Getting another bunny

[Pixierosalove]

I have a male mix bunny, he is approx 1 year old, somewhere around there at least.

He has been by himself for a few months, i know he is lonely, and i feel bad.

I have been thinking about getting another male bunny (i dont need babies!) but i was wondering if my little baby would be aggressive or have dominant issues if i did!

He has no problem with my 2 male chihuahuas.

I read online that if he doesn’t get along with another bunny that some other small animal (a bird or gennie pig) would be a good companion.

Im not sure what to do, im a first time bunny owner but the dogs dont want to spend a lot of time with him and he needs a friend.

[jerseygirl]

HI Pixierosalove !

Is your current bunny desexed. I would only consider bringing home another rabbit if he is desexed and the new rabbit is also. Intact rabbits are more likely to fight visciously. Occasionally there will be intact males that get along but that is not usually the case.

You said he has been by himself a few months. Did he have a companion that passed away? Or have you only had him for a few months yourself?

2 male rabbits can bond. They are not always the easiest to bond though. Usually people try a male and female together first. Shelters and rescues offer already desexed rabbits at a really good price, so I would definitely look into that. Some will even let your rabbit visit and choose who he most likes/gets along with.

[tobyluv]

Many rabbits love the companionship of their own kind, but there are some that are fine being the only rabbit in the house, especially if they get a lot of attention from their humans. As jerseygirl said, you definitely have to have your rabbit neutered before you can bring home another rabbit, and that rabbit must be spayed or neutered too. You also have to wait a month after the rabbits’ surgeries before you can start the bonding process.

Here are 2 good articles on bonding.

https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/9/PID/940/Default.aspx

http://rabbit.org/faq-bonding-multiple-rabbits/

You mentioned possibly getting a Guinea pig instead, but it is not recommended that you keep rabbits and Guinea pigs together. They have different dietary needs and there can be health risks for the Guinea pig. I don’t think that a bird would be an ideal companion for a bunny either. Bunnies want a companion to snuggle with, to groom, and to communicate with.

[Mel94]

Many shelters do a ‘speed dating’ thing where you can take your bunny with you and let them choose based on who they seem to get along with.

Please be aware that recently ‘fixed’ bunnies may still be hormonal and a male can still get a female pregnant one month after the surgery.

Generally, male and female buns are often thought of as easiest to bond together but it is still possible with same sex buns.

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