hope it works out well for you guys!

[Deleted User]

So, we picked up Ian Saturday morning and originally had him set up in the kitchen. The little guy is such a dear and settled into his pen with no problem. The 1 1/2 drive did not bother the little cutie one bit. He literally came bouncing out of the carrier and proceeded to binky 15 mins later. A few hours later I went to finish cleaning out Skipper’s cage (we left really early in the morning to pick up Ian and didn’t have time to finish cleaning up her cage). I let the little girl out and Skipper went nuts. She started to bull rush Ian through the pen. I had draped blankets over the sides of the pen so that nobunny would get hurt and they couldn’t get to each other.

But Skipper was surprisingly extremely aggressive. I ended up giving up on the idea of being able to clean her cage. I couldn’t leave to clean when she was being so persistently aggressive. I shooed her back to her cage and tried to calm her down. Which the little diva would have nothing of. Since I smelled like Ian she began to attack me and bit me several times. I was completely shocked by her behavior. Skipper can be feisty. But mainly when she feels threatened (when the vet tries to check her tummy). The rest of the time she’s calm as can be. I felt horrible for Ian. 

So the bf and I moved him into the “living room” so he could be happy and away from Ms. Queen Diva McGrumpy Pants. He’s a total sweetheart. I went to sit in his pen with him to give him some loving. He came bouncing up to me and cuddle next to my side for a good 1/2 hour. He’s extremely hyper and loves to do double binks. He’ll do a big popping binky and then a smaller one with a head binky. Here’s some pics of the sweet little guy.

He’s a real big chewer and has already started to chew up the side of his cardboard box that we got him and he has already decimated a large willow stick we got him. =]

[Sarita]

Oh my, she is a diva isn’t she :~) Hopefully she’ll get used to him – probably part territorial and party curiosity.

Ian is adorable!

[smileykyleigh]

Glad Ian is settling in well. But Yikes, Skipper! Sorry you got bit Hope she adjusts soon!

[Deleted User]

Sarita I absolutely love Ian. My bf wants to adopt him already. =p I definitely think its curiosity. When everyone talks about rabbits ignoring each other and it being a good thing I always worrying. Skipper has never really displayed aloofness before. When she was with the cats. She absolutely loved them but she would go rushing up to them to greet them. So I’m not really sure as to how to interpret her actions.

Simleykyleigh Thanks. =] I hope it goes well too. Even if we don’t adopt Ian I really want him to find a nice home. He’s such a sweet guy he deserves it.

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