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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum THE LOUNGE How many do you have?

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    • calipa_st
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        I have a few questions…

        how many rabbits does everyone have? and what was the most difficult transition? (I feel like I’m talking about having kids lol.) But, I had planned on having two rabbits, but when the one wasn’t getting adopted at the spca, I rescued him, and it kind of messed up my plans. We don’t have a huge space, and my boyfriend wants to put them in the unfinished basement (put remnant carpet down…) But, Lucky is way too free range to be stuck down there ever. And Rodan can’t seem to jump at all, I think he’d be terrified of the stairs

         

        Anyways, I still want to get the one that started dating Lucky, he and Lucky seemed to hit it off, the HRS staff were surprised (the other rabbit groomed Lucky and they sat calmly together, it was so so cute)

        I don’t know when I’ll have time to work on bonding a trio though. I can do a pair, but Rodan just got neutered and obviously he needs time to recover before trying to bonding. But, I honestly just don’t think it’ll work with him and Lucky, I hadn’t planed on having a single and a pair but I also don’t plan on just getting rid of Rodan because he can’t bond to the others.

        I am feeling overwhelmed, because I have work, two kids, two buns, school. I’m feeling like I need to figure out how to make the care for the buns easier, because maybe the system I have for cleaning isn’t efficient and that’s why I’m overwhelmed? Lucky is in an ex pen with a shower curtain down, with a sheet on top and it gets SO messy with hay, but he’s so much cleaner than Rodan who won’t poop or pee in his box :-/

        I have already paid for the other rabbit, I just haven’t been able to get him (crazy snow storms, mandatory work meeting, they’re only there on saturday…)

        I guess my question is, how do you manage multiple buns, especially if they aren’t bonded?

        I think my added stress is, even at the age of 27, my parents are not happy about my love of rabbits. People think I’m crazy for rescuing them…not sure why. I don’t find them to be exponentially expensive, and it’s like having a mix of a cat/dog when it comes to care. My parents weren’t happy I even got one. Probably because they know my hectic life, I’m home a lot but just a lot going on. Why am I scared of my parents opinion?! lol


      • Zombie-Sue
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          Why do you assume it won’t work out?

          Why ARE you scared of what your parents think? o.O Do they live with you or something? If they don’t live with you, then whenever they start down a path that gets on your nerves, you can just hang up, LOL. If you go see them, you can just LEAVE.

          I have a trio and a single right now. One rabbit in the trio is EXTREMELY MESSY right now, he’s completely abandoned the litterbox. I tried lining it with puppy pads, but then all three of them preferred to pee on them instead of in the litterbox, so that was a no-go. I just clean it as much as I can. When I see a pee spot, I don’t always have time to vinegar it, so I often just dry it up and then will go back to it later. I absolutely need to have my husband’s help, though. I couldn’t take care of them by myself.

          If putting them in the basement until they are bonded will make your life easier, I say go for it. It doesn’t have to be forever, just until you can figure something else out. You could also try lining the cage with puppy pads. Good luck.


        • calipa_st
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            I just worry about the basement because it’s not finished…but, we’ll see when we get there if it’ll be a warm enough place for them.

            I don’t know why I think it won’t work out. Honestly, it might be Lucky…he goes crazy when Rodan comes out. Tail up and all. Rodan is a big goof ball and doesn’t understand (he had been at a shelter near other rabbits, and since he was unneutered and sold at a pet store I’m thinking he may have been used for breeding. no history on him though. he’s very shy)

            I think the whole parent thing is because they helped me a lot, not just through my divorce, but in life in general. They have been there for me through everything. And also, they currently have two dogs that used to be mine :-/ Ickis I got when I lived with them at age geez, 19 I think. I moved out with him but he’s a min pin and barked constantly and my apartment complex said to get rid of him, I would have moved out but my parents took Ickis and have had him ever since (my dad LOVES him) And Beagle, well…in the divorce my ex got the cats and I got the dog I loved my cats but as a newly single mom I was barely making it by, had to start working doubles and couldn’t take care of beagle like I should. My parents love him so much, they took him two years ago and bought a house with a huge yard for him lol.
            I know giving away pets is frowned upon, but it was to my parents. I’d never get rid of my rabbits. Heck, I had cats all my life and have cat allergies, so does my mom! she and I just took allergy meds and dealt with it. I’m allergic to grass, but the hay doesn’t bother me. It seems to irritate my boyfriends allergies, so I almost always do the hay feeding once we learned it irritated his allergies..problem solved.

            And I knew you had tank mulder and scully, I didn’t know you had a fourth!


          • Zombie-Sue
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              Chances are, if you’re comfortable, it’s warmer than the buns would like. Remember, they MUST wear a full-body fur coat AT ALL TIMES. In my experience they’re happiest at 50*F – 60*F so I wouldn’t worry about it being too cold HAHA. The only thing about the basement is you’ll probably see a lot less interaction with them, which is okay if it’s temporary but not something you want to let go for years if it’s bothering you.

              I’m of the mentality that any rabbits can be bonded, it just depends on how willing you are to stick with it. Some people stop early because they think it’s stressful for the rabbits. But I know you won’t go anywhere if you go in assuming it will never work.

              I don’t think giving away pets is frowned upon at all. I DO think you’re too hard on yourself. Your parents were happy to help you, and if they don’t understand your rabbits, they probably will eventually. Be patient but don’t be scared!

              Yes, I have a forth one named Pudd. I started bonding and it was going almost unreasonably well but I’ve halted until I get Tank using the litterbox again ugh.


            • Sarita
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                Well, I am down to 2 rabbits and I’m very happy with that.

                I had a small rabbit rescue and ended up with a huge amount that did not get adopted for various reasons. Let’s just say I had around 12 rabbits and I have no children. I think that sometimes we don’t really now our limits – at least I didn’t until I was way over my limit. Even having 4 rabbits I thought was alot of work and alot of money.

                I see many people go crazy and get overwhelmed and want more rabbits – I’ve been there, done that and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone because they are time consuming and cost me alot financially. I say stick with the 2 you have since you’ve made that commitment and don’t get anymore as it sounds like you are already overwhelmed :~)


              • CooperLop
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                  I found the very short time my boys weren’t bonded to be super high stress. Taking turns of giving attention and exercise time (one was already free range so it made it harder to figure out exercise for the other) just added up to a lot of worries. That’s how I ended up doing two all-day marathon bonding sessions after a week of 30-45 minute sessions. I ended to speed things up before I went crazy (I have 3 young kids so I don’t have unlimited bunny time). Once the bond was complete and we had 2 free range bunnies who were sharing everything it was no different than having one bunny.


                • Sindri
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                    I have two rabbits and they of course aren’t bonded. It is more work having 2 separate rabbit areas to clean and also try to clean my whole house and take care of 2 cats and 2 dogs as well. I also have to take time for myself and my husband its not the best of situations but that how it is working out for me atm. As for how I deal with it ? I unfortunately have to divide my time between them all. They have bunny rooms I visit several times a day and clean them and they take turns free roaming around the house with the rest of us. Both of my rabbits seem to be very happy.
                    It does seem like you have a lot on your plate and that it will all work itself out. You can only do what you can. Try the basement and see how it works out. As far as bonding goes bond the two that got along and go from there. I think if you got those 2 bonded you will find it will be less work it will be like having 2 rabbits again. Then when your life isn’t so busy then think about bonding 3. Try not to stress yourself out too much. I wish you the best of luck!


                  • Sindri
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                      I have two rabbits and they of course aren’t bonded. It is more work having 2 separate rabbit areas to clean and also try to clean my whole house and take care of 2 cats and 2 dogs as well. I also have to take time for myself and my husband its not the best of situations but that how it is working out for me atm. As for how I deal with it ? I unfortunately have to divide my time between them all. They have bunny rooms I visit several times a day and clean them and they take turns free roaming around the house with the rest of us. Both of my rabbits seem to be very happy.
                      It does seem like you have a lot on your plate and that it will all work itself out. You can only do what you can. Try the basement and see how it works out. As far as bonding goes bond the two that got along and go from there. I think if you got those 2 bonded you will find it will be less work it will be like having 2 rabbits again. Then when your life isn’t so busy then think about bonding 3. Try not to stress yourself out too much. I wish you the best of luck!


                    • Sindri
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                        darn sorry for the double post.


                      • calipa_st
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                          Posted By CooperLop on 02/06/2014 11:18 AM

                          I found the very short time my boys weren’t bonded to be super high stress. Taking turns of giving attention and exercise time (one was already free range so it made it harder to figure out exercise for the other) just added up to a lot of worries. That’s how I ended up doing two all-day marathon bonding sessions after a week of 30-45 minute sessions. I ended to speed things up before I went crazy (I have 3 young kids so I don’t have unlimited bunny time). Once the bond was complete and we had 2 free range bunnies who were sharing everything it was no different than having one bunny.

                          ^Yes! The taking turns is really time consuming, since one was free range and now has to be put in my bedroom so the new guy can have time outside his pen. I think that part is the hardest, because then one of the kids will open my bedroom door and I’m terrified Lucky will really hurt Rodan…plus, I already have two lovely bite marks from my usually affectionate bunny..I don’t want to have to separate them like that again!

                           

                          It’s nice hearing that this is just a phase! I have to wait to try to bond, since we’re moving in 9 days and Rodan is still healing 


                        • longhairmike
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                            7 right now


                          • Stickerbunny
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                              I have two and that is all I can handle. The cleaning with rabbits is … a lot lol

                              One thing I can say is a blanket down will make messes WORSE. So, perhaps try something easier to clean, such as coroplast under the x-pens? That way you can just get a $20 shop vac from walmart or something and use the hose to vacuum it while the bun is running around, way easier than trying to wash a shower curtain/sheet combo. And a shop vac isn’t going to clog like a regular vacuum to the hay and poop, you can also sweep up stuff off coroplast. And the untrained bunny may learn his litter habits better without ANY soft surfaces to confuse him.

                              If the basement is unfinished, as long as there is no danger in it (asbestos, exposed fiberglass, etc) it should be fine, if it doesn’t get to 40 or below down there. My rabbits are hot at 75 and don’t get cold until it’s in the 50s. They flop ON TOP of my air conditioning vents to sleep, so bunnies loooove cold. It’s the heat that will hurt them, if in summer it gets too hot down there, or if your furnace is down there or something and causes it to be muggy. If you have natural gas though, I can tell you from our gas leak last year, the basement where a hot water heater and/or furnace is gets filled up with a gas leak before it can even be detected in other rooms. If you have that, you want a detector DOWN THERE and not just in your upper rooms if you move them. Our basement was so full of gas from the leak that even a few minutes in there would have probably killed them, even though it was barely above normal levels in the rest of the house.


                            • Megabunny
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                                I agree with those suggesting just not getting a 3rd. I have 4 amongst 3 pens and no kids home anymore. I LOVE cleaning them…, but cannot imagine it for someone with your level of responsibility. PLUS your parents will never stop. I’m 51 and my dad is 94 and he STILL harps at me about any extra work/animals/volunteering I do, which isn’t nearly what other people do. He doesn’t live with me, but he doesn’t let up. He’s lucky I love him!


                              • calipa_st
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                                  thanks for the suggestion on coroplast, I’ll look into it! and a shop vac is a great idea…I’ll start pricing them once we get into the bigger place!

                                  Megabunny, when my mother learned I was going to be volunteering at the local spca, she wasn’t happy! she is convinced it’s a bad idea because of time. But the volunteer requirement is two hours a month. Not a lot. Plus, no one there knows anything about rabbit care, so I’ll work with the rabbits and hopefully others will start letting the bunnies out more often.


                                • Megabunny
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                                    Ah the energy of youth! Good for you! Sounds like that shelter needs someone like you. I’d considered working at my local SPCA but I couldn’t just do rabbits and now I’m mad at them because they basically accused me of abusing my dog by wanting to keep him in the car when it was 15 F. out and I wanted 5 min. to meet a rabbit. I told them I was going out to warm up the car after just 10 min. (He has plenty of fur and was more than fine) but they kept saying it was against the law and I HAD to bring him in. I assured them they did not want me bringing that dog in around other animals but they kept at it, saying I was breaking the law so I stormed out. They have plenty of experts and lots of $$ now I’m probably black listed anyway. I really don’t need another bunny and that one got placed over that same weekend.
                                    Oh- and we looked up the law and I was not falling under any wrongful behavior.
                                    Well, that’s more than you needed to hear ha ha

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                                Forum THE LOUNGE How many do you have?